THE REFORMED LIBRARIE-KEEPER With a Supplement to the Reformed-School, As subordinate to Colleges in Universities. BY JOHN DURIE. Whereunto is added I. An Idea of Mathematics. II. The description of one of the chiefest Libraries which is in Germany, erected and ordered by one of the most Learned Princes in Europe. LONDON, Printed by William Dugard, and are to be sold by Rob. Littleberrie at the sign of the Unicorn in Little Britain. 1650. To the Reader. Learned Reader! THese Tracts are the fruits of some of my Solicitations and Negotiations for the advancement of Learning. And I hope they may in time become somewhat effectual to raise thy Spirit to the expectation of greater things, which may be raised upon such grounds as these. All which are but preparatives towards that perfection which we may expect by the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ, wherein the Communion of Saints, by the graces of the Spirit, will swallow up all these poor Rudiments of knowledge, which we now grope after by so many helps; and till then in those endeavours I rest in the Truth▪ Thy faithful and unwearied servant SAMUEL HARTLIE. A SUPPLEMENT TO THE Reformed School. Loving friend! YOu have offered to me that which I confess I did not reflect upon, when I wrote the discourse you have Published under the name of a Reformed School; which is, that some may think by the way of Education, which I propose all Universities and eminent places of Learning might subtly be undermined and made useless, because therein a way is showed how to initiate youths not only to the Principles of all Religious and Rational knowledge, and in the Exercises of all Moral virtues, but in the grounds of all Civil employments, so far, as will make them fit for all profitable undertake in humane societies, whence this will follow (in their apprehensions) that they shall have no advantage by being sent to any Universities, to attein any further perfection: because the Universities will not be able to add any thing unto them, which by their own Industry, they may not afterward attein any where else, as well as there. Truly it never came into my thoughts, either directly or indirectly to make Universities useless; nor can it be rationally inferred from any thing in the matter form or end of that discourse of mine: but I will grant that such as can see no further than what we now ordinarily attein unto; and withal think that there is no Plus ultra in nature atteinable above that which they have conceived, such as I say may frame to themselves this jealousy against that discourse: but if they would raise their thoughts with me a little above the ordinary pitch, and consider what the Nature of man is capable off: and how far it may, by diligent instruction, by Method and Communication, be improved: they might rather be induced to make this inference, if the natural abilities of youths in a School (when reform) may be thus far improved: how far more may they be improved, when they are passed the age of Youth, and come to Manhood in Colleges and Universities, if namely Colleges and Universities, could in the sphere of their activities be proportionally Reform, as the Schools may be in their sphere: for it is rational to conclude thus: if the first step of our Reformation will lead us thus far, how far will the second and third lead us? and if Scholastical Exercises in Youths of eighteen or twenty years, will advance them to that perfection of Learning and Virtues, which few of double their age or none almost ever attein unto, what will Collegial and Academical Exercises (if reform and set upon their proper Objects) bring them unto? I shall therefore to eas you, or such as may have this scruple and jealousy over me, declare that my purpose is so far from making Colleges and Universities useless, that if I might have my desire in them, they should become a thousand times more useful than now they are, that is, as far above the ordinary State wherein they are set, as this School is above the ordinary way of Schooling: for if we look upon the true and proper ends of School, College and Universitie-studies and Exercises; we shall see that as in nature they are in a gradual proportion, distant from, and subordinate unto each other, so they ought to rise one out of another, and be built upon each other's Foundations. The true and proper end of Schooling is to teach and Exercise Children and Youths in the Grounds of all Learning and Virtues, so far as either their capacity in that age will suffer them to come, or is requisite to apprehend the principles of useful matters, by which they may be made able to exercise themselves in every good Employment afterwards by themselves, and as the Proverb is, sine Cortice natare. The true and proper end of Colleges should be to bring together into one Society such as are able thus to Exercise themselves in any or all kind of Studies, that by their mutual Association, Communication, and Assistance in Reading, Meditating and conferring about profitable matters, they may not only perfect their own Abilities, but advance the superstructures of all Learning to that perfection, which by such means is attainable. And the true and proper End of Universities, should be to publish unto the World the Matters, which formerly have not been published; to discover the Errors and hurtfulness of things mistaken for Truths; and to supply the defects and desiderata, which may be serviceable to all sorts of Professions. Now according to those aims and ends, I suppose it may be inferred, that none should be dismissed out of the Schools, till they are able to make use of all sorts of Books, and direct themselves profitably in every course of Study or Action, whereunto their Genius shall lead them; and that none should be