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John Aubrey >> The Natural History of Wiltshire
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THE NATURAL HISTORY OF WILTSHIRE
JOHN AUBREY
TO
GEORGE POULETT SCROPE, ESQ. M.P.,
&c, &c. &c.
___________________________________
MY DEAR SIR,
BY inscribing this Volume to you I am merely discharging a debt of
gratitude and justice. But for you I believe it would not have been
printed; for you not only advocated its publication, but have
generously contributed to diminish the cost of its production to the
"WILTSHIRE TOPOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY", under whose auspices it is now
submitted to the public.
Though comparatively obsolete as regards its scientific,
archaeological, and philosophical information, AUBREY'S "NATURAL
HISTORY OF WILTSHIRE" is replete with curious and entertaining facts
and suggestions, at once characterising the writer, and the age in
which he lived, and illustrating the history and topography of his
native county. Had this work been revised and printed by its author,
as he wished and intended it to have been, it would have proved as
useful and important as Plot's "Staffordshire" and "Oxfordshire";
Burton's "Leicestershire"; Morton's "Northamptonshire"; Philipott's
"Kent"; or any others of its literary predecessors or contemporaries.
It could not have failed to produce useful results to the county it
describes; as it was calculated to promote inquiry, awaken curiosity,
and plant seeds which might have produced a rich and valuable harvest
of Topography.
Aubrey justly complained of the apathy which prevailed in his time
amongst Wiltshire men towards such topics ; and, notwithstanding the
many improvements that have since been made in general science,
literature, and art, I fear that the gentry and clergy of the county
do not sufficiently appreciate the value and utility of local history;
otherwise the Wiltshire Topographical Society would not linger for
want of adequate and liberal support. Aubrey, Bishop Tanner, Henry
Penruddocke Wyndham, Sir Richard Colt Hoare, and the writer of this
address, have successively appealed to the inhabitants of the county
to produce a history commensurate to its wealth and extent, and also
to the many and varied objects of importance and interest which belong
to it: but, alas ! all have failed, and I despair of living to see
my native county amply and satisfactorily elucidated by either one
or more topographers.
By the formation of the Society already mentioned, by writing and
superintending this volume and other preceding publications, and by
various literary exertions during the last half century, I have
endeavoured to promote the cause of Topography in Wiltshire ; and in
doing so have often been encouraged by your sympathy and support. For
this I am bound to offer you the expression of my very sincere thanks;
and with an earnest wish that you may speedily complete your
projected "History of Castle Combe,"
I am,
My dear Sir,
Yours very truly,
JOHN BRITTON.
Burton Street, London.
1st September, 1847.
EDITOR'S PREFACE.
IN the "Memoir of John Aubrey", published by the Wiltshire
Topographical Society in 1845, I expressed a wish that the "NATURAL
HISTORY of WILTSHIRE", the most important of that author's unpublished
manuscripts, might be printed by the Society, as a companion volume to that
Memoir, which it is especially calculated to illustrate.
The work referred to had been then suggested to the Council of the
Society by George Poulett Scrope, Esq. M.P., as desirable for
publication. They concurred with him in that opinion; and shortly
afterwards, through the kind intervention of the Marquess of
Northampton, an application was made to the Council of the Royal
Society for permission to have a transcript made for publication from
the copy of the " Natural History of Wiltshire" in their possession.
The required permission was readily accorded; and had not the printing
been delayed by my own serious illness during the last winter, and urgent
occupations since, it would have been completed some months ago.
When the present volume was first announced, it was intended to print
the whole of Aubrey's manuscript; but after mature deliberation it has
been thought more desirable to select only such passages as directly
or indirectly apply to the county of Wilts, or which comprise
information really useful or interesting in itself, or curious as
illustrating the state of literature and science at the time when they
were written.
Before the general reader can duly understand and appreciate the
contents of the present volume it is necessary that he should have
some knowledge of the manners, customs, and literature of the age when
it was written, and with the lucubrations of honest, but "magotie-
headed" John Aubrey, as he is termed by Anthony a Wood. Although I
have already endeavoured to portray his mental and personal
characteristics, and have carefully marked many of his merits,
eccentricities, and foibles, I find, from a more careful examination
of his "Natural History of Wiltshire" than I had previously devoted
to it, many anecdotes, peculiarities, opinions, and traits, which,
whilst they serve to mark the character of the man, afford also
interesting memorials of his times. If that age be compared and
contrasted with the present, the difference cannot fail to make us
exult in living, breathing, and acting in a region of intellect and
freedom, which is all sunshine and happiness, opposed to the gloom and
illiteracy which darkened the days of Aubrey. Even Harvey, Wren,
Flamsteed, and Newton, his contemporaries and friends, were slaves and
victims to the superstition and fanaticism of their age.
