" A JUST story of learning, containing the antiquities and originals 

 of KNOWLEDGES, and their sects; their inventions, their diverse 

 administrations and managings ; their flourishings, their oppo- 

 sitions, decays, depressions, oblivions, removes; with the causes 

 and occasions of them, and all other events concerning learn- 

 ing, throughout all ages of the world ; I may truly affirm to be 

 wanting. 



" The use and end of which work I do not so much design for 

 curiosity, or satisfaction of those that are the lovers of learning : 

 but chiefly for a more serious and grave purpose ; which is this, 

 in few words, that it will make learned men more wise in the use 

 and administration of learning." 



BACON, Advancement of Learning, book ii. 



