The Natural History of Wiltshire | Page 3

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