ancient and honourable sence Magia amongst the Persians was taken for a sublime sapience and a Science of the Harmony and concents of universalls in Nature so those three Easterne Kings which came to adore Christ are stiled by the name of Magi and we understand it in that sense as to be a Science which deduceth the knowledge of hidden formes to strange and wonderfull effects operations and as it is commonly said by joyning Actives with Passives which discloseth the great wonders of Nature As for the Naturall Magique which flies abroad in many mens bookes containing certain credulous and superstitious traditions and observations of Sympathies and Antipathies and of hidden and specifique proprieties with some experiments commonly frivolous strange rather for the art of convayance and disguisement than the thing it selfe surely he shall not much erre who shall say that this kind of magique is as farre differing in truth of Nature from such a knowledge as we require as the Bookes of the Gests of Arthur of Brittaine or of Hugh of Burdeaux differs from Caesars Commentaries in truth of story For it is manifest that Caesar did greater things de vero then they durst faine of their Heroes but he did them not in that fabulous manner Of this kind of Learning the Fable of Ixion was a figure who projecting with himselfe to enjoy Juno the Goddesse of Power had copulation with a cloude of which he begot Centaures and Chimeraes So whoever are carried away with a frantique and impotent passion and vaporous conceit to those things which only through the fumes and clouds of Imagination they fancy to themselves to see in stead of substantiall operations they are delivered of nothing but ayrie hopes and certain deformed and monstrous apparitions The operation and effect of this superficiary and degenerous Naturall Magique upon Men is like some soporiferous drugges which procure sleep and withall exhale into the fancy merry and pleasant dreams in sleepe First it casts mans understanding into a sleep still chanting and suggesting specificique proprieties and secret virtues and sent downe as it were from heaven to be delivered and to be learned only by auricular traditions whence it comes to passe that men are no more stirred up and awaked to search with diligence and to force out the true causes but sit downe satisfied with these frivolous and credulous opinions and then it instilles an infinite number of pleasing fictions in the manner of dreams and such as one would most wish to be true And it is worth the paines to note that in these sciences which hold so much of imagination as are that adulterate Magique whereof we now speak Alchymie Astronomie and the like the meanes and Theorie are ever more monstrous than the end and pretences The turning of Silver or Quick-silver or any other mettall into Gold is a hard thing to believe yet it is a thing farre more probable to a man well skilled and experimented in the natures of waight yellow Colour malleable and extensible as also fixt and volatile and likewise to one who hath exactly searcht into the first seeds and menstruous Purgings of Mineralls that Gold by an industrious and curious wit may at last be produced than that a few graines of Elixir or of the powder of Production should be of force in a few Minutes to turne Metalls into Gold by the activity of the same Elixir which is able to perfect nature and to deliver it from all impediments So the retarding of Age or the restoreing of some degree of youth doth not easily purchase a beliefe yet it is farre more likely to a man that knowes perfectly the nature of Arefaction and the depredations of the spirits upon the solide parts of the body and hath throughly observed the nature of Assimilation and of Alimentation either more perfect or more peccant also the nature of the spirits and of the Flame as it were of the body assigned sometimes to consume sometimes to repaire may by diets Bathings Anointings proper Medicines and accommodate motions and the like prolong life or renew some degrees of youth or vivacity then that this should be effected by a few drops or scruples of some precious Liquor or Quintescence Againe that Fates may be drawne from the starres men will not sodainly and easily assent unto but these that the houre of Nativity which oftentimes through many naturall accidents is either accelerated or differed should governe the fortune of the whole life or that the houre of Question is co-fatall with the thing it selfe which is sought you will say are meere impostures But such a rash impotency and intemperance doth possesse and infatuate the whole race of man that they doe not only presume upon and promise to themselves what is repugnant in nature to be performed but also are confident that they are able to conquer even at their pleasure and that by way of recreation the most difficult passages of nature without trouble or travaile And of Magique thus much the name whereof we have vindicated from reproach and separated the true and noble kind from the base and counterfeit II. Of this operative part of Nature there are two Appendices both of much importance The first is ✿ INVENTARIVM OPVM HVMANARVM that there be made an Jnventary of the estate of Man in which there should be taken and compendiously cast up the summe of all the wealth and fortunes of men whether they arise from the fruits and revenewes of nature or of Art which are now extant and whereof men are already possest adding such inventions as is manifest have bin in times past celebrated but are now perisht To this end and purpose that he who addresseth himselfe to the search of new Inventions may not be arrested in his inquest nor wast time and study in those things which are already invented and are now extant And this Inventary will be more artificiall and more serviceable if you adde those things which in populare conceit are reputed impossible and together with them couple such inventions as are neerest in degree to impossibles and yet are extant that the one may set an edge on mans enquiry the other may in a sort direct it and that from these Optatives and Potentialls mans Actives may be more readily conducted § The second is ✿ CATALOGVS POLYCHRESTORVM that there be made a Calendare of those experiments which are Polychrests things of a multifarious use most universall consequence which conduce and direct to the Invention of other experiments For example the artificiall experiment of conglaciation of water by Jce with black salt pertaines to infinite purposes and essaies for this discloseth the secret and abstruse manner of condensation than which nothing is more commodious for man As for Fire that is a ready and known Agent for Rarefaction but the mystery of Condensation is not yet fully discovered and it makes much for the abridgement of invention if Polychrests of this nature
