Introduction vii 



ment by means of which men should arrive at these novelties 

 — the ship, in fact, of his frontispiece, on board of which 

 (to use his own motto), — 



Multi pertransibunt, et augebitur scientia. 



After that, the " Instaurdtio ** was to be composed of 

 successive works, ending with a " Philosophia secunda," or 

 complete system of knowledge. This, however, he felt 

 must be left to posterity. 



Whoever, therefore, desires to acquaint himself with 

 Bacon's philosophical works must begin with the Advance- 

 ment, referring to the De Augmentis Scientiarutn from time 

 to time. Then, having thus become familiar with the style 

 of the great thinker, he will be able to go on to that noble 

 work, the Novum Organum ; wherein are contained the 

 seeds of marvellous wisdom, of knowledge which has grown 

 and flourished to this day; and has affected for ever the 

 course and fortunes of learning. 



In preparing this edition of the Advancement of Learning 

 for the general reader, I have aimed at three things — a 

 faithful text, full verification of quotations, and brevity 

 and simplicity of notes. 



As to the first of these matters, there was but little diffi- 

 culty. The variations in the text are very few, and very 

 unimportant. Wherever it was possible, I have followed 

 the edition of 1605, leaving myself little scope for conjecture. 



As to the next point, I had the work already done for me, 

 to a great extent, both in the edition of Mr. Markby, and in 

 the De Augmentis of the great Ellis and Spedding edition. 

 I have been able here and there to supply missing references, 

 and have carefully verified those already found for me. 



But with respect to notes, it is unnecessary that I say 

 more than that their aim is to be as unobtrusive as 

 possible, and that I hope they may be useful. 



Lastly, I subjoin a brief analysis of the work. 



Book I, (Preliminary.) Briefly removes the prejudices against 

 Learning, with proofs, divine and human, of its dignity. {Corre- 

 sponds with De A ugmentis, Bk. i .) 



Book II. {On the main subject.) Commended to kings as nursing 

 fathers. {De Augm. ii. praf.) 



Learning is twofold — Divine and Human. Divine postponed. {De 

 Augm. ii.) 



Human Learning is threefold — 1. History (which answers to the 



