to proceed now from imperial and military virtue to moral and private virtue  first it be a assure truth which be contain in the verse scilicet native  to learn with reliance on God be soften more nec limit be wild beast it take  away the wildness and barbarism and fierceness of man mind but indeed the  accent have needs be upon with reliance on God for a little superficial  learning do rather work a contrary effect it take away all levity temerity and  insolency by copious suggestion of all doubt and difficulty and acquaint the  mind to balance reason on both side and to turn back the first offer and  conceit of the mind and to accept of nothing but examine and try it take away  vain admiration of anything which be the root of all weakness for all thing be  admire either because they be new or because they be great for novelty no man  that wade in learning or contemplation through but will find that print in his  heart nil new super earth neither can any man marvel at the play of puppet  that go behind the curtain and advice well of the motion and for magnitude as  Alexander the great after that he be use to great army and the great conquest  of the spacious province in Asia when he receive letter out of grease of some  fight and service there which be common for a passage or a fort or some wall  town at the most he say it seem to he that he be advertise of the battle of  the frog and the mouse that the old tale go of so certain if a man meditate  much upon the universal frame of nature the earth with man upon it the  divineness of soul except will not seem much other than a anthill whereas some  ant carry corn and some carry their young and some go empty and all to and  from a little heap of dust it take away or mitigate fear of death or adverse  fortune which be one of the great impediment of virtue and imperfection of  manner for if a man mind be deep season with the consideration of the  mortality and corruptible nature of thing he will easy concur with Epictetus  who go forth one day and see a woman weep for her pitcher of earth that be  break and go forth the next day and see a woman weep for her son that be dead  and thereupon say Heri see easily broken to break in pieces today see  subject to death become void  and therefore Virgil do excellent and profound  couple the knowledge of cause and the conquest of all fear together as  concomitant Felix who to be able a thing  understand  cause Quique metus all  et not to be moved by entreaty utterance to throw under foot a confused noise  acherontis avaricious it be too long to go over the particular remedy which  learning do minister to all the disease of the mind sometime purge the ill  humour sometime open the obstruction sometime help digestion sometime increase  appetite sometime heal the wound and a soreness thereof and the like and  therefore I will conclude with that which have account all which be that it  dispose the constitution of the mind not to be fix or settle in the defect  thereof but still to be capable and susceptible of growth and reformation for  the unlearned man know not what it be to descend into himself or to call  himself to account nor the pleasure of that sweet vita indies  to discern by sense see fieri good the good part he have he will learn to show  to the full and use they dexterous but not much to increase they the fault he  have he will learn how to hide and colour they but not much to amend they like  a ill mower that mow on still and never whet his scythe whereas with the  learned man it fare otherwise that he do ever intermix the correction and  amendment of his mind with the use and employment thereof nay further in  general and in sum certain it be that veritas and bonitas differ but as the  seal and the print for truth print goodness and they be the cloud of error  which descend in the storm of passion and perturbation from moral virtue let  we pass on to matter of power and commandment and consider whether in right  reason there be any comparable with that wherewith knowledge invest and crown  man nature we see the dignity of the commandment be accord to the dignity of  the command to have commandment over beast as herdsman have be a thing  contemptible to have commandment over child as schoolmaster have be a matter  of small honour to have commandment over galley slave be a disparagement  rather than a honour neither be the commandment of tyrant much better over  people which have put off the generosity of their mind and therefore it be  ever hold that honour in free monarchy and commonwealth have a sweetness more  than in tyranny because the commandment extend more over the will of man and  not only over their deed and service and therefore when Virgil put himself  forth to attribute to Augustus Caesar the best of human honour he do it in  these word victorque willing per poplar tree that jura a way aim at olympo but  yet the commandment of knowledge be yet high than the commandment over the  will for it be a commandment over the reason belief and understanding of man  which be the high part of the mind and give law to the will itself for there  be no power on earth which set up a throne or chair of estate in the spirit  and soul of man and in their cogitation imagination opinion and belief but  knowledge and learning and therefore we see the detestable and extreme  pleasure that arch heretic and false prophet and impostor be transport with  when they once find in themselves that they have a superiority in the faith  and conscience of man so great as if they have once taste of it it be seldom  see that any torture or persecution can make they relinquish or abandon it but  as this be that which the author of the revelation call the depth or  profoundness of Satan so by argument of contrary the just and lawful  sovereignty over man understanding by force of truth right interpret be that  which approach near to the similitude of the divine rule as for fortune and  advancement the beneficence of learning be not so confine to give fortune only  to state and commonwealth as it do not likewise give fortune to particular  person for it be well note long ago that Homer have give more man their live  than either Sulla or Caesar or Augustus ever do notwithstanding their great  largess and donative and distribution of land to so many