Of the advancement and proficience of learning; or, The partitions of sciences· Nine books. Written in Latin by the most eminent, illustrious, and famous Lord Francis Bacon Baron of Verulam, Vicount St. Alban, Councellor of Estate, and Lord Chancellor of England. Interpreted by Gilbert Watts.

CAP. X. A Second Partition of History Civile, into Simple, and Mixt. § Cosmographic a mixt History.

THE last Partition of Civile History may be this. History Simple, and Mixt. The Commune Mix∣tures are two, the one from Civile Knowledge; the other specially from Naturall. For there is a kind of writing introduc'd by some, to set down their Relations, not continued according to the Series of the History; but pickt out, according to the choice of the Author, which he after re-examines, and ruminates upon; and taking occasion from those selected pieces, discourses of Civile Matters. Which kind of Ruminated History, we doe exceeding well allow of; so such a Writer doe it indeed, and professe him∣selfe so to doe. But for a man resolvedly writeing a Just Hi∣story, every where to ingest Politique inter-laceings; and so to break off the thread of the story, is unseasonable and tedious. For although every wise History be full, and as it were impregnate with Politicall Precepts and Counsils; yet the Writer himselfe should not be his own Mid-wife at the delivery.

§ Cosmography likewise is a mixt-History, for it hath from Naturall History, the Regions themselves, and their site and commodities; from Ciuile History, Habitations, Re∣giments and Manners; from the Mathematiques, Climates, and the Configurations of the Heavens, under which the Coasts and Quarters of the World doe lye. In which kind of History or Knowledge, we have cause to Congratulate our Times; for the world in this our age, hath through∣lights made in it, after a wonderfull manner. The Ancients certainly had knowledge of the Zones, and of the Anti-podes.

* 1.1(Nos{que} ubi Primus Equis Oriens afflavit anhelis, Jllic sera Rubens accendit Lumina vesper)

and rather by Demonstrations than by Travels. But for some small keele to emulate Heaven it selfe; and to Circle the whole Globe of the Earth, with a more oblique and winding Course, than the Heavens doe; this is the glory and prerogative of our Age. So that these Times may justly bear in their word, not only Plus ultra, whereas the Ancients used non ultra; and also imitabile fulmen, for the Ancients non imitabile fulmen.

Demens qui Nimbos & non imitabile Fulmen.* 1.2

But likewise that which exceeds all admiration imitabile Coelum, our voyages; to whom it hath bin often granted to wheele and role about the whole compasse of the Earth, af∣ter the manner of Heavenly Bodies. And this excellent felici∣ty in Nauticall Art, and environing the world, may plant also an expectation of farther, PROFICIENCIES AND AUGMENTA∣TIONS OF SCIENCES; specially seeing it seems to be de∣creed by the divine Counsill, that these two should be Coae∣vals, for so the Prophet Daniel speaking of the latter times foretells, Plurimi pertransibunt & augebitur Scientia:* 1.3 as if the through Passage, or Perlustration of the World, and the various propagation of knowledge were appointed to be in the same Ages; as we see it is already performed in great part; seeing our times doe not much give place for Learning to the former two Periods, or Returnes of Learn∣ing; the one of the Graecians; the other of the Romans; and in some kinds farre exceed them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Virg. Geor. 1.
• * 1.2

  Virg. Aen. 6
• * 1.3

  Cap. 12.