a preparatory TO the history natural experimental the description of such a  natural and experimental history as may be sufficient in order to the basis  and foundation of true philosophy that we put forth our instauration by parcel  tend to this end that some part thereof may be out of danger the like reason  move we at present to subjoin one other little part of that work and to set it  forth together with those we have already finish that be the description and  delineation of such a natural and experimental history as may be in order to  the building of philosophy and may contain matter in it sound copious and fit  digest for the work of the interpreter that follow it the proper place for  this will be indeed when we shall come by the order of inquiry unto  Preparatories but it seem to we a wise part rather to anticipate it than to  tarry for its proper place because that such a history as we design in our  mind and shall present describe be a thing of exceed great weight nor can it  be compass without vast labour and charge as that which stand in needs of many  man endeavour and as we have elsewhere say be a work true regal wherefore we  think it not amiss to try if happy these thing may be regard by other so that  while we be perfect in order those thing which we design this part which be so  various and burdensome may in our life time if so it please the divine majesty  be provide and prepare other adjoin their labour to we in this occasion  especial see that our strength if we shall stand under it alone may seem  hardly sufficient for so great a province for as for the business it self of  the intellect possible we shall be able to conquer that with our own strength  but the material of the understanding be of so large a extent that those must  be gain and bring in from every place as it be by factor and merchant beside  we esteem it as a thing scarce worthy our enterprise that we our self shall  spend time in such a business as be obtainable by almost all man industry but  that which be the main of the business we will now our self perform which be  to propound diligent and exact the manner and description of such a sort of  history as may satisfy our intention leave man not be admonish shall loiter  out their time and order themselves after the example of the natural history  now in use and so shall stray far from our intention mean time that which we  have often say may most apposite be repeat especial in this place that if all  the wit of all age which hitherto have be or hereafter ever shall be be club  together if all man kind have give or shall hereafter give their mind whole to  philosophy and if the whole earth be or shall be compose of nothing else but  academy college and school of learned man yet without such a natural and  experimental history as we shall now prescribe we deny that there can be or  can be any progress in philosophy and other science worthy of mankind but on  the contrary such a history as this be gain and well compile join experiment  of use and experiment of light together which will be meet with or be leatched  out in the course of the interpretation it self the inquest of nature and all  science will be the business of but a very few year either this therefore must  be put in action or the work must be desert for by this one way alone the  foundation of a true and active philosophy can be establish and then man shall  see clear be as it be rouse out of a deep sleep what be the difference between  the opinion and fiction of wit and the true and active philosophy and what it  be at last to consult with nature her self concern nature first then we shall  give some general precept concern the compile of such a history and next we  will set before man eye a particular frame thereof sometime insert no less to  what the inquest shall be adapt and refer than what ought to be inquire after  to wit that the scope of the business be well understand and foresee it may  bring other thing into the mind of man which happy shall be pass by of we now  this kind of history we be wont to style the first or mother history aphorism  concern the composure of this first history aphorism I nature be situate in a  threefold state and do as it be undergo a triple government for either she be  at liberty and carry her self accord to her ordinary course or she be disturb  and thrust from her state by the viiousness and insolency of the matter and by  the vioence of impediment or she be constrain and frame by be and humane  operation now the first of these condition relate to the species of thing the  second to monster the three to artificial for in thing effect by be nature  receive the yoke from humane dominion for those thing will never have be make  without man but through the labour and operation of man there seem to be quite  a new frame of body and as it be another universality of thing or another  theatre threefold therefore be the natural history for it treat of either the  liberty or the error or the band of nature so that we may not unfit divide it  into a history of generation preter generation and be the last whereof we use  to nominate also mechanical and experimental nor do we give in precept that  these three be treat of several for why may not relation of monster in their  several kind be join to the history of the species themselves and artificial  be sometime right join with the species but sometime they do better apart  wherefore it be best to deal with these thing accord as the matter will bear  it for method do equal cause repetition and prolixity as well where there be  too much as where there be none of it at all two this natural history as it be  threefold in its subject as before we have tell you so it be twofold in its  use for it be use either for the bear knowledge of those thing which be  therein contain or as the principal and first matter of philosophy and the  substance or stuff if I may so say of the true induction and this last use of  it be now intend now I say and never before by any man for neither do  Aristotle nor Theophrastus nor Dioscorides nor Caius Pliniw much less the  modern writer ever propound unto themselves this end of a natural history  whereof we now speak and it be of much concernment that whoever hereafter  shall undertake the pen of a natural history shall continual think upon and  consider this with themselves that they ought not to serve the delight of  their reader no nor the very profit which he