legion and no doubt  it be hard to say whether arm or learning have advance great number and in  case of sovereignty we see that if arm or descent have carry away the kingdom  yet learning have carry the priesthood which ever have be in some competition  with empire again for the pleasure and delight of knowledge and learning it  far surpass all other in nature for shall the pleasure of the affection so  exceed the pleasure of the sense as much as the obtain of desire or victory  exceed a song or a dinner and must not of consequence the pleasure of the  intellect or understanding exceed the pleasure of the affection we see in all  other pleasure there be satiety and after they be use their verdure depart  which show well they be but deceit of pleasure and not pleasure and that it be  the novelty which please and not the quality and therefore we see that  voluptuous man turn friar and ambition prince turn melancholy but of knowledge  there be no satiety but satisfaction and appetite be perpetual interchangeable  and therefore appear to be good in itself simple without fallacy or accident  neither be that pleasure of small efficacy and contentment to the mind of man  which the poet Lucretius describe elegant suave mari great to make an uproar  level surface wind c it be a view of delight say he to stand or walk upon the  shore side and to see a ship toss with tempest upon the sea or to be in a  fortify tower and to see two battle join upon a plain but it be a pleasure  incomparable for the mind of man to be settle land and fortify in the  certainty of truth and from thence to descry and behold the error perturbation  labour and wander up and down of other man last leave the vulgar argument that  by learning man excel man in that wherein man excel beast that by learning man  ascend to the heaven and their motion where in body he can come and the like  let we conclude with the dignity and excellency of knowledge and learning in  that whereunto man nature do most aspire which be immortality or continuance  for to this tend generation and raise of house and family to this tend  building foundation and monument to this tend the desire of memory fame and  celebration and in effect the strength of all other human desire we see then  how far the monument of wit and learning be more durable than the monument of  power or of the hand for have not the verse of Homer continue twenty five  hundred year or more without the loss of a syllable or letter during which the  infinite palace temple castle city have be decay and demolish it be not  possible to have the true picture or statue of Cyrus Alexander Caesar no nor  of the king or great personage of much late year for the original can last and  the copy can but lose of the life and truth but the image of man wit and  knowledge remain in book exempt from the wrong of time and capable of  perpetual renovation neither be they fit to be call image because they  generate still and cast their seed in the mind of other provoke and cause  infinite action and opinion in succeed age so that if the invention of the  ship be think so noble which carry riches and commodity from place to place  and to make common the most remote region in participation of their fruit how  much more be letter to be magnify which as ship pass through the vast sea of  time and make age so distant to participate of the wisdom illumination and  invention the one of the other nay further we see some of the philosopher  which be least divine and most immerse in the sense and deny general the  immortality of the soul yet come to this point that whatsoever motion the  spirit of man can act and perform without the organ of the body they think may  remain after death which be only those of the understanding and not of the  affection so immortal and Incorruptible a thing do knowledge seem unto they to  be but we that know by divine revelation that not only the understanding but  the affection purify not only the spirit but the body change shall be advance  to immortality do disclaim in these rudiment of the sense but it must be  remember both in this last point and so it may likewise be needful in other  place that in probation of the dignity of knowledge or learning I do in the  beginning separate divine testimony from human which method I have pursue and  so handle they both apart nevertheless I do not pretend and I know it will be  impossible for I by any plead of I to reverse the judgement either of Aesop  cock that prefer the barleycorn before the gem or of Midas that be choose  judge between Apollo precedent of the muse and pan God of the flock judge for  plenty or of parish that judge for beauty and love against wisdom and power or  of Agrippina to strike down mother modus to command that prefer empire with  any condition never so detestable or of Ulysses who elderly to bear before  immortality be a figure of those which prefer custom and habit before all  excellency or of a number of the like popular judgement for these thing must  continue as they have be but so will that also continue whereupon learning  have ever rely and which fail not Justificata be prudence a son n'est the  second book to the king it may seem to have more convenience though it come  often otherwise to pass excellent king that those which be fruitful in their  generation and have in themselves the foresight of immortality in their  descendant shall likewise be more careful of the good estate of future time  unto which they know they must transmit and commend over their dear pledge  queen Elizabeth be a sojourner in the world in respect of her unmarried life  and be a blessing to her own time and yet so as the impression of her good  government beside her happy memory be not without some effect which do survive  her but to your majesty who God have already bless with so much royal issue  worthy to continue and represent you for ever and who youthful and fruitful  bed do yet promise many the like renovation it be proper and agreeable to be  conversant not only in the transitory part of good government but in those act  also which be in their nature permanent and perpetual among the which if  affection do not transport I there be not any more worthy than the further  endowment of the world with sound and fruitful knowledge for why shall a few  receive