It has long been customary to regard John Aubrey as a credulous and
gossiping narrator of anecdotes of doubtful authority, and as an
ignorant believer of the most absurd stories. This notion was grounded
chiefly upon the prejudiced testimony of Anthony a Wood, and on the
contents of the only work which Aubrey published during his lifetime,-
an amusing collection of "Miscellanies" relating to dreams,
apparitions, witchcraft, and similar subjects. Though his " History of
Surrey" was of a more creditable character, and elicited the approval
of Manning and Bray, the subsequent historians of that county, an
unfavourable opinion of Aubrey long continued to prevail. The
publication of his " Lives of Eminent Men" tended, however, to raise
him considerably in the estimation of discriminating critics; and in
my own " Memoir" of his personal and literary career, with its
accompanying analysis of his unpublished works, I endeavoured (and I
believe successfully) to vindicate his claims to a distinguished place
amongst the literati of his times.
That he has been unjustly stigmatised amongst his contemporaries as an
especial votary of superstition is obvious, even on a perusal of his
most objectionable work, the "Miscellanies" already mentioned, which
plainly shews that his more scientific contemporaries, including even
some of the most eminent names in our country's literary annals,
participated in the same delusions. It would be amusing to compare the
"Natural History of Wiltshire" with two similar works on
"Oxfordshire" and " Staffordshire," by Dr. Robert Plot, which procured
for their author a considerable reputation at the time of their
publication, and which still bear a favourable character amongst the
topographical works of the seventeenth century. It may be sufficient
here to state that the chapters in those publications on the Heavens
and Air, Waters, Earths, Stones, Formed stones, Plants, Beastes, Men
and Women, Echoes, Devils and Witches, and other subjects, are very
similar to those of Aubrey. Indeed the plan of the latter's work was
modelled upon those of Dr. Plot, and Aubrey states in his Preface that
he endeavoured to induce that gentleman to undertake the arrangement
and publication of his "Natural History of Wiltshire". On comparing
the writings of the two authors, we cannot hesitate to award superior
merits to the Wiltshire antiquary.
A few passages may be quoted from the latter to shew that he was
greatly in advance of his contemporaries in general knowledge and
liberality of sentiment:-
" I have oftentimes wished for a mappe of England coloured according
to the colours of the earth; with markes of the fossiles and
minerals." (p. 10.)
"As the motion caused by a stone lett fall into the water is by
circles, so sounds move by spheres in the same manner; which, though
obvious enough, I doe not remember to have seen in any booke." (p.
18.)
"Phantomes. Though I myselfe never saw any such things, yet I will
not conclude that there is no truth at all in these reports. I believe
that extraordinarily there have been such apparitions; but where one
is true a hundred are figments. There is a lecherie in lyeing and
imposing on the credulous, and the imagination of fearfull people is
to admiration." [In other words, timid people are disposed to believe
marvellous stories.] (p. 122.)
"Draughts of the Seates and Prospects. If these views were well donn,
they would make a glorious volume by itselfe, and like enough it might
take well in the world. It were an inconsiderable expence to these
persons of qualitie, and it would remaine to posterity when their
families are gonn and their buildings ruined by time or fire, as we
have seen that stupendous fabric of Paul's Church, not a stone left on
a stone, and lives now only in Mr. Hollar's Etchings in Sir William
Dugdale's History of Paul's. I am not displeased with this thought as
a desideratum, but I doe never expect to see it donn; so few men have
the hearts to doe public good to give 4 or 5 pounds for a copper-plate."
p. 126.)
