144 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [Book 



correspondence one with another, insomuch as they have provincials 

 and generals. And surely as nature createth brotherhood in families, 

 and arts mechanical contract brotherhoods in commonalties, and the 

 anointment of God superinduceth a brotherhood in kings and bishops : 

 so in like manner there cannot but be a fraternity in learning and 

 illumination, relating to 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 con 

 cerning 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 learn 

 ing 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 superfluity 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, might devour the serpents 

 of the enchanters. 



The removing of all the defects formerly enumerated, 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 cross-way, that may point at the way, but 

 cannot go it. But the inducing part of the latter, which is the sur 

 vey 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 im 

 proved 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 omis 

 sions and deficiencies, and not to make any redargution of errors, or 

 incomplete prosecutions : for it is one thing to set forth what ground 

 licth 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 purpose; but my hope is that if my extreme 

 love to learning carry me too far, I may obtain the excuse of affection ; 

 for that &quot; it is not granted to man to love and to be wise.&quot; But, I know 

 v/cll, I can use no other liberty of judgment than I must leave to 

 others ; and I, for my part, shall be indifferently glad either to perform 

 myself, or to accept from another, that duty of humanity, &quot; Nam qui 

 erranti comiter monstrat viam,&quot; etc. I do foresee likewise, that of 

 those things which I shall enter and register, as deficiencies and 

 omissions, many will conceive and censure, that some of them are 

 already done and extant ; others to be but curiosities, and things of 

 no great use ; and others to be of too great difficulty, and almost im- 



iibility to be compassed and effected : but for the two first, I refer 

 myself to the particulars ; for the last, touching impossibility, I take it, 