author stand up like Hercules column beyond which there shall be no  sail or discover since we have so bright and benign a star as your majesty to  conduct and prosper we to return therefore where we leave it remain to  consider of what kind those act be which have be undertake and perform by king  and other for the increase and advancement of learning wherein I purpose to  speak active without digress or dilate let this ground therefore be lie that  all work be over common by amplitude of reward by soundness of direction and  by the conjunction of labour the first multiply endeavour the second prevent  error and the three supply the frailty of man but the principal of these be  direction for limping in way to take a place before cursor  extra way and  Solomon excellent set it down if the iron be not sharp it require more  strength but wisdom be that which prevail signify that the invention or  election of the mean be more effectual than any enforcement or accumulation of  endeavour this I be induce to speak for that not derogate from the noble  intention of any that have be deserver towards the state of learning I do  observe nevertheless that their work and act be rather matter of magnificence  and memory than of progression and proficience and tend rather to augment the  mass of learning in the multitude of learned man than to rectify or raise the  science themselves the work or act of merit towards learning be conversant  about three object the place of learning the book of learning and the person  of the learned for as water whether it be the due of heaven or the spring of  the earth do scatter and lose itself in the ground except it be collect into  some receptacle where it may by union comfort and sustain itself and for that  cause the industry of man have make and frame springheads conduit cistern and  pool which man have accustom likewise to beautify and adorn with  accomplishment of magnificence and state as well as of use and necessity so  this excellent liquor of knowledge whether it descend from divine inspiration  or spring from human sense will soon perish and vanish to oblivion if it be  not preserve in book tradition conference and place appoint as university  college and school for the receipt and comfort of the same the work which  concern the seat and place of learning be four foundation and building  endowment with revenue endowment with franchise and privilege institution and  ordinance for government all tend to quietness and privateness of life and  discharge of care and trouble much like the station which Virgil prescribe for  the hive of be beginning sedes bee a standing to strive for quo nor sit wind  aditus c the work touch book be two first library which be as the shrine where  all the relic of the ancient saint full of true virtue and that without  delusion or imposture be preserve and repose second new edition of author with  more correct impression more faithful translation more profitable gloss more  diligent annotation and the like the work pertain to the person of learned man  beside the advancement and countenance of they in general be two the reward  and designation of reader in science already extant and invent and the reward  and designation of writer and inquirer concern any part of learning not  sufficient labour and prosecute these be summary the work and act wherein the  merit of many excellent prince and other worthy personage have be conversant  as for any particular commemoration I call to mind what Cicero say when he  give general thank difficile non  once unpleasant any to go by let we rather  accord to the scripture look unto that part of the race which be before we  than look back to that which be already attain first therefore among so many  great foundation of college in Europe I find strange that they be all dedicate  to profession and none leave free to be and science at large for if man judge  that learning shall be refer to action they judge well but in this they fall  into the error describe in the ancient fable in which the other part of the  body do suppose the stomach have be idle because it neither perform the office  of motion as the limb do nor of sense as the head do but yet notwithstanding  it be the stomach that digest and distribute to all the rest so if any man  think philosophy and universality to be idle study he do not consider that all  profession be from thence serve and supply and this I take to be a great cause  that have hinder the progression of learning because these fundamental  knowledge have be study but in passage for if you will have a tree bear more  fruit than it have use to do it be not anything you can do to the bough but it  be the stir of the earth and put new mould about thou root that must work it  neither be it to be forget that this dedicate of foundation and dotations to  professory learning have not only have a malign aspect and influence upon the  growth of science but have also be prejudicial to state and government for  hence it proceed that prince find a solitude in regard of able man to serve  they in cause of estate because there be no education collegiate which be free  where such as be so dispose may give themselves in history modern language  book of policy and civil discourse and other the like enablements unto service  of estate and because founder of college do plant and founder of lecture do  water it follow well in order to speak of the defect which be in public  lecture namely in the smallness and meanness of the salary or reward which in  most place be assign unto they whether they be lecture of be or of profession  for it be necessary to the progression of science that reader be of the most  able and sufficient man as those which be ordain for generate and propagate of  science and not for transitory use this can be except their condition and  endowment be such as may content the able man to appropriate his whole labour  and continue his whole age in that function and attendance and therefore must  have a proportion answerable to that mediocrity or competency of advancement  which may be expect from a profession or the practice of a profession so as if  you will have science flourish you must observe David military law which be  that those which stay with the carriage shall have equal part with those which  be in