counterfeit forces of the mind hir true powers which might be raised were right directions administred and she taught to become obsequious to things and not impotently to insult over them they passe by and loose This one way remaineth that the businesse be wholly reatempted with better preparations that there be throughout AN INSTAVRATION OF SCIENCES AND ARTS and of all Human Learning rais'd from solid foundations And this though it may seeme in a sort an infinit enterprize and above mortall abilities yet the same will be found more sound and advised than those performances which hetherto have bin atchieved for in this there is some issue but in the endeavours now undertaken about Sciences a perpetuall wheeling Agitation and Circle Neither is he ignorant how unfrequented this Experience is how difficile and incredible to perswade a beliefe yet he thought not to desert the designe nor himselfe but to try and set upon the way which alone is pervious and penetrable to the mind of Man For it is better to give a beginning to a thing which may once come to an end than with an eternall contention studie to be enwrapt in those mazes which are endlesse And the waies of Contemplation for most part resemble those celebrated waies of Action the one at the first entrance hard and difficult ends in an open plain the other at first fight ready and easy leads into by-waies and downfalls And being he was uncertain when such considerations should hereafter come into any mans mind induced especially from this argument that there hath none hetherto appear'd who hath applied his mind to such cogitations he resolv'd to publish seperatly the First parts as they could be perfected Neither is this an ambitious but sollicitous festination that if in the mean space he should depart this mortall station there might yet remain a designation and destination of the thing he comprehended in his mind and withall some Demonstration of his sincere and propense affection to promote the good of Mankind Truly he estimed other ambition whatsoever inferior to the businesse he had in hand For either the matter in consultation and thus farre prosequuted is nothing or so much as the conscience of the merit it selfe ought to give him contentment without seeking a recompence from abroad FRANCIS LO VERVLAM HIS GREAT INSTAVRATION THE PREFACE Of the STATE OF LEARNING that it is not PROSPEROUS nor greatly ADVANCED and that a farre different way than hath bin known to former Ages must be opened to mans understanding and other Aides procured that the Mind may practise her owne power upon the nature of things IT seemes to me that men neither understand the Estate they possesse nor their Abilities to purchase but of the one to presume more of the other lesse than indeed they should So it comes to passe that over-prizing the Arts received they make no farther Inquiry or undervaluing themselues more than in equity they ought they expend their Abilities upon matters of slight consequence never once making experiment of those things which conduce to the summe of the businesse Wherefore Sciences also have as it were their Fatall Columnes being men are not excited either out of Desire or Hope to penetrate farther And seeing the Opinion of Wealth is one of the chief causes of want and that out of a confidence of what we possesse in present true assistances are despised for the future it is expedient nay altogether necessary that the excessive Reverence and Admiration conceived of those Sciences which hetherto have bin found out should in the Front and Entrance of this work and that roundly and undissemblingly by some wholsome premonition be taken off lest their Copie and Vtility be too much Magnified and Celebrated For he that survaies with diligence all the variety of Books wherein Arts and Sciences triumph shall every where finde infinite repetitions of the same matter for manner of Delivery diverse but for Invention stale and preoccupate so as what at first view seem'd numerous after examination taken are found much abated § As for Profit J may confidently avouch it that the wisdome we have extracted chiefly from the Grecians seems to be a Child-hood of Knowledge and to participate that which is proper to children namely that it is apt for talk but impotent and immature for propagation for it is of Controversies rank and fertile but of works barren and fruitlesse So that the Fable and fiction of Scylla seemes to be a lively Image of the state of Learning as now it is which for the upper parts had the face and countenance of a comely Virgin but was from the wombe downward circled and enwrapt with barking Monsters So the Sciences wherein we are trained up contain in them certain Generalities specious and plausible but when you descend unto particulars as to the Parts of Generation expecting solid effects and substantiall operations then Contentions and Barking Altercations arise wherein they close and which supply the place of a fruitfull wombe § Again if these kinds of Sciences were not altogether a meere livelesse Thing me thinkes it should not have falne out which now for many Ages hath continued that they should thus stand at a stay in a manner immoveable in their first Footings without any Augmentation worthy the Race of Mankind in such a dull Jmproficience that not only Assertion remaines Assertion but Question rests still Question which by Disputes is not determined but fixt and cherisht and all Tradition and Succession of Discipline delivered from hand to hand presents and exhibits the Persons of Teacher and Schollar not of Inventor or of one should adde something of note to what is invented § But in Arts Mechanicall we see the contrary hath come to passe which as if they were inspired by the vitall breath and prolifique influence of a thriving Aire are daily Propagated and Perfected and which in their first Autors appeared for the most part rude and even burthensome and Formelesse have afterward acquir'd new-refind virtues and a certain apt Propriety and usefull Accommodation so infinitely fruitfull that sooner may mens studies and desires languish and change than these Sciences arive at their full height and perfection § Contrariwise Philosophy and Sciences Intellectuall like Statues are ador'd and celebrated but nothing Advanc't nay commonly of most vigor in their first Autor and by Time Degenerate and become embased For since the time men became devoted and as Pedary Senators resigned over to the Placits and Definitions of one they doe not adde any Amplitude to Sciences but are wholly taken up in a servile duty of Polishing or Protecting certain Autors § And let no man here alleage that Sciences growing up by degrees have at length arrived to a just period or perfect Stature and so as having filled up the just spaces of Augmentation have setled and fixt themselves in the workes of some few Autors and now that nothing more accomplisht can be found out there remaines no more to
Experiments of Light and Discovery not imitating the divine method which created the first day Light only and allowed it one entire Day produceing no Materiate work the same day but descended to their Creation the daies following § As for those who have given the preeminence unto Logique and are of opinion that the surest Guards for Sciences must be procur'd from thence they have truly and wisely discerned that the mind of man and Intellective Faculty left unto it self may deservedly be suspected But the remedy is too weak for the disease and is it self not exempt from Distemperature for the Logique in force though it may be rightly accommodated unto matters Civile and Populare Sciences which consist in Discourse and Opinion yet it comes farre short of penetrating the subtlety of Nature and undertaking more than it can master seemes rather to stablish and fixe Errors than to open a way to Truth § Wherefore to recollect what hath bin said it seemes that neither Information from others nor mens own Inquiries touching Sciences hath hetherto successefully shined forth especially seeing there is so litle certainty in Demonstration and Infallibility of Experiments thus farre discovered And the Fabrique of the Vniverse to the contemplative eye of the Mind for the frame thereof is like some Labyrinth or intricate Maze where so many doubtfull passages such deceivable resemblances of Things and Signes such oblique and serpentine windings and implicite knots of Nature every where present themselves as confounds the understanding And withall we must continually make our way through the woods of Experiences and particular Natures by