Advancement of Learning 67 



for otherwise they do pervert the motions and faculties of 

 the mind, and not prepare them. The truth whereof is not 

 obscure, when scholars come to the practices of professions, 

 or other actions of civil life; which when they set into, this 

 want is soon found by themselves, and sooner by others. 

 But this part, touching the amendment of the institutions 

 and orders of Universities, I will conclude with the clause of 

 Caesar s letter to Oppius and Balbus, Hoc quemadmodum 

 fieri possit, nonnulla mihi in mentem veniunt, et multa 

 reperiri possunt ; de Us rebus rogo vos ut cogitationem 

 suscipiatis. 1 



Another defect which I note, ascendeth a little higher 

 than the precedent : for as the proficience of learning con- 

 sisteth much in the orders and institutions of Universities 

 in the same states and kingdoms, so it would be yet more 

 advanced, if there were more intelligence mutual between 

 the Universities of Europe than now there is. We see there 

 may be many orders and foundations, which though they 

 be divided under several sovereignties and territories, yet 

 they take themselves to have a kind of contract, fraternity, 

 and correspondence one with the other; insomuch as they 

 have provincials and generals. And surely, as nature 

 createth brotherhood in families, and arts mechanical con 

 tract brotherhoods in commonalties, and the anointment 

 of God superinduceth a brotherhood in kings and bishops ; 

 so in like manner there cannot but be a fraternity in learn 

 ing and illumination, relating to that paternity which is 

 attributed to God, who is called the Father of illuminations 

 or lights. 2 



The last defect which I will note is, that there hath not 

 been, or very rarely been, any public designation of writers 

 or inquirers concerning such parts of knowledge as may 

 appear not to have been already sufficiently laboured or 

 undertaken ; unto which point it is an inducement to enter 

 into a view and examination what parts of learning have 

 been prosecuted, and what omitted: for the opinion of 

 plenty is among the causes of want, and the great quantity 

 of books maketh a show rather of superfluity than lack; 

 which surcharge, nevertheless, is not to be remedied by 

 making no more books, but by making more good books, 



1 Cic. ad Alt. ix. 7, c. 



2 James i. 17. 



