The Historie of the World: Commonly Called the Natural History was written centuries before its 17th century publishing. It was written by C. Plinus Secundus, an early naturalist and natural philosopher who actually lived during the first century.
This work became an early model for all other encyclopedias, formed by a collection of writings that came out of Pliny’s extensive observations and investigations of the natural world. During this time, “history” also meant “description.”
This 1634 edition was translated by Philemon Holland, a doctor of physicke.