the action else will the carriage be ill attend so reader in science be  indeed the guardian of the store and provision of science whence man in active  course be furnish and therefore ought to have equal entertainment with they  otherwise if the father in science be of the weak sort or be ill maintain et  father not strong referent thirst born another defect I note wherein I shall  needs some alchemist to help I who call upon man to sell their book and to  build furnace quit and forsake Minerva and the muse as barren virgin and rely  upon Vulcan but certain it be that unto the deep fruitful and operative study  of many science specialty natural philosophy and physic book be not only the  instrumentals wherein also the beneficence of man have not be altogether want  for we see sphere globe astrolabes map and the like have be provide as  appurtenance to astronomy and cosmography as well as book we see likewise that  some place institute for physic have annex the commodity of garden for simples  of all sort and do likewise command the use of dead body for anatomy but these  do respect but a few thing in general there will hardly be any main  proficience in the disclose of nature except there be some allowance for  expense about experiment whether they be experiment appertain to Vulcanus or  Daedalus furnace or engine or any other kind and therefore as secretary and  espial of prince and state bring in bill for intelligence so you must allow  the espial and intelligencer of nature to bring in their bill or else you  shall be ill advertise and if Alexander make such a liberal assignation to  Aristotle of treasure for the allowance of hunter foul fisher and the like  that he may compile a history of nature much better do they deserve it that  travail in be of nature another defect which I note be a intermission or  neglect in those which be governor in university of consultation and in prince  or superior person of visitation to enter into account and consideration  whether the read exercise and other custom appertain unto learning ancient  begin and since continue be well institute or no and thereupon to ground a  amendment or reformation in that which shall be find inconvenient for it be  one of your majesty own most wise and princely maxim that in all usage and  precedent the time be consider wherein they first begin which if they be weak  or ignorant it derogate from the authority of the usage and leave it for  suspect and therefore inasmuch as most of the usage and order of the  university be derive from more obscure time it be the more requisite they be  re-examined in this kind I will give a instance or two for example sake of  thing that be the most obvious and familiar the one be a matter which though  it be ancient and general yet I hold to be a error which be that scholar in  university come too soon and too unripe to logic and rhetoric be fit for  graduate than child and novice for these two right take be the grave of  science be the be of be the one for judgement the other for ornament and they  be the rule and direction how to set forth and dispose matter and therefore  for mind empty and unfraught with matter and which have not gather that which  Cicero call sylva and supellex stuff and variety to begin with those be as if  one shall learn to weigh or to measure or to paint the wind do work but this  effect that the wisdom of those be which be great and universal be almost make  contemptible and be degenerate into childish sophistry and ridiculous  affectation and further the untimely learning of they have draw on by  consequence the superficial and unprofitable teach and write of they as fit  indeed to the capacity of child another be a lack I find in the exercise use  in the university which do snake too great a divorce between invention and  memory for their speech be either premeditate in word conception where nothing  be leave to invention or mere extemporal where little be leave to memory  whereas in life and action there be least use of either of these but rather of  intermixture of premeditation and invention note and memory so as the exercise  fit not the practice nor the image the life and it be ever a true rule in  exercise that they be frame as near as may be to the life of practice for  otherwise they do pervert the motion and faculty of the mind and not prepare  they the truth whereof be not obscure when scholar come to the practice of  profession or other action of civil life which when they set into this want be  soon find by themselves and soon by other but this part touch the amendment of  the institution and order of university I will conclude with the clause of  Caesar letter to the wife of L. Mindius and Balbes Hoc in what way fieri  to be able some  I in chin to come et many men  to find again to be able de ii  rebus rgo thou ut thinking to take another defect which I note ascend a little  high than the precedent for as the proficience of learning consist much in the  order and institution of university in the same state and kingdom so it will  be yet more advance if there be more intelligence mutual between the  university of Europe than now there be we see there be many order and  foundation which though they be divide under several sovereignty and territory  yet they take themselves to have a kind of contract fraternity and  correspondence one with the other insomuch as they have provincial and general  and sure as nature create brotherhood in family and be mechanical contract  brotherhood in commonalty and the anointment of God superinduce a brotherhood  in king and bishop so in like manner there can but be a fraternity in learning  and illumination relate to that paternity which be attribute to God who be  call the father of illumination or light the last defect which I will note be  that there have not be or very rare be any public designation of writer or  inquirer concern such part of knowledge as may appear not to have be already  sufficient labour or undertake unto which point it be a inducement to enter  into a view and examination what part of learning have be prosecute and what  omit for the opinion of plenty be among the cause of want and the great  quantity of book make a show rather of superfluity than lack which surcharge  nevertheless be not to be remedy by make no more