the incertain Light of Sense sometimes shining sometimes shadowed yea and the guides which as hath bin toucht offer their assistance they likewise are entangled and help to make up the number of Errors and of those that Erre In matters of such perplext difficulty there is no relying upon the Iudgement of men from their own abilities or upon the Casuall Felicity of Particular events for neither the capacity of Man how excellent soever nor the chance of Experience never so often iterated and essayed is of force to conquer these mysteries we must march by line and levell and all the way even from the first perception of Senses must be secured and fortified by a certain Rule and constant Method of proceeding § Yet are not these things so to be understood as if in so many Ages and so much Industry nothing at all hath bin performed to purpose nor is there any cause why it should repent us of the Discoveries already made for certainly the Ancients in those speculations which consist in strength of wit and abstract meditation have approved themselves men of admirable comprehensions But as in the Art of Navigation the men of former Ages directing their course by obseruation of starres only could edge along the coast of the known Continent and it may be crosse some narrow Seas or the Mediterranean but before the Ocean could be thus commanded and the Regions of the new world discovered it was requisite that the use of the Mariners needle as a more sure and certain guide should be first found out even so what discoveries soever have bin hetherto made in Arts and Sciences they are of that quality as might have bin brought to light by Practice Meditation Observation and Discourse as things neerer the senses and for most part under the command of common Notions but before we can make our approaches to the remote and hidden secrets of Nature it is necessarily requisite that a better and more perfect use and practique-operation of the Mind and understanding Faculty be introduc't § As for us surely we vanquisht with an immortall love of Truth have expos'd our selves to doubtfull difficult and desert Pathes and by the protection and assistance of the Divine power have borne up and encouraged our selves against the violent Assaults and prepared Armies as it were of Opinions and against our own private and inward hesitations and scruples and against the cloudes and darknesse of Nature and euery where flying fancies that so we might procure the present and future Age more safe and sound Jndications and Impressions of Truth If in this high and arduous attempt we have made any Proficience surely by no other means have we cleered our selves a way than by a sincere and just humiliation of the spirit of Man to the lawes and operations of Nature For all they that went before us who applied themselves to the finding out of Arts casting a transient eye upon Things examples and experience have presently as if Jnvention were nothing else but a meere Agitation of Braine invoked in a manner their own spirits to divine and utter Oracles unto them but we being chastly and perpetually conversant with the operations of Nature divorce not the Jntellect from the Object farther than that the Images and beams of things as in sense may meet and concentrate by which manner of proceeding there is not much left to the strength and excellency of wit The same submission of spirit we have practised in discovery we have followed in Delivery Nor have we endeavour'd to set off ourselves with Glory or draw a Majesty upon our inventions either by Triumphs of Confutations or Depositions of Antiquity or an usurpation of Authority or the vaile of Obscurity which are Arts he may easily find out whose study is not so much the Profit of others as Applause to himselfe I say we neither have practised nor goe we about by force or fraud to circumvent mens Judgements but conduct them to the things themselves and to the league and confederacy of Things that they may see what they have what they reprehend what they adde and contribute to the Publique And if we have bin too credulous or too dormant and not so intentive upon the matter or languisht in the way or broken off the thread of the Inquiry yet notwithstanding we present things after such a manner open and naked that our Errors may be detected and separated before they can spread themselves or insinuate their Contagion into the masse of Sciences and after such a Method as the continuation of our labours is a matter facile and expedite By this means we presume we have establisht for ever a true and legitimate Marriage between the Empiricall and Rationall faculty whose fastidious and unfortunate Divorce and Separation hath troubled and disordered the whole Race and Generation of Man-kind § And seeing these performances are not within the compasse of our meere naturall Power and command we doe heere in the Accesse to this work Powre forth humblest and most ardent supplications to God the Father God the Word God the Spirit that they being mindfulll of the Miseries of Mankind and of the Pilgrimage of this life wherein we weare out few evill daies they would vouchsafe to endow mankind by my hand with new Donatives And moreover we humbly pray that Humane knowledges may no way impeach or prejudice
of State to Diaries Acts and Accidents of a meaner nature And in my judgment a Discipline of Heraldry would be to purpose in the disposing of the merits of Books as of the merits of Persons For as nothing doth more derogate from Civile Affaires than the confusion of Orders and Degrees so it doth not a litle embase the authority of a grave History to intermingle matters of triviall consequence with matters of State such as are Triumphs and Ceremonies Shews and Pageants and the like And surely it could be wisht that this distinction would come into Custome In our Times Iournals are in use only in Navigations and Expeditions of warre Amongst the Ancients it was a point of Honour to Princes to have the Acts of their Court referr'd to Iournals Lib. Esth Cap. 6. Which we see was preserv'd in the raign of Ahasuerus King of Persia who when he could not take rest call'd for the Chronicles wherein hee reviewed the Treason of the Evnuches past in his owne time Plutarch Symp. 1. But in the Diaries of Alexander the Great such small Particularities were contained that if he chanc'd but to sleepe at the Table it was Registred For neither have Annals only compriz'd grave matters and Iournals only light but all were promiscuously cursorily taken in Diaries whether of greater or of lesser Importance CAP. X. A Second Partition of History Civile into Simple and Mixt. § Cosmographic a mixt History THE last Partition of Civile History may be this History Simple and Mixt. The Commune Mixtures are two the one from Civile Knowledge the other specially from Naturall For there is a kind of writing introduc'd by some to set down their Relations not continued according to the Series of the History but pickt out according to the choice of the Author which he after re-examines and ruminates upon and taking occasion from those selected pieces discourses of Civile Matters Which kind of Ruminated History we doe exceeding well allow of so such a Writer doe it indeed and professe himselfe so to doe But for a man resolvedly writeing a Just History every where to ingest Politique inter-laceings and so to break off the thread of the story is unseasonable and tedious For although every wise History be full and as it were impregnate with Politicall Precepts and Counsils yet the Writer himselfe should not be his own Mid-wife at the delivery § Cosmography likewise is a mixt-History for it hath from Naturall History the Regions themselves and their site and