may gain at present by the  relation but to seek and find out plenty and variety of thing which may  suffice for the composure of true action for if they will think on this they  will prescribe to themselves the manner of such a history for the end govern  the mean III now by how much this thing be a business of great pain and  industry by so much it be the more probable that it will be less burden with  superfluous matter there be three thing therefore of which man be to be plain  warn that they very seldom spend pain about they be such thing which may  increase the bulk of the work prodigious but can little or nothing promote its  virtue first then let antiquity quotation and suffrage of author cease let  strife controversy and dissent opinion and all thing philological be avoid let  not a author be cite unless in a dubious matter nor let a controversy be  interpose except in a matter of great moment but let those thing which tend to  the ornament of speech and to similitude and the treasure of eloquence and all  such toy as these be total reject and let all those thing which be receive be  themselves propound brief and in short that they be nothing less than word for  no man that collect and lie up material for edifice either for ship or any the  like structure do as be do in shop take care to pile they in order for a sight  to please but he look only that they be sound and good and that they take up  but little room in the place where they be lie and just so must it be do with  this second that luxury of natural history make not much to the matter which  consist in the numerous description and picture of the species and in the  curious variety of they for these minute variety of they be nothing but a  certain sport or pastime and wantonness of nature and they happen almost to  the nature of individual and they have a certain pleasant and delightful  expatiation in the thing themselves but a very small and almost superfluous  information towards the science three all superstitious relation we say not  prodigious one when the memory of they may be find credible and maintainable  but superstitious one and the experiment of ceremonial magic be whole to be  omit for we will not that the infancy of philosophy whereunto a natural  history give the first suck shall be accustom to old woman fable there may  happy be a time after there be make somewhat a deep entrance into the inquiry  of nature to run light over such thing as these if there remain any whit of  natural virtue in those dregs it may be extract and lie up for use mean time  let they be lie aside Even the experiment of natural magic must be diligent  and severe vanned before they be receive especial those which be wont to be  derive from the vulgar sympathy and antipathy with a great deal of  slothfulness and facility both in believe and feign they neither be it a small  business that be do in the imburdening of a natural history of these three  superfluity which we have mention which will otherwise stuff up whole volume  nor be here a end yet for in a great work it be as requisite that the thing  receive be pen succinct as that superfluous matter be lop of although there be  no doubt but that this kind of curtness and brevity will afford far less  delight both to the reader and writer but it must always be remember that this  thing that be in hand be nothing else but the garner and storehouse of thing  wherein man must not tarry or dwell with pleasure but must descend thereto as  needs require when any thing be to be make use of about the work of the  interpreter which follow it IV in the history which we require and purpose in  our mind above all thing it must be look after that its extent be large and  that it be make after the measure of the universe for the world ought not to  be tie into the straightness of the understanding which hitherto have be do  but our intellect shall be stretch and widen so as to be capable of the image  of the world such as we find it for that custom of respect but a few thing and  pass sentence accord to that paucity and scantness have spoil all therefore we  reassume that division of our natural history which we make of it a little  before that it be either of generation Pretergenerations or be we have  constitute five part of the history of generation let the first be concern the  firmament and celestial thing the second of meteor and region as they call  they of the air to wit of the tract from the moon to the superficies of the  earth to which part also we assign for order sake however the truth of the  thing be all kind of comet both sublime as low the three of the land and sea  the four of the element as they call they of flame or fire air water and earth  but we will have the element understand not for the first principle of thing  but for the great mass of natural body for the nature of thing be so  distribute that the quantity or mass of certain body in the universe be very  great because that there be require a easy and obvious texture of the matter  to the frame of they such as be those four body which we speak of but for  certain other body their quantity be in the universe small and spare afford by  reason of the texture of the matter very unlike and subtle and in most of they  determinate and organical such as be the species of natural thing metal plant  animal wherefore we be wont to style the former sort of body great collection  the latter small collection but of those great collection the four part of  this history treat under the name of element as we say before not be the four  part confound with the second and three in this that in all of they we make  mention of air water and earth for in the second and three part be contain the  history of they as the entire part of the world and as they respect the fabric  and frame of the universe but in the four part there be contain the history of  their substance and nature which bear sway in the several similar part of they  and be not relate to the whole in fine the five part of the history treat of  the lesser collection or species about which natural history have hitherto be  chief conversant but as to the history of Pretergenerations we have already  say that it may very commodious be join with the history of generation but  that part only which be prodigious and natural for we set aside the  superstitious history of miracle of what sort soever for a treatise by it self  nor be it to be at all receive at the