[9] He then embarked on lengthy travels through Europe (Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, Netherlands) between 1663 and 1666 with John Ray, the nonconformist naturalist, and his fellow pupils Francis Willughby and Nathaniel Bacon.
[10] On their return Skippon wrote an account of their travels, concerning mainly topography, engines, antiquities, classical inscriptions (in which he was thoroughly proficient), buildings, and the like:[11][12] John Ray in 1673 dedicated the publication of his own account, which contained both his own and Willughby's botanical, zoological and naturalist observations, to Skippon, as being best able to vouch for the truth of what he wrote because he had been of his company when the observations were made.
[13] At the end of April 1664, in Naples, Ray and Skippon took ship for Messina, to continue their expedition together to Sicily, leaving Willughby and Bacon to return north to Rome.
[19] Mary receives, in addition to her settlement, a portrait of Major-General Skippon set in gold, various plate, five 20-shilling pieces of old gold, and selected books including Dr Burnet's History of the Reformation (two folios), Mr Cradock's book of Knowledge and Practice and Mrs Philips's Poems, and Cleopatra.
Anne receives a portrait of Philip's second wife, her share of the plate, five gold pieces, a pair of bloodstone bracelets, and the books, toys and other things in "the girles clossett".