commodities from Ciuile History Habitations Regiments and Manners from the Mathematiques Climates and the Configurations of the Heavens under which the Coasts and Quarters of the World doe lye In which kind of History or Knowledge we have cause to Congratulate our Times for the world in this our age hath through-lights made in it after a wonderfull manner The Ancients certainly had knowledge of the Zones and of the Anti-podes Virg. Geor. 1. Nosque ubi Primus Equis Oriens afflavit anhelis Jllic sera Rubens accendit Lumina vesper and rather by Demonstrations than by Travels But for some small keele to emulate Heaven it selfe and to Circle the whole Globe of the Earth with a more oblique and winding Course than the Heavens doe this is the glory and prerogative of our Age. So that these Times may justly bear in their word not only Plus ultra whereas the Ancients used non ultra and also imitabile fulmen for the Ancients non imitabile fulmen Demens qui Nimbos non imitabile Fulmen Virg. Aen. 6 But likewise that which exceeds all admiration imitabile Coelum our voyages to whom it hath bin often granted to wheele and role about the whole compasse of the Earth after the manner of Heavenly Bodies And this excellent felicity in Nauticall Art and environing the world may plant also an expectation of farther PROFICIENCIES AND AUGMENTATIONS OF SCIENCES specially seeing it seems to be decreed by the divine Counsill that these two should be Coaevals for so the Prophet Daniel speaking of the latter times foretells Plurimi pertransibunt augebitur Scientia Cap. 12. as if the through Passage or Perlustration of the World and the various propagation of knowledge were appointed to be in the same Ages as we see it is already performed in great part seeing our times doe not much give place for Learning to the former two Periods or Returnes of Learning the one of the Graecians the other of the Romans and in some kinds farre exceed them CAP. XI I. The Partition of Ecclesiasticall History into the Generall History of the Church II. History of Prophesy III. History of Providence HIstory Ecclesiasticall falls under the same division commonly with Civile History for there are Ecclesiasticall Chronicles there are Lives of Fathers there are Relations of Synods and the like pertaining to the Church In proper expression this kind of History is divided into the History of the Church by a generall name History of Prophesy and History of Providence The first recordeth the times and different state of the Church Militant whether she flote as the Arke in the Deluge or sojourne as the Arke in the Wildernesse or be at rest as the Arke in the Temple that is the State of the Church in Persecution in Remove and in Peace In this Part I find no Deficience but rather more things abound therein than are wanting only this I could wish that the virtue and syncerity of the Narrations were answerable to the greatnesse of the Masse II The Second Part which is the History of Prophesie consisteth of two Relatives the Prophesy it selfe and the accomplishment thereof wherefore the designe of this worke ought to be that every Prophesy of Scripture be sorted with the truth of the event and that throughout all the ages of the world both for Confirmation of Faith as also to plant a Discipline skill in the Interpretation of Prophesies which are not yet accomplish't But in this work that latitude must be allowed which is proper and familiar unto Divine Prophesies that their accomplishments may be both perpetuall and punctual For they resemble the nature of their Auctor to whom one day is as a thousand yeares Psal 90 and a thousand yeares are but as one day And though the fulnesse and height of their complement be many times assigned to some certaine age or certaine point of time yet they have neverthelesse many staires and scales of Accomplishment throughout diverse Ages of the world This worke I set down as DEFICIENT ✿ but it is of that nature as must be handled with great wisdome sobriety and reverence or not at all III The third Part which is the History of Providence hath fallen indeed upon the Pens of many pious Writers but not without siding of Partiaries and it is imployed in the observation of that divine Correspondence which often interveneth betweene Gods revealed Will and his secret Will For though the
a Loadstone cast in this doubt Whether or no ponderous bodies after a great distance and long discontinuance from the earth may not put off their motion towards the inferior Globe § The two ensignes which Pan bears in his hands doe point the one at Harmony the other at Empirie for the Pipe of seven Reeds doth evidently demonstrate the consent and Harmony or discordant concord of Nature which is caused by the motion of the seaven wandring starres for there are no other Errors or manifest Expatiations in heaven save those of the seaven Planets which being intermingled and moderated with the equality of the fixed starres and their perpetuall and invariable distance one from the other may maintaine and excite both the constancy in specificall and the fluency of Individuall Natures If there be any lesser Planets which are not conspicuous or any greater Mutation in heaven as in many superlunary Comets they seem but like Pipes either altogether mute or only streperous for a time because their influence either doth not stream down so low as to us or doth not long interrupt the Harmony of the seaven Pipes of Pan. And that Staffe of Empirie may be excellently applied to the order of Nature which is partly right partly crooked And this staffe or rodde is especially crooked at the upper end because all the works of Divine Providence are commonly fetcht about by circuits and windings so that one thing may seem to be done and yet indeed a clean contrary brought to passe as the selling of Ioseph into Aegypt and the like Gen. 45. Besides in all wise humane Goverment they that sit at the helme doe more happily bring their purposes about and insinuate more easily things fit for the people by pretexts and oblique courses than by downe-right dealing Nay which perchance may seem very strange in things meerely naturall you may sooner deceive nature than force her so improper and selfe-impeaching are open direct proceedings whereas on the other side an oblique and an insinuing way gently glides along and compasseth the intended effect § Pans Cloak or Mantle is ingeniously faigned to be the Skin of a Leopard because it is full of spots so the Heavens are spotted with starres the Sea with Ilands the Land with flowers and every particular creature also is for most part garnished with diverse colours about the superficies which is as it were a Mantle unto it § The office of Pan could be by nothing so conceived and exprest to the life as by faigning him to be the God of Hunters for every naturall Action and so by consequence motion and progression is nothing else but a Hunting Arts and Sciences have their works and humane Counsils their ends which they earnestly hunt after All naturall things have either their food as a Prey or their pleasure as a recreation which they seek for and that in a quick-discursive and discerning way Virg. B. 2. Torva leaena Lupum sequitur Lupus ipse Capellum Florentem Cythisum sequitur lasciva Capella § Pan is also said to be the God of the Country Swaines because men of this condition lead lives more agreeable unto Nature than those that live in the Citties and Courts of Princes where Nature by too much Art is corrupted so as the saying of the Poet though in the sense of love may be here verified Mart. Ep. Pars minima est ipsa puella sui § Pan was held to be Lo. President of the Mountaines because in high Mountaines and Hills Nature laies