admitted into any Colleges, but such as will join with others, to elaborate some profitable Tasks, for the Advancement and facilitating of superstructures in things already by some discovered, but not made common unto all; And that none should be made Public Professors in Universities, but such as have not only a Public aim, but some approved Abilities, to supply some defects and to Elaborate some desiderata of useful knowledge, or to direct such as are studious, how to order their thoughts in all Matters of search and Meditation, for the discovery of things not hitherto found out by others; but which in probability may be found out by rational searching. Thus than I conceiv, that in a well-Reformed Common wealth, which is to be subordinate unto the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, wherein the Glory of God, the happiness of the nature of man: and the Glorious liberty of the Sons of God is to be revealed; all the subjects thereof should in their Youth be trained up in some Schools fit for their capacities, and that over these Schools, some Overseers should be appointed to look to the course of their Education, to see that none should be left destitute of some benefit of virtuous breeding, according to the several kinds of employments, whereunto they may be found most fit and inclinable, whether it be to bear some civil Office in the Commonwealth, or to be Mechanically employed, or to be bred to teach others humane Sciences, or to be employed in Prophetical Exercises. As for this School, which at this time I have delineated, it is proper to such of the Nobility, Gentry and better sort of Citizens, which are fit to be made capable to bear Offices in the Commonwealth: the other Schools may be spoken off in due time, so far as they are distinct from this; but that which now I have to suggest is chiefly this, that as out of the Schools the choice, which ought to be made for Colleges, aught, Caeteris paribus, only to be of such as are most fit to Advance the Ends of a Collegial Association; so out of Colleges a choice ought to be made of Professors for the University only, of such as are fittest to advance the Ends of Public teaching in Universities, which are not to Repeat and Compendiate that which others have published twenty times already, over and over again, but to add unto the Common stock of humane knowledge, that which others have not observed, to the end that all these degrees of Studies and Exercises of the mind of man, being subordinate unto the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the happiness of Man by all Rational and Spiritual ways of improving humane Abilities, may be advanced unto its perfection in this life so far as may be. But how far short we come now of all these designs, I need not to relate unto you: the Colleges as they are now Constituted, can scarce reach to the half of that which the Schools might bring us unto: and the Professors of the Universities come not up to that, which the Collegial Associations might elaborate, if they were rightly directed to set their Talents a work; and if the public Spirit of Christian love and ingenuity did possess those, that are possessed of public places in the Colleges of the Universities. For if this Spirit did rule their Aims and Endeavours, there would be no self-seeking, no partiality, no envy, nor any cross actings for private ends, to the prejudice of the Public; but the generous love of virtue and of profitable Learning, would sway all their inclinations to a free conjunction; and make all their endeavours subordinate unto the public good of the Commonwealth of Israël in the Communion of Saints. But how far this Principle of acting is now wanting amongst us all, I shall not need to mention: you have considered it long ago, and we have together lamented that defect, and the doleful effects thereof: our endeavour must be to seek out the best means of a Reformation therein, and to make use of them as God shall give us opportunities. And truly something of this kind might be done, without any great alteration or stir, even as matters now are form in the Colleges; if God would be so gracious to us, as to beget in the minds of those that understand those things, a hearty Aim and Resolution to benefit the Christian Commonwealth of Learning, by their Collegial Relations and Associations one to another. For if men that are in genuous will call to mind the end first, for which God doth give them all their Talents, and then also for which men of public Spirits have erected Colleges and Universities, and endowed the same with long and competent maintenances; that such as are fit for Studies, and called to be Instrumental in the propagation of Truth and Virtue, might not be distracted with the care of the World, in reference to outward matters, but might have all the conveniences which are imaginable to improve those Talents to the utmost, either singly or conveniently with others, if (I say) ingenuous Christians would mind these ends, for which the benefit of their Talents from God and of their accommodations from men to improve those Talents are bestowed upon them: it would not be possible for them; to be so unthankful towards God, and avers from the rule of Christianity, and from the love of doing good to the generation wherein they live; that they should intend to lead a Collegial life only for their own private eas and conveniency in outward things; that being accommodated with all necessary helps of the Body, they may pleas themselves only in the course of their Studies, with that Reservation and Retiredness, which is proper to a Monkish life in Popish Cloisters; wherein the Spirit of Mutual envy, of detraction and division is more irreconcilably entertained, then in any other Societies of the