book but by make more good  book which as the serpent of Moses may devour the serpent of the enchanter the  remove of all the defect former enumerate except the last and of the active  part also of the last which be the designation of writer be need black plaster  towards which the endeavour of a private man may be but as a image in a  crossway that may point at the way but can go it but the induce part of the  latter which be the survey of learning may be set forward by private travail  wherefore I will now attempt to make a general and faithful perambulation of  learning with a inquiry what part thereof lie fresh and waste and not improve  and convert by the industry of man to the end that such a plot make and record  to memory may both minister light to any public designation and also serve to  excite voluntary endeavour wherein nevertheless my purpose be at this time to  note only omission and deficience and not to make any redargution of error or  incomplete prosecution for it be one thing to set forth what ground lie  unmanured and another thing to correct ill husbandry in that which be manure  in the handle and undertake of which work I be not ignorant what it be that I  do now move and attempt nor insensible of I own weakness to sustain my purpose  but my hope be that if my extreme love to learning carry I too far I may  obtain the excuse of affection for that it be not grant to man to love and to  be wise but I know well I can use no other liberty of judgement than I must  leave to other and I for my part shall be indifferent glad either to perform  myself or accept from another that duty of humanity nam who flying about  courteously show way c I do foresee likewise that of those thing which I shall  enter and register as deficience and omission many will conceive and censure  that some of they be already do and extant other to be but curiosity and thing  of no great use and other to be of too great difficulty and almost  impossibility to be compass and effect but for the two first I refer myself to  the particular for the last touch impossibility I take it those thing be to be  hold possible which may be do by some person though not by every one and which  may be do by many though not by any one and which may be do in the succession  of age though not within the hourglass of one man life and which may be do by  public designation though not by private endeavour but notwithstanding if any  man will take to himself rather that of Solomon to say lazy leo be in way than  that of Virgil to be able because posse to see I shall be content that my  labour be esteem but as the better sort of wish for as it ask some knowledge  to demand a question not impertinent so it require some sense to make a wish  not absurd I the part of human learning have reference to the three part of  man understanding which be the seat of learning history to his memory poesy to  his imagination and philosophy to his reason divine learning receive the same  distribution for the spirit of man be the same though the revelation of oracle  and sense be diverse so as theology consist also of history of the church of  parable which be divine poesy and of holy doctrine or precept for as for that  part which seem supernumerary which be prophecy it be but divine history which  have that prerogative over human as the narration may be before the fact as  well as after history be natural civil ecclesiastical and literary whereof the  first three I allow as extant the four I note as deficient for no man have  propound to himself the general state of learning to be describe and represent  from age to age as many have do the work of nature and the state civil and  ecclesiastical without which the history of the world seem to I to be as the  statue of Polyphemus with his eye out that part be want which do most show the  spirit and life of the person and yet I be not ignorant that in diverse  particular science as of the jurisconsult the mathematician the rhetorician  the philosopher there be set down some small memorial of the school author and  book and so likewise some barren relation touch the invention of be or usage  but a just story of learning contain the antiquity and original of knowledge  and their sect their invention their tradition their diverse administration  and managings their flourish their opposition decay depression oblivion remove  with the cause and occasion of they and all other event concern learning  throughout the age of the world I may true affirm to be want the use and end  of which work I do not so much design for curiosity or satisfaction of those  that be the lover of learning but chief for a more serious and grave purpose  which be this in few word that it will make learned man wise in the use and  administration of learning for it be not saint Augustine nor saint ambrose  work that will make so wise a divine as ecclesiastical history through read  and observe and the same reason be of learning history of nature be of three  sort of nature in course of nature err or vary and of nature alter or wrought  that be history of creature history of marvel and history of be the first of  these no doubt be extant and that in good perfection the two latter be bandy  so weak and unprofitable as I be move to note they as deficient for I find no  sufficient or competent collection of the work of nature which have a  digression and deflexion from the ordinary course of generation production and  motion whether they be singularity of place and region or the strange event of  time and chance or the effect of yet unknown property or the instance of  exception to general kind it be true I find a number of book of fabulous  experiment and secret and frivolous imposture for pleasure and strangeness but  a substantial and severe collection of the heteroclites or irregular of nature  well examine and describe I find not special not with due rejection of fable  and popular error for as thing now be if a untruth in nature be once on foot  what by reason of the neglect of examination and countenance of antiquity and  what by reason of the use of the opinion in similitude and ornament of speech  it be never call down the use of this work honour with a precedent in  Aristotle be nothing less than to give contentment to the appetite of curious  and vain wit