These Notes of Cogitations are of two forts; the one when the Note hath fome Similitude or Congruity with the Notion: the other Ad Placitum, having force only by Contract or Acceptation. Of the former fort are Hieroglyphics and Gestures. For as to Hieroglyphics, things of Ancient use, and embraced chiefly by the Egyptians, one of the most ancient Nations, they are but as continued Impresses and Emblems. And as for Gestures, they are as Tranfitory Hieroglyphics, and are to Hieroglyphics as Words Spoken are to Words written, in that they abide not; but they have evermore, as well as the other, an affinity with the things fignified: as Periander, being confulted with how to preserve a tyranny newly ufurped, bid the Meffenger attend and report what he saw him do; and went into his Garden and topped all the highest flowers: fignifying, that it confifted in the cutting off and keeping low of the Nobility and Grandees. Ad Placitum, are the Characters real before mentioned, and Words: although some have been willing by Curious Inquiry, or rather by apt feigning to have derived impofition of Names from Reason and Intendment; a speculation elegant, and, by reason it searcheth into Antiquity, reverent; but sparingly mixed with truth, and of small fruit. This portion of knowledge, touching the Notes of things, and Cogitations in general, I find not inquired, but deficient. And although it may feem of no great ufe, confidering that Words and Writings by letters do far excel all the other ways; yet because

this part concerneth, as it were, the Mint of knowledge, (for words are the tokens current and accepted for conceits, as Moneys are for values, and that it is fit men be not ignorant that Moneys may be of another kind than gold and filver,) I thought good to propound it to better Inquiry.

Concerning Speech and Words, the Confideration of them hath produced the Science of Grammar: for Man still striveth to reintegrate himself in those benedictions, from which by his fault he hath been deprived; and as he hath striven against the first general Curfe by the Invention of all other Arts, fo hath he fought to come forth of the fecond general Curfe, which was the confufion of Tongues, by the Art of Grammar: whereof the use in a mother tongue is small, in a foreign tongue more; but most in such Foreign Tongues as have ceased to be Vulgar Tongues, and are turned only to learned tongues. The duty of it is of two Natures; the one Popular, which is for the speedy and perfect attaining Languages, as well for intercourse of Speech as for understanding of Authors; the other Philofophical, examining the power and Nature of Words, as they are the footsteps and prints of Reafon: which kind of Analogy between Words and Reafon is handled Sparfim, brokenly though not entirely; and therefore I cannot report it deficient, though I think it very worthy to be reduced into a Science by itself.

Unto Grammar also belongeth, as an Appendix, the confideration of the Accidents of Words; which

are Measure, found, and Elevation or Accent, and the sweetness and harshness of them; whence hath iffued fome curious obfervations in Rhetoric, but chiefly Poefy, as we confider it, in respect of the verse and not of the Argument: wherein though men in learned Tongues do tie themselves to the Ancient Measures, yet in modern Languages it feemeth to me as free to make new Measures of Verses as of Dances: for a Dance is a measured pace, as a Verfe is a measured Speech. In thefe things the Senfe is better Judge than the Art; Cana fercula noftræ

Mallem convivis quam placuiffe Cocis.

And of the fervile expreffing Antiquity in an unlike and an unfit Subject, it is well faid, Quod tempore antiquum videtur, id incongruitate eft maxime no

vum.

For Ciphers, they are commonly in Letters or Alphabets, but may be in Words. The kinds of Ciphers, befides the Simple Ciphers, with Changes, and intermixtures of Nulls and Non-fignificants, are many, according to the Nature or Rule of the infolding, Wheel-ciphers, Key-Ciphers, Doubles, &c. But the virtues of them, whereby they are to be preferred, are three; that they be not laborious to write and read: that they be impoffible to decipher; and, in fome cafes, that they be without fufpicion. The highest Degree whereof is to write Omnia per omnia; which is undoubtedly poffible, with a proportion Quintuple at most of the writing infolding to the writing infolded, and noother re

ftraint whatsoever. This Art of Ciphering hath for Relative an Art of Deciphering, by supposition unprofitable, but, as things are, of great use. For suppose that Ciphers were well managed, there be Multitudes of them which exclude the Decipherer. But in regard of the rawness and unskilfulness of the hands through which they pass, the greatest Matters are many times carried in the weakest Ciphers.

In the Enumeration of these private and retired Arts, it may be thought I seek to make a great Mufter-Roll of Sciences, naming them for fhow and oftentation, and to little other purpose. But let those which are skilful in them judge whether I bring them in only for appearance, or whether in that which I fpeak of them, though in few Marks, there be not some seed of proficience. And this must be remembered, that as there be many of great account in their Countries and Provinces, which, when they come up to the Seat of the Ef tate, are but of mean Rank and scarcely regarded; so these Arts, being here placed with the principal and fupreme Sciences, feem petty things: yet to fuch as have chofen them to spend their labours and studies in them, they feem great Matters.

For the Method of tradition, I see it hath moved a Controversy in our time. But as in Civil bufiness, if there be a meeting, and men fall at Words, there is commonly an end of the Matter for that time, and no proceeding at all; fo in Learning, where there is much controverfy, there is many

times little Inquiry. For this part of knowledge of Method feemeth to me fo weakly inquired as I shall report it deficient.

Method hath been placed, and that not amifs, in Logic, as a part of Judgment: for as the Doctrine of Syllogifms comprehendeth the rules of Judgment upon that which is invented, fo the Doctrine of Method containeth the rules of Judgment upon that which is to be delivered; for Judgment precedeth Delivery, as it followeth Invention. Neither is the Method or the Nature of the Tradition material only to the Use of Knowledge, but likewife to the Progression of Knowledge: for fince the labour and life of one man cannot attain to perfection of Knowledge, the Wisdom of the Tradition is that which infpireth the felicity of continuance and proceeding. And therefore the most real diversity of Method, is of Method referred to use, and Method referred to Progression; whereof the one may be termed Magistral, and the other of Probation.

The latter whereof seemeth to be Via deferta et interclufa. For as Knowledges are now delivered, there is a kind of Contract of Error between the Deliverer and the Receiver: for he that delivereth knowledge, defireth to deliver it in fuch form as may be best believed, and not as may be beft examined; and he that receiveth knowledge, defireth rather present fatisfaction, than expectant Inquiry; and fo rather not to doubt, than not to err: glory making the Author not to lay open his weakness,