L I B. I. Of the Advancement of Learning. 5 



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jefty (lands inverted with that tripJicity of Glory, which was alcribed 

 to that famous Hermes Irifmcgijius, The Poivcrofa King^the l!InfninatJon 

 of a Fricji^ the Learning of a pLilofophcr. Wherefore fince in thefe glori- 

 ous Attributes of Learning, (b inherent and individual in your Perfon, 

 your Majcfty (o far excels all other Kings, it is very meet that fuch rare 

 endowments of Nature and Art (hould becelebrated,not only in the fame 

 or admiration of the prefent time, or in light of Hiftory conveyed o- 

 ver to Pofterity , but be engraven in fbme fblid Work, which both 

 may exprels the Power of a great King, and bear a Character or Signa? 

 tureof lb excellent a learned King. Now (to return to our intended 

 purpofe) I concluded with my fclfthat I could not make to your Maje- 

 fty a better oblation, than of fome Treatiic tending to that end. 



§ The Sum and Argument hereof will confift of trvo Parts : In thefor^ 

 z«e'*, which is morellight and popular (yet may not be paft over J we fliall 

 entreat of the excellency of Kno^vledge and Learning, through all the part! 

 thereof^ and likewife of the merit of thofe who have vporthily and rvifely 

 imploycd and placed their bounties andindHJiries in the Augmentation, and 

 fropagntion thereof. In the latter Part (which is the main and fum of this 

 WorkJ I J/jal/ propound andfct down what in this kind hath been cr^ihraced^ 

 undertaken and accomplipt hitherto^ for the AdvaHcement of Learning : 

 and again brief ji touch at fuch particulars as fee m deficient in this enterprize^ 

 to the end that though I dare not prefume politively to leparate and (e- 

 left what I would chiefly commend unto your Majerty 5 yet by reprefent- 

 ing many and different Obfervations, I may excite your Princely Cogi- 

 tations to vifit the peculiar Treafuresof your own Mind, and thence to 

 extradi what is moft conducent to the amplifying and enlarging of the: 

 lounds of Arts and Knowledges , agreeable to your Magnanimity and 

 Wifdorai 



i. In the entrance to the former Part, to clear the way, and as it wercj 

 to make filence, to have the teftimonies concerning the Di_^»7// of Learn- 

 ing to be better heard, without the interruption of tacit Objections, I 

 think good firft to deliver Learning from the Diferedits and Dilgraces 

 which Ignorance hath caft upon it,but Ignorance fevefally difguiled j ap- 

 pearing and difcovering it felf fometime in the z,eal of Divines, fbmetime 

 in the arrogancy of Politicks, and fometimes in the errors of Learned mctt 

 themfelves. I hear the former ibrt (ay^ That Knotoledge is of the nature and 

 number of thofe things, which are to be accepted with great Limitation and 

 Caution i That the afpiring to overmuch Knowledge, was the original tempta- 

 tion and fin , whereupon enfued the Fall of Man •■) And that even at this 

 day Knowledge hath fomewhat of the Serpent in it^ and therefore where if 

 entreth into a man, it makes him [well, Scientia infiat j That Solomon i Cor, 8„ 

 gives a cenfure, That there is no end of making Bookji and that much rea- Ecclef.17,, 

 ding is a wearinefs to the flejh ; and again in another place. That infpaci- Ecdsf.i. 

 ous knowledge there is much contriliation, and that he that encreafeth know- j, . /» . 

 ledge, encreafeth anxiety^ That St.P<««/givesa C2LVent,That we be notfpoil'd 

 through vain Philofophy ; And that experience demonftrates how the 

 Learnedft men have been Arch-hereticks 5 How Learned times have 

 been inclined to Atheifm,and how the Contemplation of fecond Cauies 

 doth derogate from the Authority of the firft, 



11. Todiicovel: then the error and ignorance of this Opinion, and the 

 tailunderftanding in the grounds thereof, any man may fee plainly that 



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