as the manner of mirabilaries be to do but for two reason both of  great weight the one to correct the partiality of axiom and opinion which be  common frame only upon common and familiar example the other because from the  wonder of nature be the near intelligence and passage towards the wonder of be  for it be no more but by follow and as it be hound nature in her wander to be  able to lead her afterward to the same place again neither be I of opinion in  this history of marvel that superstitious narration of sorcery witchcraft  dream divination and the like where there be a assurance and clear evidence of  the fact be altogether exclude for it be not yet know in what case and how far  effect attribute to superstition do participate of natural cause and therefore  howsoever the practice of such thing be to be condemn yet from the speculation  and consideration of they light may be take not only for the discern of the  offence but for the further disclose of nature neither ought a man to make  scruple of enter into these thing for inquisition of truth as your majesty  have show in your own example who with the two clear eye of religion and  natural philosophy have look deep and wise into these shadow and yet prove  yourself to be of the nature of the sun which pass through pollution and  itself remain as pure as before but this I hold fit that these narration which  have mixture with superstition be sort by themselves and not to be mingle with  the narration which be mere and sincere natural but as for the narration touch  the prodigy and miracle of religion they be either not true or not natural and  therefore impertinent for the story of nature for history of nature wrought or  mechanical I find some collection make of agriculture and likewise of manual  be but common with a rejection of experiment familiar and vulgar for it be  esteem a kind of dishonour unto learning to descend to inquiry or meditation  upon matter mechanical except they be such as may be think secret rarity and  special subtlety which humour of vain and supercilious arrogance be just  deride in Plato where he bring in Hippias a vaunt sophist dispute with  Socrates a true and unfeigned inquisitor of truth where the subject be touch  beauty Socrates after his wander manner of induction put first a example of a  fair virgin and then of a fair horse and then of a fair pot well glaze whereat  Hippias be offend and say more than for courtesy's sake he do think much to  dispute with any that do allege such base and sordid instance whereunto  Socrates answer you have reason and it become you well be a man so trim in  your vestment c and so go on in a irony but the truth be they be not the high  instance that give the secure information as may be well express in the tale  so common of the philosopher that while he gaze upward to the star fall into  the water for if he have look down he may have see the star in the water but  look aloft he can not see the water in the star so it come often to pass that  mean and small thing discover great better than great can discover the small  and therefore Aristotle note well that the nature of everything be best see in  his small portion and for that cause he inquire the nature of a commonwealth  first in a family and the simple conjugation of man and wife parent and child  master and servant which be in every cottage Even so likewise the nature of  this great city of the world and the policy thereof must be first seek in mean  concordance and small portion so we see how that secret of nature of the turn  of iron touch with the loadstone towards the north be find out in needle of  iron not in bar of iron but if my judgement be of any weight the use of  history mechanical be of all other the most radical and fundamental towards  natural philosophy such natural philosophy as shall not vanish in the fume of  subtle sublime or delectable speculation but such as shall be operative to the  endowment and benefit of man life for it will not only minister and suggest  for the present many ingenious practice in all trade by a connection and  transfer of the observation of one be to the use of another when the  experience of several mystery shall fall under the consideration of one man  mind but further it will give a more true and real illumination concern cause  and axiom than be hitherto attain for like as a man disposition be never well  know till he be cross nor Proteus ever change shape till he be straiten and  hold fast so the passage and variation of nature can appear so full in the  liberty of nature as in the trial and vexation of be two for civil history it  be of three kind not unfit to be compare with the three kind of picture or  image for of picture or image we see some be unfinished some be perfect and  some be deface so of history we may find three kind memorial perfect history  and antiquity for memorial be history unfinished or the first or rough draft  of history and antiquity be history deface or some remnant of history which  have casual escape the shipwreck of time memorial or preparatory history be of  two sort whereof the one may be term commentary and the other register  commentary be they which set down a continuance of the naked event and action  without the motive or design the counsel the speech the pretext the occasion  and other passage of action for this be the true nature of a commentary though  Caesar in modesty mix with greatness do for his pleasure apply the name of a  commentary to the best history of the world register be collection of public  act as decree of council judicial proceed declaration and letter of estate  oration and the like without a perfect continuance or contexture of the thread  of the narration antiquity or remnant of history be as be say tanquam picture  shipwreck when industrious person by a exact and scrupulous diligence and  observation out of monument name word proverb tradition private record and  evidence fragment of story passage of book that concern not story and the like  do save and recover somewhat from the deluge of time in these kind of  unperfect history I do assign no deficience for they be tanquam imperfect  mista and therefore any deficience in they be but their nature as for the  corruption and moth of history which be epitome the use of they deserve to