X PREFACE. 



the train of the thoughts occasioned by those phenomena, 

 or by others in compare with them. 



&quot; And because he intended to exhibit such observations, 

 as they gradually arise, therefore he gave to that designed 

 work, the title of the Scale, or Ladder of the Understanding. 

 He also expressed the same conceit by another metaphor, 

 advising students to imitate men, who by going by degrees 

 from several eminences of some very high mountain, do at 

 length arrive at the top, or pike of it.&quot; 



FIFTH BOOK, OR ANTICIPATIONS OF THE SECOND 

 PHILOSOPHY. 



For this translation I am also indebted to my friend 

 Archdeacon Wrangham. Of this tract Archbishop Tennison 

 thus speaks : &quot; The fifth part of the Instauration designed 

 was what he called Prodromi sive Anticipationes Philosophise 

 Secundse. To this we find a very brief entrance in the 

 Organum, and the Scripta, published by Gruter. And 

 though his Lordship is not known to have composed any 

 part of this work by itself, yet something of it is to be col 

 lected from the axioms, and greater observations interspersed 

 in his Natural Histories, which are not pure but mixed 

 writings. The anticipations he intended to pay down as 

 use, till he might furnish the world with the principal.&quot; 



THOUGHTS ON THE NATURE OF THINGS. 

 This is the translation of my friend William G. Glen. 