hir selfe most open and is most displaied to the view and contemplation of men § Whereas Pan is said to be next unto Mercury the Messenger of the Gods there is in that a Divine Mystery contained because next unto the word of God the Image of the world proclaimes the Divine power and wisdome as records the sacred Poet Psal 19. The Heavens proclaime the Glory of God and the vast Expansion reports the works of his hands § The Nymphs that is the Soules of living things give great delight to Pan for the soules of the living are the Minions of the World The Conduct of these Nymphs is with great reason attributed to Pan because these Nymphs or Soules of the liveing doe follow their naturall disposition as their guides and with infinite variety every one of them after the fashion of his country doth leap and dance with uncessant motion about hir N. L. Wherefore one of the Moderne very ingeniously hath reduced all the power of the Soule into Motion noteing the misprision and precipitancy of some of the ancients who fixing their eyes and thoughts with unadvised hast upon Memory Imagination and Reason have past over the Cogitative faculty untoucht which hath a chiefe part in the order of conception For he that calleth a thing into his mind whether by impression or recordation cogitateth and considereth and he that imployeth the faculty of his phansie also cogitateth and he that reasoneth doth in like manner cogitate or advise and to be briefe the Soule of man whether admonisht by sense or left to her own liberty whether in functions of the Intellect or of the affections and of the will dances to the musicall aires of the cogitations which is that tripudiation of the Nymphs § The Satyres and Sileni are perpetuall followers of Pan that is old age and youth for of all naturall things there is a lively jocund and as I may say a danceing age and a dull flegmatique age the carriages and dispositions of both which ages may peradventure seeme to a man which seriously observes them as ridiculous and deformed as those of the Satyres or of the Sileni § Touching the Terrors which Pan is said to be the Author of there may be made a wise instruction namely that Nature hath implanted in every living thing a kind of care and feare tending to the preservation of its own life and being and to the repelling and shunning of all hurtfull encounters And yet Nature knows not how to keepe a mean but alwaies intermixeth vaine and empty fears with such as are discreet and profitable so that all things if their insides might be seen would appear full of Panique frights but specially Men and above all other men the people which are wonderfully travailed and tossed with superstition specially in hard and formidable and adverse times which indeed is nothing else but a Panique terror Nor doth this superstition raigne only in the vulgar but from popular opinions breaks out some times upon wise men as Divinely Epicurus if the rest of his discourses touching the Gods had bin conformable to this rule Non Deos vulgi negare prophanum Laert. in Epicur sed vulgi opiniones diis applicare prophanum § Concerning the audacity of Pan and his combate upon challenge with Cupid the meaning of it is that matter wants not inclination and desire to the relapsing and dissolution of the World into the old Chaos if hir malice
of that Facultie II We will divide it into three Parts which we will call the three Duties thereof The first is Conservation of health the second the Cure of Diseases the third Prolongation of Life § But for this last duty Physitians seeme not to have acknowledg'd it as any principall part of their Art but have ignorantly enough mingled and confounded it as one and the same with the other two For they suppose that if Diseases be repelled before they seize upon the body or be cured after they have surpriz'd the body that Prolongation of Life must naturally follow Which though it be so without all question yet they doe not so exactly consider that these two offices of Conservation and Curation only pertain to diseases and to such Prolongation of Life alone which is abreviated intercepted by diseases But to draw out the thread of Life and to prorogue Death for a season which silently steales upon us by naturall resolution and the Atrophie of Age is an argument that no Physitian hath handled it according to the Merit of the subject Neither let that scruple trouble the minds of Men Fatū Stoic horr Dogma as if this thing committed to the dispensation of Fate and the divine providence were now by us first repealed and commended to the charge and office of Art For without doubt Providence doth dispose and determine all kind of deaths whatsoever whether they come of violence or from diseases or from the Course of Age and yet doth not therefore exclude Preventions and Remedies For Art and human industry doe not command and rule Fate and nature but serve and administer unto them But of this part we shall speak anon thus much in the meane by way of anticipation least any should unskilfully confound this third office of Medicine with the two former which usually hitherto hath bin done § As for the duty of preservation of Health the first duty of the three many have written thereof as in other points very impertinently so in our judgement in this particular in attributing too much to the quality of meats and too litle to the quantity thereof and in the quantity it selfe they have discoursed like Morall Philosophers excessively praising Mediocrity whereas both fasting changed to custome and full feeding to which a man hath inured himselfe are better regiments of health than those Mediocrities which commonly enervate Nature and make hir slothfull and impatient if need should be of any extremity excesse or indigence And for the divers kindes of Exercise which much conduce to the conservation of health none of that profession hath well distinguisht or observed whereas there is hardly found any disposition to a disease which may not be corrected by some kind of exercise proper to such an infirmity As bowling is good against the weaknesse of the Reines shooteing against the obstruction of the Longes walking and upright deport of the body against the crudities of the stomack and for other diseases other exercitations But seeing this part touching the conservation of health hath bin in every point after a sort handled it is not out purpose to pursue lesser deficiencies III. As concerning the cures of Diseases that is a Part of Medicine whereon much labour hath bin bestowed but with small profit It comprehendeth in it the knowledge of Diseases to which mans body is subject together with the Causes Symptomes and Cures thereof In this second Duty of Medicine many things are deficient of these we will propound a few which are more remarkable which to enumerate without precise order or Method we suppose sufficient ✿ NARRATIONES MEDICINALES § The first is the discontinuance of that profitable and accurate diligence of Hippocrates whose custome was to set downe a Narrative of the speciall cases of his patients what the Medicament what the event Therefore having so proper and notable a precident from him who was accounted the Father of the Art we shall not need to alleage any example forraine fetcht from other Arts as from the wisdome of the lawyers with whom nothing is more usuall than to set downe and enter more notable cases and new decisions whereby they may the better furnish and direct themselves for the definition of future cases Wherefore I finde this continuation of Medicinall Reports deficient specially digested into one entire Body with diligence and judgement which yet I understand not to be made so ample as to extend to every common case that daily