LETTERS FROM THE BACONIANA. 205 



about new axioms to be raised from the experiments them 

 selves, that they which were before as pillars lying use 

 lessly along may be raised up. And this we resolve on 

 for the fifth part of our Instauration. 



Lastly, there is yet behind the Secondary Philosophy 

 itself, which is the sixth part of the Instauration. Of the 

 perfecting this I have cast away all hopes ; but in future 

 ages perhaps the design may bud again. Notwithstanding 

 in our Prodromie, [or prefatory works], such I mean only, 

 which touch almost the universals of nature there will be 

 laid no inconsiderable foundations of this matter. 



Our meanness, you see, attempteth great things ; placing 

 our hopes only in this, that they seem to proceed from the 

 providence and immense goodness of God. 

 And I am by two arguments thus persuaded. 

 First, I think thus, from that zeal and constancy of my 

 mind, which has not waxed old in this design, nor after so 

 many years grown cold and indifferent. I remember that 

 about forty years ago I composed a juvenile work about 

 these things, which with great confidence and a pompous 

 title, I called Temporis Partum Maximum* [or the most 

 considerable birth of time]. 



Secondly, I am thus pursuaded because of its infinite 

 usefulness ; for which reason it may be ascribed to divine 

 encouragement. 



I pray your fatherhood to commend me to that most ex 

 cellent man, Signior Molines, to whose most delightful and 

 prudent letters I will return answer shortly, if God permit. 

 Farewell, most reverend father. 



Your most assured friend, 



FRANCIS ST. ALBAN. 



* Or, it may be Masculum, as I find it read elsewhere. 