beginning but a little after when there  be a little deep entrance make into the enquiry of nature but the history of  be and of nature alter and change by man or the experimental history we make  threefold for it be either draw forth from mechanic be or from the operative  part of liberal science or from many practice and experiment which have not  grow into a proper be yea which sometime we meet in most vulgar experience  which do not at all require any be wherefore if a history shall be make out of  all these which we have speak of out of generation Pretergenerations be and  experiment nothing seem to be pass by whereby the sense may be instruct to  inform the understanding and then we shall not any long dance round within  small circle as if we be enchant by a spell but shall equalise the  circumference of the world in our circuit five among those part of history  which we have speak of the history of Art be of most use because it  demonstrate thing in motion and lead more direct to practice beside it take  away the vizard and vail from natural thing which for the most part be hide  and obscure under variety of figure and outward appearance in fine the  vexation of be be indeed like the band and fetter of Proteus which manifest  the utmost endeavour and ability of the matter for body will not be destroy or  annihilate but they will rather alter themselves into various from therefore  the great diligence must be use about this history although mechanic as it may  seem and less liberal without any arrogance and pride again of be those be  prefer which exhibit alter and prepare natural body and the material of thing  as husbandry cokeery chemistry Deying the work of glass Esmalta sugar  gunpowder artificial fire paper and the like but those be of small use which  chief consist in a subtle motion of the hand and instrument such as be weave  forgery architecture the operation of mill clock and the like although these  also be by no mean to be neglect as well because we may meet with many thing  in they which have respect to the alteration of natural body as because they  do accurate inform we concern the motion of lation which be a business of very  great moment for many thing but through the whole compile of this history of  be this be always to be admonish and to be through commit to memory that in  experiment of be not only those be to be receive which lead to the end of the  be but those also which intervene by any mean as for example that locust and  crab boil though before they be of the colour of the dirt wax read belong not  to the table yet this very instance be not amiss to inquire out the nature of  redness see the same thing happen also to burn brick likewise that flesh be  soon salt in winter than in summer not only tend thither that the coke season  his meat well and as much as be sufficient but also it be a good instance to  discover the nature and impression of cold wherefore he be quite out of the  way that think to satisfy our intention by collect experiment of be to this  end only that the several be may be better perfect although we do not  altogether despise this also in many thing but this be plain our mind that all  the rivulet of mechanical experiment may flow from every part into the sea of  philosophy but the choice of instance most eminent in every kind which must be  chief and diligent seek for and as it be hunt after be to be look for in the  prerogative of instance VI we shall resume in this place also that which we  have elsewhere more large handle but here by way of precept it will suffice  brief to command that there be receive into this history first most vulgar  thing such as any one will think not worthy to commit to write because they be  so familiar know next thing of no valve illiberal and sordid for all thing be  clean unto the clean and if lucre smell well though out of stale much more do  light and information out of any thing also trivial and childish thing no  wonder for we must plain grow child again last of all thing that seem to be of  too nice a subtlety and in themselves be of no use for as be already say those  thing that be proponnded in this history be not gather together for their own  sake wherefore it be not fit to measure the dignity of they by themselves but  so far forth as they may be transfer to other thing and have a influence upon  philosophy VII this also we give in precept that all thing as well in natural  body as virtue may as much as be possible be propound accord to number weight  and measure and determinate for we meditate of work not speculation now  physics and mathematics well intermingle beget practice wherefore the exact  restitution and distance of the planet must be inquire after and set down in  the history of celestial the circle of the earth and how much place it occupy  in respect of the water in the superficies in the history of the land and sea  how great a compressure the air will suffer without any notable change in the  history of the air how much in metal one be heavy than the other in the  history of metal and innumerous such other must be inquire and writ down but  when exact proportion can be have then indeed we must fly to those that be  accord to estimation or comparative indefinite one as if we happy distrust to  the calculation of astronomer concern distance that the moon be within the  shade of the earth that Mercury be above the moon and the like also when  middle proportion can be have let the extreme be propound as that a weak  loadstone can elevate a piece of iron of such a weight in respect of the  weight of the stone it self and that one most full of virtue to a sixty fold  proportion which we have see do our self with a very small arm loadstone and  we very well know that those determinate instance be not easy or often meet  withal but they shall be seek out as auxiliary in the very course of the  interpretation it self when the matter most of all require it notwithstanding  if one do chance to meet with they they may be insert into the natural history  so they do not too much retard the progress of its composure but as to the  faith and credit of those thing which be to be receive in this history they  must needs either be of a certain belief of a doubtful credit or of a condemn  faith now the former sort of these must be propound simple the second with  some note as it be report or they say or I hear it from a person of credit or  the like for it will be too burdensome