PREFACE. XX111 



The Novum Organum is noticed by Lord Bacon 

 in other letters, both before and after the publication 

 in 1620. In the year 1609 he wrote 

 To Mr. Matthew, upon sending to him a part of 



Instauratio Magna. 

 Mr. Matthew, 



I plainly perceive by your affectionate writing 

 touching my work, that one and the same thing af- 

 fecteth us both ; which is, the good end to which it is 

 dedicated ; for as to any ability of mine, it cannot 

 merit that degree of approbation. For your caution 

 for church-men and church-masters, as for any impe 

 diment it might be to the applause and celebrity of 

 my work, it moveth me not ; but as it may hinder 

 the fruit and good which may come of a quiet and 

 calm passage to the good port which it is bound, I 

 hold it a just respect ; so as to fetch a fair wind I go 

 not too far about. But the truth is, that I at all 

 have no occasion to meet them in my way ; except 

 it be as they will needs confederate themselves with 

 Aristotle, who, you know, is intemperately magnified 

 by the schoolmen ; and is also allied, as I take it, to 

 the Jesuits, by Faber, who was a companion of 

 Loyola, and a great Aristotelian. I send you at this 

 time the only part which hath any harshness ; and 

 yet I framed to myself an opinion, that whosoever 

 allowed well of that preface, which you so much 

 commend, will not dislike, or at least ought not to 

 dislike, this other speech of preparation; for it is 

 written out of the same spirit, and out of the same 