falls out for that were an infinite worke and to small purpose nor yet so reserved and contracted as to admit none but Prodigies and wonders as many have done for many things are new in the manner and circumstances of the thing which are not new in the kinde and he that shall give his mind to observe shall finde many things even in matters vulgar worthy observation ✿ ANATOMIA COMPARATA § So in Disquisitions Anatomicall the manner is that those parts which pertaine in generall to Mans Body are most diligently enquired and observed even to a curiosity and that in every least filet but as touching the variety which is found in diverse bodies there the diligence of Physitions failes And therefore I grant that simple Anatomy hath bin most cleerely handled but COMPARATIVE ANATOMIE I define to be deficient For men have made a good enquiry into all the parts and into their consistencies figures and collocations but the diverse figure condition and posture of those parts in diverse men they have not so well observed The reason of this omission I suppose is no other than this that the first inquiry may be satisfied in the view of one or two Anatomies but the later being COMPARATIVE and Casuall must arise from the attentive and exact observation of many Dissections and the first is a matter wherein learned Professors in their Lectures the presse of spectators standing about them may vaunt themselves but the second kind of Anatomie is a severe knowledge which must be acquired by a retired speculation and a long experience Neverthelesse there is no doubt but that the Figure and Structure of the inward parts is very litle inferior for variety and lineaments to the outward members and that Hearts and Livers and Ventricles are as different in men as are either their Foreheads or Noses or Eares § And in these differences of inward parts there are often found the Causes continent of many diseases which Physitians not observing doe sometime accuse the Humors which are not delinquent the fault being in the very Mechanique Frame of some part In the cure of which Diseases to apply Alterative Medicines is to no purpose because the part peccant is incapable of such alteration but the matter must be mended and accommodated or palliated by a prescript Diet and familiar Medicines So likewise to COMPARATIVE ANATOMY appertaine accurate observations as well of all kind of humors as of the footsteps and impressions of diseases in diverse
diligence of Divines being practis'd in Duties Morall virtues Cases of Conscience and circumscriptions of sinne have farre out-gone the Philosophers Notwithstanding to returne to the Philosophers if before they had address'd themselves to the popular and reciv'd notions of Virtue Vice Paine Pleasure and the rest they had stayd a litle longer and had searched the Rootes of Good and Evill and the strings of those Rootes they had given in my judgement a great light unto all which might fall into enquirie afterwards especially if they had consulted as well with the Nature of things as with the Axioms of Moralitie they had made their Doctrines lesse prolixe and more profounde which being by them eyther altogither omitted or very confusedly handled wee will briefely reexamine and endeavour to open and cleare the springs of Morall habits before we come unto the doctrine of the Culture or Manurance of the Minde which we set downe as DEFICIENT II. There is imbred and imprinted in every thing an appetite to a duple Nature of Good the One as everything is a Totall or Substantive in it selfe the other as it is a part or membre of some greater Totall and this latter is more excellent and potent than the other because it tendeth to the conservation of a more ample forme The first may be called Jndividuall or selfe-Good the latter the Good of Communion Jron in a particular Sympathie moves to the Loadstone but yet if it exceed a certaine Quantitie it forsakes those affections and like a good Citizen a true Patriot moves to the Earth which is the Region and Country of its connaturalls To proceed a litle further Dense and Massie Bodies move to the earth to the great Congregation of close-compacted Bodies yet rather than to suffer a divulsion in the continuance of nature and that there should be as they call it a Vacuum these Bodies will move upwards forsaking their dutie to the Earth that they may performe the generall duty they owe unto the World So it is ever seen that the Conservation of the more generall and publique forme commands and governs the lesser and more particular Appetites and Inclinations But this Prerogative of the Good of Communion is especially engraven upon Man if he degenerate not according to that memorable speech of Pompeius Magnus who being in Commission for purveyance for a Famine at Rome and being disswaded with great vehemence and instance by his friends that hee would not hazard himselfe to Sea in an extremitie of weather he answered only this Necesse est ut eam non ut vivam So as the love of life which in every Individuall Creature is so predominant an affection could not out-ballance his love and loyaltie to the state But why doe we dwell upon this Point There was never extant in any age of the world either Philosophy or Sect or Religion or Law or Discipline which hath so highly exalted the Good of Communion and depress'd Good private and particular as the Holy Christian Faith whereby it cleerely appeares that it was one and the same God that gave the Christian Law to Men who gave those Lawes of Nature to Creatures of inferior order Wherefore we read that many of the elect Saints of God have rather wished themselves anathematiz'd and raz'd out of the Book of Life than that their brethren should not attain salvation Rom. IX provoked through an extasie of Charitie and an infinite feeling of the Good of Communion This being set down and strongly planted doth judge and determine many of the profoundest Controversies in Morall Philosophie For first it decideth the Question touching the preferment of the Contemplative or Active life and that against the opinion of Aristotle for all the reasons which he brings for the Contemplative respect a private Good and the pleasure and dignitie of an Individuall onely in which respects no question a Contemplatixe life hath the preheminence For the Contemplative life is not much unlike to that comparison to which Pythagoras made for the gracing and magnifying of Philosophie and Contemplation who being askt by Hiero what he was answered That if Hiero were ever at the Olympian Games Iamb in vita he knew the manner that some came to trie their fortunes for the prizes and some came as Merchants to utter their commodities and some came to make good cheere to be merry and to meet with their friends and some came to look on and that hee was one of them that came to look on But men must know that in this Theatre of Mans life it is reserved onley for God and Angels to be Lookers on Neither surely could it have bin that any doubt touching this point should ever have bin rais'd in the Church notwithstanding that saying was frequent in many mens Mouths Psal CXVI Pretiosa in oculis Domini mors sanctorum ejus by which place they use to exalt their Civile Death and the Lawes of a Monastique and Regulare course of life but upon this defence that the Monasticall life is not simply Contemplative but is altogether conversant in Ecclesiastique Duties such as are incessant Prayer Sacrifices of Vowes performed to God the writing also in such great leasure Theologicall Books for the propagation of the knowledge of the Divine Law Exod. XXIII as Moses did when he abode so many daies in the retir'd secresie of the Mount And so we see Enoch the seventh from Adam who