a business to set down the argument of  belief on both side and doubtless will be too great a remora in the writer way  nor make it much matter to the business in hand for the true axiom will a  little after convince the falseness of the experiment if it be not too brief  as elsewhere we have declare but if the instance be any thing noble either for  its own use or because many other may depend upon it then indeed the author  must be nam and that not only bear but with some mention whether he affirm  those thing either upon credit as the relation or write of other man such as  be very frequent in c pliny or else upon his own knowledge and also whether  the thing be do in his time or before he further whether it be such a thing as  needs must have have many witness if it be true in fine whether that very  author himself be fabulous and not credible or sober and severe and the like  which make much to the weight of its credit last thing of a condemn faith and  yet use and celebrate which partly by neglect and partly for the use of  similitude have for many age together prevalied as that the adamant bind the  loadstone and Gatlike enervate it that amber draw all thing but the herb Basil  must not be pass over in silence but be warn against in express word that they  be no more troublesome to the science moreover it will not be amiss if happy  one meet with the original Cause of any vanity or credulity to note it as that  the herb satyr or ragwort be say to have a force and efficacy to excite lust  because forsooth its root be shape after the figure of the testicle when the  truth be that happen because every year there grow a new knotty root which  adhere to that part of the root which be of the last year whence come those  testicle for it be manifest that the new root be always find solid and juicy  the old one be always wither and spungy wherefore no wonder that one of they  sink in the water and the other swim which notwithstanding be count a wonder  thing and add authority to the other virtue of that herb IX there remain  certain profitable addition to the natural history and which may more  commodious incline and fit it for the work of the interpreter which follow it  and these be five first question I say not of cause but of fact be to be add  to provoke and solicit a further enquiry as in the history of the land and sea  whether the caspian-sea do ebb and flow and in what space of hour whether  there be any southern continent or rather island and the like second in every  new and more subtle experiment the manner it self of the experiment propound  shall be add that the judgement of man may be free whether the information by  that experiment be to be trust to or be deceitful and that the industry of man  may be stir up to seek out way if it may be more accurate three if there be  any doubt or scruple lurk under any relation that we will not have suppress or  keep silent at all but be plain and perspicuous set down by way of note or  advertisement for we desire that the first history shall be writ so  circumspect and scrupulous as if the writer thereof have take a oath for the  truth of every thing therein contain see it be the volume of the work of God  and as much as be lawful to compare the majesty of divine thing with the  humility of thing terrene as it be another scripture fourthly it will not be  amiss sometime to interweave observation that which c pliny do as in the  history of the land and sea that the figure of the land which be yet know in  respect of the sea be southward narrow and in a manner picket towards the  north broad and large of the sea quite contrary and that great ocean cut  between the land with channel stretch forth between the south and the north  not between the east and west unless happy in the far polar region also canon  which be nothing else but general and iversal observation may very well be  join as in the history of Celeftials that Venus never be far distant from  solemnize than degree Mercury than and that the planet which be place above  the sun move very slow be at the far distance from the earth but the planet  below the sun move most swift moreover there be another sort of observation to  be use which hitherto have not be in use though it be of no small moment and  that be this that to those thing that be those thing that be not be annex as  in the history of celestial that there be not find any star of a long figure  or triangular but that every star be globous and that either globous simple as  the moon or angulate to the sight but round in the middle as the other star or  radious to the sight and circular in the middle as the sun or that the star be  scatter without any order at all so that among they there can be find either a  five set figure or quadrangle or any other perfect figure however there be  impose upon they the name of Delta of a crown a cross a chariot and four horse  and the like scarce even a straight line unless happy in the zone and dagger  of Oriyon five that may perhaps somewhat help a inquirer which altogether  pervert and destroy a credulous person and that be that the opinion now  receive with their variety and sect be rehearse in a brief comprehension of  word that they may excite the understanding and no more X and let these  suffice as for general precept which if they be heedful observe this work of  history will tend straight to its end and will not grow above measure but if  also as it be circumscribe and limit it seem a vast work to any mean spirit  person let he turn his eye upon library and among other upon the body of the  civil and canonical law on one side and upon the commentary of doctor and  lawyer on the other side and he may see what the difference will be as to the  bulk and volume now for we who like faithful scribe cuil out and write the law  themselves of nature and nothing else brevity be proper and almost impose upon  we by the very thing themselves but of opinion decree and speculation there be  neither number nor end but for that we have make mention in the distribution  of our work of cardinal virtue in nature and for that also the history of  these shall be finish before we shall come to the work of the interpretation  we have not be unmindful of this business but we have reserve this work for  our self because we dare not much promise our self the industry of other in  this business before man shall have begin to acquaint themselves a little near  with nature Finis