THE SECOND BOOK 2 3 < 



that paternity which is attributed to God, who is called the 

 Father of illuminations or lights. 



The last defect which I will note is, that there hath not 

 been, or very rarely been, any public designation of writers 

 or inquirers concerning such parts of knowledge as may 

 appear not to have been already sufficiently laboured 

 or undertaken ; unto which point it is an inducement, 

 to enter into a view and examination what parts of 

 learning have been prosecuted, and what omitted ; for the 

 opinion of plenty is amongst the causes of want, and the 

 great quantity of books maketh a show rather of super- 

 fluity than lack ; which surcharge nevertheless is not to be 

 remedied by making no more books, but by making more 

 good books, which, as the serpent of Moses, mought devour 

 the serpents of the enchanters. 



The removing of all the defects formerly enumerate, 

 except the last, and of the active part also of the last, 

 (which is the designation of writers,) are opera basilica > 

 towards which the endeavours of a private man may be 

 but as an image in a crossway, that may point at the way 

 but cannot go it. But the inducing part of the latter 

 (which is the survey of learning) may be set forward by 

 private travel. Wherefore I will now attempt to make a 

 general and faithful perambulation of learning, with an 

 inquiry what parts thereof lie fresh and waste, and not 

 improved and converted by the industry of man ; to the 

 end that such a plot made and recorded to memory may 

 both minister light to any public designation, and also 

 serve to excite voluntary endeavours ; wherein nevertheless 

 my purpose is at this time to note only omissions and 

 deficiencies, and not to make any redargution of errors or 

 incomplete prosecutions; for it is one thing to set forth 

 what ground lieth unmanured, and another thing to correct 

 ill husbandry in that which is manured. 



In the handling and undertaking of which work I am 

 not ignorant what it is that I do now move and attempt, 

 nor insensible of mine own weakness to sustain my pur- 

 pose ; but my hope is that if my extreme love to learning 

 carry me too far, I may obtain the excuse of affection. ; for 