seemes to be the first founder of a Contemplative life Gen. V. for he is said to have walked with God yet endowed the Church with a Book of Prophecie which is also cited by St Iude. In Epist But as for a meere Contemplative life and terminated in it selfe which casteth no Beames of heat or light upon humane society assuredly Divinity knowes it not It decides also the Question controverted with such heat between the Schooles of Zeno and Socrates on the one side who placed Felicitie in Virtue simple or attended which hath a great share in the Duties of life and on the other side other Sects and Professions as the Schooles of the Cirenaiques and Epicureans who placed it in pleasure and made Virtue as it is used in some Comoedies where the Mistresse and the Maid change habits to be but as a hand-maid without which Pleasure cannot be well waited and attended upon as also that other as it were reformed Schoole of Epicurus Laert. in vita which asserted Felicity to be nothing else than a Tranquilitie and Serenitie of Minde free and void of all Perturbations as if they would have deposed Jupiter from his Throne and restored Saturne with the Golden Age when there was no Summer nor Winter nor Spring nor Autumne but all after one Aire and Season Lastly the exploded Schoole of Pyrrho and Herillus which placed Felicity in the utter extinction and extirpation of all the scruples and disputes of the mind making no fixt and constant nature of Good and Evill but estiming
man unlesse you provoke him nor Proteus ever changed shapes untill he was straitned and held fast with cordes so nature provoked and vexed by Art doth more cleerely appear than when she is left free to hir selfe But before we dismisse this part of Naturall History which we call Mechanicall and Experimentall this must be added That the body of such a History must be built not only upon Mechanicall Arts themselves but the operative part of Liberall sciences as also upon many practices not yet grown up into Art that nothing profitable may be omitted which availes to the information of the understanding And so this is the first Partition of Naturall History CAP. III. I. The Second Partition of Naturall History from the use and end thereof into Narrative and Inductive And that the most noble end of Naturall History is that it minister and conduce to the building up of Philosophy which end Inductive History respecteth II. The partitiō of the History of Generations into the History of the Heavens The History of the Meteors The History of the Earth and Sea The History of Massive Bodies or of the greater Corporations The History of Kindes or of the lesser Corporations I. NAturall History as in respect of the subiect it is of three sorts as we observed before so in respect of the use of two for it is applied either for the knowledge of things themselves recorded in History or as the Primitive matter of Philosophy The former of these which either for the pleasure of the Narrations is delightfull or for the practice of experiments is usefull and for such pleasure or profits sake is pursued is of farre inferior quality compared with that which is the Materialls and Provision of a true and just Induction and gives the first suck to Philosophy wherefore let us again divide Naturall History into History Narrative and INDUCTIVE this latter we report as DEFICIENT Nor doe the great names of Ancient Philosophers or the mighty volumes of Moderne writers so astonish my sense for I know very well that Naturall History is already extant ample for the masse for variety delightfull and often curious for the diligence but if you take from thence Fables and Antiquity and Allegations of Authors and vain Controversies Philology and Ornaments which are accommodate to Table-talke or the night-discourses of Learned men then will the sequel for the INSTAURATIONS or PHILOSOPHY come to no great matter And to speak truth this is farre short of the variety which we intend For first those two parts of Naturall History whereof we have spoken The History of Praeter-generations and of Arts matters of great consequence are there Deficient than in that third generall Part mentioned before namely of Generations of five parts thereof the Naturall History extant gives satisfaction only to one II. For the History of Generations hath Five subordinate Parts The first is of Celestiall Bodies which comprehends the PHAENOMENA sincere and not dogmatiz'd into any peremptory assertions The second of Meteors with the Comets and of the Regions as they call them of the Aire neither is there extant any History concerning Comets Fiery Meteors Windes Raine Tempests and the rest of any valew The third is of the Earth and of the Water as they are integrall parts of the world of Mountaines of Rivers of Tydes of Sands of Woods as also of the Figure of the continents as they are stretcht forth in all these particulars the Inquiries and Observations are rather Naturall than Cosmographicall Fourthly touching the generall Masses of Matter which we stile the Greater Collegiats commonly called the Elements Neither are there found any narrations touching Fire Aire Water and of their Natures Motions Workings Impressions which make up any complete Body The fift and the last Part is of the Perfect and exact Collections which we entitle the lesser Collegiats commonly called Kindes or Specifiques Jn this last part only the industry of writers hath appeared yet so as was prodigally wasted in superfluous matter swelling with the outward descriptions of liveing Creatures or of Plants and such like than enricht with solid and diligent observations which in naturall History should every where be annext and interserted And to speak in a word all the naturall History we have as well in regard of the Inquisition as of the Collection is no way proportionable in reference to that end whereof we speak namely the Raiseing and advancing of Philosophy Wherefore we pronounce Inductive History Deficient And thus farre of naturall History CAP. IV. I. The Partition of Civill History into Ecclesiasticall and Literary and which retaines the generall name Civile II. Literary Deficient § Precepts how to compile it I. CIvile History in our Judgement is rightly divided into three kindes first into Sacred or Ecclesiasticall then into that which retaines the generall name Civile lastly into that of Learning and Arts. We will begin with that kinde we set down last because the other are extant but this I thought good to report as DEFICIENT ✿ it is the HISTORY OF LEARNING And surely the History of the world destitute of this may be thought not unlike the statue of Polyphemus with his eye out that part of the Image being wanting which doth most shew the nature and spirit of the Person And though we set downe this as Deficient yet we are not ignorant that in divers particular sciences of Iuris-consults Mathematicians Rhetoricians Philosophers there are made some slight Memorialls and small relations of Sects Schooles Books Authors and such like successions of sciences There are likewise extant some weak and barren discourses touching the Inventors of Arts and Vsages but a Iust and Generall HISTORY OF LEARNING we avouch that none hetherto hath bin publisht Wherefore we will propound the Argument the way how to contrive it and the use thereof II. The Argument is nothing else but a recitall from all Times what Knowledges and Arts in what Ages and Climates of the world have florisht Let there be made a commemoration of their Antiquities Progresses and Peragrations through diverse parts of the world for Sciences shift and remove as people doe Againe of their Declensions Oblivions and Instaurations Let there likewise be observations taken through all Arts of the occasion and originall of their Jnvention of their Manner of delivery and the discipline of their managings Course of study and exercises Let there also be added the Sects then on foot and the more famous controversies which busied and exercised Learned men the Scandalls and reproches to which they lay open the Lands and Honours wherewith they were grac't Let there be noted the Chiefest Authors the best Bookes Schooles Successions Vniversities Societies Colledges Orders and whatsoever else belongs to the State of Learning But above all let this be observed which is the Grace and Spirit of Civile History that the Causes and Consultations be Connexed with the events namely that the nature of Countries and People be recorded the dispositions
