Lib. VL Of the Advancement ofLcdrning. 175 



The kfjovckdgc of Cyphering^ hath drawn on with it a knowledge re- 

 lative unto it, which is the knowledge of Difcyphering^ox of Difcreting 

 Cyphers though a man were utterly ignorant of the Alphabet of the 

 Cypher, and the Capitulations of fecrepy paft betvveen the Parties. Cer- 

 tainly it is an Art which requires great pains and a good wit, and is (as 

 the Gthet,was)v03nrccrate to the Counfels of Princes; yet notwith- 

 ftanding h^ diligent pre^vifioti it may be made unprofitable, though, as 

 things arcji it be of gregtufe. Fo^., if good and faithful Cyphers were 

 invented lapd .praftifed, xnany ofthpra would d^elude and foreftal all 

 thecunningof the Decypherer, which yet are very apt and ealie to be 

 read or written : but the rawnefs and unskilfulnelsof Secretaries, and 

 Clerks in the Courts of Princes, is fuch, that many times the greateft 

 Matters afe committed to futile and weak Cyphers.' But it may be, that 

 in the enumeration, and, Ss it were, taxations of Arts, fbme may think 

 that we'go about to Wiike a gre^it Mufter-rowl of ScitSnces, that the 

 fnukiplicatib'n of thenl'may be nlo?6 admired 5 when their number 

 perchance may l>e difpla^ed , buf'thHr foroeji^ift^ Uo thort a Treatise 

 can hardly be tried. But for our ^arfs wedd' faithfully purfue our 

 purpofe, and in makirigtKis Globe bf-Scie'nees^ W^ Would not omit the 

 Jeffer and remoter Klands. Ne//^rhave we (i^ out opinion) touch- 

 ed thele Arts perfundlorily , thougH'-curfoiflj^-^-but With a piercing 

 ftile extta^d the Marrow and Pith of them, 6irt !&f » Mafs of Matter. 

 The judgement hereof we refer to thofe who ate^j^feft able to judge of 

 thefe Arts. For feeing h is the fafHon of many rvho' rvould {je thought 

 to l^ftotv much, that every where, makjng o(ie»fath» of^vpords and out- 

 Tpard terms of Arts, they become arpondertothei^Brdfit ^ but a 'derifion 

 to thofe that are Majiers of thofe Arts\; lye hope ''that our Labours ffjall 

 have a contrary fuccefs, which is, that they mity am it the judgement of 

 every one who is beji vers'd in every pkVtrcular Art 5 and be undervalued 

 by the reft. As For thofe Arts which may ftem to be of inferiour 

 rank and order, if any man tWnk' we Attribute too much unto 

 them 5 let him look about him , and hefhall (ee that there be ma- 

 ny of fpecial note and great actount in their own Country, who 

 when they come to the chief City or Seat of the Eftate, are but 

 of mean rank , and (carcely regarded : Co it is no marvail if thefe 

 fleighter Arts, placed by the Principal and Supreme Sciences, leera 

 petty things 5 yet to thofe that have chofen to fpend their Labours 

 and Studies in them , they feem great and excellent Matters. And 

 rfausmuchof the Organ of Speech. 



Chap* 