With regard to the history of the work now first published, it may be
stated that it was the author's first literary essay; being commenced
in 1656, and evidently taken up from time to time, and pursued "con
amore". In 1675 it was submitted to the Royal Society, when, as Aubrey
observed in a letter to Anthony á Wood, it "gave them two or three
dayes entertainment which they were pleased to like." Dr. Plot
declined to prepare it for the press, and in December 1684 strongly
urged the author to "finish and publish it" himself; he accordingly
proceeded to arrange its contents, and in the month of June following
(in the sixtieth year of his age) wrote the Preface, describing its
origin and progress. He states elsewhere that on the 21st of April
1686, he "finished the last chapter," and in the same year he had his
portrait painted by "Mr. David Loggan, the graver," expressly to be
engraved for the intended publication.
On the 18th of August 1686 he wrote the following Will: " Whereas I,
John Aubrey, R.S.S., doe intend shortly to take a journey into the
west; and reflecting on the fate that manuscripts use to have after
the death of the author, I have thought good to signify my last Will
(as to this Naturall History of Wilts): that my will and desire is,
that in case I shall depart this life before my returne to London
again, to finish, if it pleaseth God, this discourse, I say and
declare that my will then is, that I bequeath these papers of the
Natural History of Wilts to my worthy friend Mr. Robert Hooke, of
Gresham Colledge and R.S.S., and I doe also humbly desire him, and my
will is, that the noble buildings and prospects should be engraven by
my worthy friend Mr. David Loggan, who hath drawn my picture already
in order to it"
This document* shews at once the dangers and difficulties which
attended travelling in Aubrey's time, and also that he seriously
contemplated the publication of his favourite work.
* [It has been already printed in my Memoir of Aubrey. A note
attached to it shews that the author intended to incorporate with the
present work some portions of his MS. "Monumenta Britannica"; which
was also dedicated to the Earl of Pembroke.]
Neither his fears of death nor his hopes of publication were however
then realized: probably the political disturbances attending the
Revolution of 1688 interfered with the latter. In the November of the
year following that event Aubrey's friend and patron Thomas, Earl of
Pembroke, was elected President of the Royal Society, which
distinguished office he held only for one year. During that period the
author dedicated the " Natural History of Wiltshire " to his Lordship;
and there is little reason to doubt that the fair copy, now in the
Society's Library, was made by the author, and given to it in the year
1690. About the same time he had resolved to present his other
manuscripts, together with some printed books, coins, antiquities,
&c., to the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford; and most of them were
accordingly deposited there. He however appears to have retained his
original manuscript of the " Natural History," in which he made
several observations in the year 1691; that being the latest date
attached by him to any of the additions.†
† [Some of these additions of 1691 Aubrey afterwards transcribed into
certain blank spaces in the Royal Society's copy.]
On the 15th of September in the same year Aubrey sent this work to his
learned and scientific friend, John Ray, for his perusal. The latter
made a number of notes upon various parts of the manuscript, which he
retained till the 27th of the ensuing month; when he returned it with
the very judicious letter which will be found printed in this present
publication (p. 7.) He had acknowledged the receipt of the work in a
previous letter, in which he says: "I have read it over with great
pleasure and satisfaction. You doe so mingle "utile dulci" {the useful
with the sweet} that the book cannot but take with all sorts of
readers: and it is pity it should be suppressed; which, though you
make a countenance of, I cannot persuade myself you really intend to
do:" and then proceeds to criticise a few pedantic or "new-coyned "
words, and also the contents of Chapter VIII. (Part I.) It was
probably soon afterwards that Evelyn perused and added some notes to
the manuscript;‡ and in February 1694 Aubrey also lent the work to
Thomas Tanner (afterwards Bishop of St Asaph), at his earnest request.
He seems to have become acquainted with his fellow county-man, Tanner,
only a short time before this. The latter, although then only in his
twenty-first year, and pursuing his studies at Oxford, had acquired a
reputation for knowledge of English antiquities, and with the ardour
and enthusiasm of youth evinced much anxiety to promote the
publication of this and some of the other works of his venerable
friend. He added several notes to the manuscript, and whilst in his
possession it was no doubt examined also by Gibson. It is referred to
in the notes to the latter's edition of Camden's " Britannia."
‡ [Perhaps in May 1692 ; when he is known to have examined another of
Aubrey's works, "An Idea of Education of Young Gentlemen". - Evelyn's
notes to the "Wiltshire" are thus referred to in a memorandum by
Aubrey on a fly-leaf of the manuscript: "Mdm. That ye annotations to
which are prefixed this marke [J. E.] were writt by my worthy friend
John Evelyn, Esq. R.S.S. 'Twas pitty he wrote them in black lead; so
that I was faine to runne them all over againe with inke. I thinke not
more than two words are obliterated."]