apt and able or inept and inable for diverse disciplines the Occurrences of time Adverse or Propitious to Learning the zeales and mixtures of Religions the Discountenances and favours of Lawes and lastly the eminent virtues and sway of Persons of note for the promoteing of Learning and the like But our advise is that all these points be so handled that time be not wasted in praise and censure of particulars after the manner of Critiques but that things be plainly and historically related and our own judgements very sparingly interposed § As for the manner of compileing such a History we doe especially admonish thus much that the Matter and Provision thereof be drawn not only from Histories and Critiques but also that through every century of years or lesser Intervalls by a continued sequence of time deduced from the highest antiquity the best Bookes written within those distinguisht spaces of time be consulted with that from a tast and observation of the argument stile and method thereof and not a through perusall for that were an infinite work the learned spirit of that age as by a kind of charme may be awakt and rais'd up from the dead § As touching the use of this Work it is design'd to this end not that the Honour and State of Learning usher'd in by so many Images and Ghosts of the Learned should be celebrated or that for the earnest affection we bear to Learning we desire even to a curiosity to enquire and know and to conserve whatsoever to the state of Learning may any way appertaine but chiefly for a more serious and grave purpose It is in few words this For that such a Narration as we have described in our opinion may much conferre to the wisdome and judgement of Learned men in the use and administration of Learning and that the passions and perturbations the vices and virtues as well about Intellectuall matters as Civile may be observed and the best Presidents for practise may be deduced therefrom For it is not Saint Austines nor Saint Ambrose workes as we suppose that will make so wise a Bishop or a Divine as Ecclesiasticall story throughly read and observed which without question may befall Learned men from the History of Learning For whatsoever is not munited and sustained by Examples and Records is exposed to imprudency and ruine Thus much of the History of Learning CAP. V. Of the Dignity § And Difficulty of Civile History CIvile History properly so called comes now to be handled The Dignity and Authority whereof is very eminent among secular writings For upon the credit of this History the examples of our Ancestors the vicissitudes of Affaires the grounds of Civile Prudence and the Name and Fame of men depend § But the Difficulty is as great as the Dignity for to draw back the mind in writing to the contemplation of matters long agoe passed and thus as it were to make it aged to search out with diligence and to deliver with faith and freedome and with the life and height of expression to represent unto the eyes the changes of times the characters of Persons the incertainties of Counsils the Conveyances of Actions as of waters the subtileties of Pretentions the secrets of State is a taske of great paines and judgement especially seeing Ancient reports are subject to incertainty Moderne liable to danger Wherefore the errors are many which attend Civile History whilest some write poore and popular Relations the very reproach of History others patch up in a rash hast and unequall contexture particular Reports and briefe Memorialls others slightly runne over the heads of actions done others on the contrary pursue every triviall Circumstance nothing belonging to the summe and issue of things some out of a too partiall indulgence to their own wit take confidence to faine many things but others adde and imprint upon affaires the Image not so much of their own wit as of their affections mindfull rather of their own parts than to become Religious deponents for truth others every where interlace such Politique observations as they most fancy and seeking occasion of digression for ostentation too slightly break off the contexture of the discourse others for want of moderation and judgement over doe things by the prolixity of their speeches Haranges or other performances so as it is sufficiently manifest that in the writings of men there is not any kind more rare than a just History and in all points complete and perfect But our purpose at this present is to set down a partition of knowledge for the observation of parts omitted and not a censure of parts erroneous Now we will proceed to the Partitions of Civile History and those of diverse sorts for the particular kindes will be lesse intangled if diverse partitions be propounded than if one partition by diverse members be curiously drawn out CAP. VI. The first Partition of Civile History into § Memorialls § Antiquities § And Perfect History CIvile History is of three kinds not unfitly to be compared to the three sorts of Pictures or Images for of Pictures and Images we see some are unperfect and unfinisht others perfect and others decayed and defaced with Age. In like manner we will divide Civile History which is the Image of Actions and Times into three kindes agreeable to those of Pictures namely Memorials Perfect History and Antiquities Memorials are Histories unfinisht or the first and rough draughts of History Antiquities are Histories defaced or the Remaines of History which have casually escaped the shipwrack of Time § Memorials or Preparations to History are of two sorts whereof one may be termed Commentaries the other Registers Commentaries let downe a naked Continuance and Connexion of Actions and Events without the Causes and Pre-texts of Businesse the beginings and Motives thereof also the Counsels and Speeches and other preparations of Actions For this is the true nature of Commentaries though Caesar in modesty mixt with greatnesse did for his pleasure apply the name of Commentaries to the best History that is extant But Registers are of two sorts for either they comprehend the titles of Matter Persons in a continuation of Times such as are Calendars and Cronologies or Solennities of Acts of which kind are the Edicts of Princes the Decrees of Counsils the Proceedings of Iudgements Publique Orations Letters or Estate and the like without the Contexture or Continued thred of the Narration § Antiquities or the Remaines of Histories are as we said tanquam Tabula Naufragii when industrious and understanding persons the memory of Things being decaied and almost overwhelmed with oblivion by a constant and scrupulous diligence out of Geneologies Calendars Inscriptions Monuments Coines Proper-names and stiles Etymologies of words Proverbs Traditions Archives and Jnstruments as well publique as private Fragments of stories scattered passages of Books that concerne not History out of all these I say or some of them they recover and save somewhat from the Deluge of Time Certainly a painefull