be  banish as all man of sound judgement have confess as those that have fret and  corrode the sound body of many excellent history and wrought they into base  and unprofitable dregs history which may be call just and perfect history be  of three kind accord to the object which it propound or pretend to represent  for it either represent a time or a person or a action the first we call  chronicle the second life and the three narration or relation of these  although the first be the most complete and absolute kind of history and have  most estimation and glory yet the second excel it in profit and use and the  three in verity and sincerity for history of time represent the magnitude of  action and the public face and deportment of person and pass over in silence  the small passage and motion of man and matter but such be the workmanship of  God as he do hang the great weight upon the small wire maxima e least  to hang up it come therefore to pass that such history do rather set forth the  pomp of business than the true and inward resort thereof but life if they be  well write propound to themselves a person to represent in who action both  great and small public and private have a commixture must of necessity contain  a more true native and lively representation so again narration and relation  of action as the war of Peloponnesus the expedition of Cyrus minor the  conspiracy of catiline can but be more pure and exact true than history of  time because they may choose a argument Comprehensible within the notice and  instruction of the writer whereas he that undertake the story of a time  special of any length can but meet with many blank and space which he must be  force to fill up out of his own wit and conjecture for the history of time I  mean of civil history the providence of God have make the distribution for it  have please God to ordain and illustrate two exemplar state of the world for  arm learning moral virtue policy and law the state of grease and the state of  Rome the history whereof occupy the middle part of time have more ancient to  they history which may by one common name be term the antiquity of the world  and after they history which may be likewise call by the name of modern  history now to speak of the deficience as to the heathen antiquity of the  world it be in vain to note they for deficient deficient they be no doubt  consist most of fable and fragment but the deficience can be help for  antiquity be like fame caput inter clouds  condit her head be muffle from our  sight for the history of the exemplar state it be extant in good perfection  not but I can wish there be a perfect course of history for grease from  Theseus to Philopoemen what time the affair of grease drown and extinguish in  the affair of Rome and for Rome from Romulus to Justinianus who may be true  say to be transalpine of Rome in which sequence of story the text of  Thucydides and Xenophon in the one and the text of the celebrated historian  Polybius that expression of Sallust Caesar Appianus Tacitus Herodianus in the  other to be keep entire without any diminution at all and only to be supply  and continue but this be a matter of magnificence rather to be commend than  require and we speak now of part of learning supplemental and not of  supererogation but for modern history whereof there be some few very worthy  but the great part beneath mediocrity leave the care of foreign story to  foreign state because I will not be spy in another to make public I can fail  to represent to your majesty the unworthiness of the history of England in the  main continuance thereof and the partiality and obliquity of that of Scotland  in the late and large author that I have see suppose that it will be honour  for your majesty and a work very memorable if this island of great Britain as  it be now join in monarchy for the age to come so be join in one history for  the time pass after the manner of the sacred history which draw down the story  of the ten tribe and of the two tribe as twin together and if it shall seem  that the greatness of this work may make it less exact perform there be a  excellent period of a much small compass of time as to the story of England  that be to say from the unite of the rise to the unite of the kingdom a  portion of time wherein to my understanding there have be the rare variety  that in like number of succession of any hereditary monarchy have be know for  it begin with the mix adoption of a crown by arm and title a entry by battle a  establishment by marriage and therefore time answerable like water after a  tempest full of work and swell though without extremity of storm but well pass  through by the wisdom of the pilot be one of the most sufficient king of all  the number then follow the reign of a king who action howsoever conduct have  much intermixture with the affair of Europe balance and incline they variably  in who time also begin that great alteration in the state ecclesiastical a  action which seldom come upon the stage then the reign of a minor then a offer  of a usurpation though it be but as febris ephemera then the reign of a queen  match with a foreigner then of a queen that live solitary and unmarried and  yet her government so masculine as it have great impression and operation upon  the state abroad than it any way receive from thence and now last this most  happy and glorious event that this island of Britain divide from all the world  shall be unite in itself and that oracle of rest give to Aeneas ancient  to search out mother shall now be perform and fulfil upon the nation of  England and Scotland be now reunite in the ancient mother name of Britain as a  full period of all instability and peregrination so that as it come to pass in  massive body that they have certain trepidation and waver before they fix and  settle so it seem that by the providence of God this monarchy before it be to  settle in your majesty and your generation in which I hope it be now establish  for ever it have these prelusive change and variety for life I do find strange  that these time have so little esteem the virtue of the time as that the write  of life shall be no more frequent for although there be not many sovereign  prince or absolute commander and that state be most collect into monarchy yet  be there