Had Aubrey's life been spared a few years longer it is very possible
that most of his manuscripts would have been printed, under the
stimulus and with the assistance of his youthful friend. His
"Miscellanies," which appeared in 1696, seem to have owed their
publication to these influences; and in the Dedication of that work to
his patron the Earl of Abingdon, Aubrey thus expressly mentions
Tanner:- "It was my intention to have finished my Description of
Wiltshire (half finished* already), and to have dedicated it to your
Lordship, but my age is now too far spent for such undertakings.† I
have therefore devolved that task on my countryman Mr. Thomas Tanner,
who hath youth to go through with it, and a genius proper for such an
undertaking."
* [The work alluded to still remains "half finished," being a
Description of the " North Division" only of the county. It has
been printed by Sir Thomas Phillipps from the MS. in the Ashmolean
Museum. 4to. 1821-1838.]
† [He was then in his 71st year.]
A chapter of the "Natural History" (being "Fatalities of Families
and Places"), was at this time detached from the original manuscript
to furnish materials for the remarks on "Local Fatality," in the
"Miscellanies."
John Aubrey died suddenly in the first week in June 1697, and was
buried in the church of St. Mary Magdalen at Oxford, and from the time
of his decease the original draught of his Wiltshire History has been
carefully preserved in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, as the fair
copy of 1690 has also in the Library of the Royal Society in London.
Until the "Natural History of Wiltshire" was briefly described in my
own "Memoir" of its author, very little was known of it beyond the
mere fact of the existence of the two manuscripts. Copying from the
original at Oxford, Dr. Rawlinson printed the Preface and Dedication,
together with Ray's letter of the 27th October, 1691, as addenda to
his edition of Aubrey's "History of Surrey," (1719.) The same
manuscript was also noticed by Thomas Warton and William Huddesford in
a list of the author's works in the Ashmolean Museum.‡ Horace Walpole
referred to the Royal Society's copy in his Anecdotes of Painting
(1762); but though his reference seems to have excited the curiosity
of Gough, the latter contented himself with stating that he could not
find the work mentioned in Mr. Robertson's catalogue of the Society's
library.
‡ [This list forms a note to the "Lives of Leland, Hearne, and Wood"
(8° 1772). Though it includes the "Natural History," it omits the
"Description of North Wiltshire." The latter was known previously,
being mentioned by Aubrey himself in his Miscellanies, and also by Dr.
Rawlinson; and hence, Warton and Huddesford's list being supposed to
be complete, much confusion has arisen respecting these two of
Aubrey's works, which have been sometimes considered as identical.]
Some years ago Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., contemplated publishing
this "Natural History," but he appears to have abandoned his design.
A brief description of the present state of the two manuscripts, with
reference to the text of the volume now published, may be desirable.
The Oxford copy, which may be termed the author's rough draught, is in
two parts or volumes, demy folio, in the original vellum binding.§
Being compiled at various times, during a long series of years, it has
a confused appearance, from the numerous corrections and additions
made in it by Aubrey. A list of the chapters is prefixed to each
volume, whence it appears that Aubrey had intended to include some
observations on "Prices of Corne", "Weights and Measures",
"Antiquities and Coines", and "Forests, Parks, and Chaces". Most of
these topics are adverted to under other heads, but the author never
carried out his intention by forming them into separate chapters.
§ [The first volume has two title-pages. On one of them, as well as on
the cover, the work is called the "Natural History" of Wiltshire;
but the remaining title designates its contents as "Memoires of
Natural Remarques" in the county.]
Besides wanting the "Fatalities of Families and Places", taken out by
the author in 1696, as already stated, the Oxford manuscript is
deficient also in the chapters on "Architecture", "Accidents", and
"Seates". So far therefore as Aubrey's own labours are concerned, the
Royal Society's copy is the most perfect; but the notes of Ray,
Evelyn, and Tanner were written upon the Oxford manuscript after the
fair copy was made, and have never been transcribed into the latter.
The Royal Society's manuscript is entirely in Aubrey's own hand, and
is very neatly and carefully written, being in that respect, as well
as in its completeness, much superior to the original. Of the latter
it appears to have been an exact transcript; but it wants some of the
rude sketches and diagrams with which the original is illustrated. The
two parts form only one volume, demy folio, which is paged
consecutively from 1 to 373, and is bound in modern Russia leather.
As already stated, a copy of the entire work was made for the purposes
of this publication from the Royal Society's volume. The ownership of
this copy has since been transferred to George Poulett Scrope, Esq.
M.P., of Castle Combe, who has had it collated with the Oxford
manuscript, thus making it unique.
Every care has been taken to preserve the strictest accuracy in the
extracts now published, and with that view, as well as to correspond
with such of Aubrey's works as have been already printed, the original
orthography has been retained. The order and arrangement of the
chapters, and their division into two parts, are also adhered to. At
the commencement of each chapter I have indicated the nature of the
passages which are omitted in the present volume, and although such
omissions are numerous, it may be stated that all the essential and
useful portions of the work are either here printed, or so referred to
as to render them easily accessible in future to the scientific
student, the antiquary, and the topographer.
With respect to the Notes which I have added, as Editor of the present
volume, in correction or illustration of Aubrey's observations, I am
alone responsible.* It would have been easy to have increased their
number; for every page of the original text is full of matter
suggestive of reflection and comment. I am aware that a more familiar
acquaintance with the present condition of Wiltshire would have
facilitated my task, and added greatly to the importance of these
notes. On this point indeed I might quote the remarks of Aubrey in his
preface, for they apply with equal force to myself; and, like him, I
cannot but regret that no "ingeniouse and publique-spirited young
Wiltshire man" has undertaken the task which I have thus imperfectly
performed.
* [These are enclosed within brackets [thus], and bear the initials
J. B. Some of the less important are marked by brackets only.]
In closing this address, and also in taking leave of the county of
Wilts, as regards my literary connection with it, I feel it to be at
once a duty and a pleasure to record my acknowledgments and thanks to
those persons who have kindly aided me on the present occasion. When I
commenced this undertaking I did not anticipate the labour it would
involve me in, and the consequent time it would demand, or I must have
declined the task; for I have been compelled to neglect a superior
obligation which I owe to a host of kind and generous friends who have
thought proper to pay me and literature a compliment in my old age, by
subscribing a large sum of money as a PUBLIC TESTIMONIAL. In return
for this, and to reciprocate the compliment, I have undertaken the
laborious and delicate task of writing an AUTO-BIOGRAPHY which will
narrate the chief incidents of my public life, and describe the
literary works which I have produced. It is my intention to present a
copy of this volume to each subscriber, so as to perpetuate the event
in his own library and family, by a receipt or acknowledgment
commemorative of the mutual sympathy and obligation of the donor and
the receiver. Being now relieved from all other engagements and
occupations, it is my intention to prosecute this memoir with zeal and
devotion; and if health and life be awarded to me I hope to accomplish
it in the ensuing winter.*
* [The volume will contain at least fifteen illustrations from steel
copper, wood, and stone, and more than 300 pages of letterpress. A
copy of the work will be presented to each subscriber, proportionate
in value to the amount of the contribution. Hence three different
sizes of the volume will be printed, namely: imperial 4to, with India
proofs, fur subscribers of 10 [pounds}; medium 4to, with proofs, for
those of 3 {pounds} and 5 {pounds}; and royal 8vo, with a limited
number of prints, for subscribers of 1{pound} and 2 {pounds}.]
To the MARQUESS OF NORTHAMPTON, a native of Wiltshire, the zealous and
devoted President of the Royal Society, my especial thanks are
tendered for his influence with the Council of that Society, in
obtaining their permission to copy Aubrey's manuscript; and also to
GEORGE POULETT SCROPE, Esq. M.P., for contributing materially towards
the expense of the copy, and thereby promoting its publication.
To my old and esteemed friend the REV. DR. INGRAM, President of
Trinity College, Oxford, I am obliged for many civilities, and for
some judicious corrections and suggestions. His intimate
acquaintance with Wiltshire, his native county, and his general
knowledge of archaeology, as well as of classical and mediaeval
history, eminently qualify him to give valuable aid in all
publications like the present.
To JOHN GOUGH NICHOLS, Esq. F.S.A., both myself and the reader are
under obligations, for carefully revising the proof sheets for the
press, and for several valuable corrections.
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