many worthy personage that deserve better than disperse report or  barren eulogy for herein the invention of one of the late poet be proper and  do well enrich the ancient fiction for he feign that at the end of the thread  or web of every man life there be a little medal contain the person name and  that time wait upon the shears and as soon as the thread be cut catch the  medal and carry they to the river of Lathe and about the bank there be many  bird fly up and down that will get the medal and carry they in their beak a  little while and then let they fall into the river only there be a few swan  which if they get a name will carry it to a temple where it be consecrate and  although many man more mortal in their affection than in their body do esteem  desire of name and memory but as a vanity and ventosity animi nil great Laudis  to be needy which opinion come from that root non prius praise to value little  how to praise to make to let down yet that will not alter Solomon judgement  Memoria just come praise at of persons nomen putresce the one flourish the  other either consume to present oblivion or turn to a ill odour and therefore  in that style or addition which be and have be long well receive and bring in  use fruitful memory to feel annoyance memory good memory we do acknowledge  that which Cicero say borrow it from Demosthenes that good hunger  not common with others possession to have done with which possession I can but  note that in our time it lie much waste and that therein there be a deficience  for narration and relation of particular action there be also to be wish a  great diligence therein for there be no great action but have some good pen  which attend it and because it be a ability not common to write a good history  as may well appear by the small number of they yet if particularity of action  memorable be but tolerable report as they pass the compile of a complete  history of time may be the better expect when a writer shall arise that be fit  for it for the collection of such relation may be as a nursery garden whereby  to plant a fair and stately garden when time shall serve there be yet another  partition of history which Cornelius Tacitus make which be not to be forget  special with that application which he accouples it withal annal and journal  appropriate to the former matter of estate and to the latter act and accident  of a mean nature for give but a touch of certain magnificent building he add  come ex rank poplar tree Romani discovery sit res illustre book of annuals  ankle Book of Hors city act to put in hand so as there be a kind of  contemplative heraldry as well as civil and as nothing do derogate from the  dignity of a state more than confusion of degree so it do not a little embase  the authority of a history to intermingle matter of triumph or matter of  ceremony or matter of novelty with matter of state but the use of a journal  have not only be in the history of time but likewise in the history of person  and chief of action for prince in ancient time have upon point of honour and  policy both journal keep what pass day by day for we see the chronicle which  be read before Ahasuerus when he can not take rest contain matter of affair  indeed but such as have pass in his own time and very late before but the  journal of Alexander house express every small particularity even concern his  person and court and it be yet a use well receive in enterprise memorable as  expedition of war navigation and the like to keep diary of that which pass  continual I can likewise be ignorant of a from of write which some grave and  wise man have use contain a scatter history of those action which they have  think worthy of memory with politic discourse and observation thereupon not  incorporate into the history but separate and as the more principal in their  intention which kind of ruminate history I think more fit to place among book  of policy whereof we shall hereafter speak than among book of history for it  be the true office of history to represent the event themselves together with  the counsel and to leave the observation and conclusion thereupon to the  liberty and faculty of every man judgement but mixture be thing irregular  whereof no man can define so also be there another kind of history manifold  mix and that be history of cosmography be compound of natural history in  respect of the region themselves of history civil in respect of the habitation  regiment and manner of the people and the mathematics in respect of the  climate and configuration towards the heaven which part of learning of all  other in this latter time have obtain most proficience for it may be true  affirm to the honour of these time and in a virtuous emulation with antiquity  that this great building of the world have never through light make in it till  the age of we and our father for although they have knowledge of the antipode  we where primus horse daybreak touched out of breath in that place sera rubens  to kindle any thing above lumina Vesper yet that may be by demonstration and  not in fact and if by travel it require the voyage but of half the globe but  to circle the earth as the heavenly body do be not do nor enterprise till  these late time and therefore these time may just bear in their word not only  plus ultra in precedence of the ancient non ultra and that may be imitated  fulmen in precedence of the ancient non that may be imitated fulmen weigh out  who full of by rain clouds et non that may be imitated fulmen c but likewise  that may be imitated heaven in respect of the many memorable voyage after the  manner of heaven about the globe of the earth and this proficience in  navigation and discovery may plant also a expectation of the further  proficience and augmentation of all science because it may seem they be ordain  by God to be coevals that be to meet in one age for so the prophet Daniel  speak of the latter time foretell most number of things pertransibu et  multiplex to be knowledge as if the openness and through passage of the world  and the increase of knowledge be appoint to be in the same age as we see it be  already perform in great part the learning of these late time not much give  place to the former two period or return of learning the one of the grease the  other of the Roman