World. For their Cloister-constitutions, obliging them only to the observation of some formal works as an opus operatum; for which their maintenance is allowed them; they not knowing any further design of their life, or any greater happiness in this World, then to pleas themselves; bestow all the rest of their time and thoughts, as their natural inclinations lead them, which is commonly to nothing else but to self-love and Pride, which became a Provocation unto others, to discover mutually their corruptions, which by reaction make them all full of envy, of hatred, of evil surmises, and of malicious practices one against another: so that no where Satan doth dwell and rule more effectually, then in those Religious Houses, as they are falsely so called. How much of this Monkish disposition doth remain as yet in the formal Constitutions of Colleges, or in the Spirits of those that partake of Collegial accommodations, is not a thing which I shall take upon me to Judge; but I shall leave it to God, and to his day to discover; only I would be glad that all such as are true Israelites, and know the end of their calling unto Christ, and are not willing to bury their Talents, or to make them useless unto others, for whose sakes they have received them would lay this matter to heart, that their Aim in a Collegial life, should not be to enjoie an easy careless way of subsistence by and for themselves, to follow private fancies in their Studies about matters of Learning; but that they should mind the stewardship of their gifts and places, and the advantages of their Association, whereby they might be, (if they would make use of it) able to elaborate some tasks, which otherwise cannot be brought to any perfection, for the building up of the City of God in our generations. There is no want of parts and abilities in the Spirits of our men, but the way to order them for public Use, and to bring them together as stones fitly compacted to make up a perfect Palace, is that which makes us all useless one to another; we find that now and then, as it were by chance, some exquisite pieces of Learning, which some have been hatching all their life time drop out; wherein appears, besides the usefulness of the Subject, or the uselessness thereof, some inclination to be found extraordinary; but these endeavours, disjointed from public Aims, advance little or nothing, the Happiness, which true Learning rightly ordered in all the parts thereof; and Subordinate unto Christianity, is able to bring unto Mankind. Such pieces therefore serve only as a witness, to show what wast there is of profitable time and abilities, for want of loving combinations for public Designs. It is the observation of Foreigners concerning our Universities, that they find in them men of as great learning as any where else; but that they lie as it were dead and unknown to the whole world of other men of Learning; because they delight to live a retired and unsociable life: this humour therefore amongst other parts of our Reformation, must by some Gospel-principles and Rational inducements be Reform, not only in Colleges but in other Associations. The Lord teach us the way of Truth and Righteousness, that we may profit in all things to advance the glory of his name in the Kingdom of his Son, in whom I rest Your friend and servant. J. D. THE REFORMED LIBRARIE-KEEPER. BY JOHN DURIE. IN DOMINO CONFIDO LONDON, Printed by William Dugard, Anno Dom. 1650. THE Reformed Librarie-Keeper: OR Two copies of Letters concerning the Place and Office of a Librarie-Keeper. The first Letter. THe Librarie-Keeper's place and Office, in most Countries (as most other Places and Offices both in Churches and Universities) are looked upon, as Places of profit and gain, and so accordingly sought after and valued in that regard; and not in regard of the service, which is to be done by them unto the Commonwealth of Israël, for the advancement of Piety and Learning; for the most part, men look after the maintenance, and livelihood settled upon their Places, more than upon the end and usefulness of their employments; they seek themselves and not the Public therein, and so they subordinate all the advantages of their places, to purchase mainly two things thereby viz. an easy subsistence; and some credit incomparison of others; nor is the last much regarded, if the first may be had; except i● be in cases of strife and debate, wherein men are overheated: for then indeed some will stand upon the point of Honour, to the hazard of their temporal profits: but to speak in particular of Librarie-Keepers, in most Universities that I know; nay indeed in all, their places are but Mercenary, and their employment of little or no use further, then to look to the Books committed to their custody, that they may not be lost; or embezeled by those that use them: and this is all. I have been informed, that in Oxford (where the most famous Library now exstant amongst the Protestant-Christians is kept,) the settled maintenance of the Librarie-keeper is not above fifty or sixty pound per annum; but that it is accidentally, viis & modis sometimes worth an hundred pound: what the accidents are, and the ways by which they come, I have not been curious to search after; but I have thought, that if the proper employments of Librarie-keepers were taken into consideration as they are, or may be made useful to the advancement of Learning; and were ordered and maintained proportionally to the ends, which ought to be intended thereby; they would be of exceeding great use to all sorts of Scholars, and have an universal influence upon all the parts of Learning, to produce and propagate the same unto perfection. For if Librarie-keepers did understand themselves in the nature of their work, and would make themselves, as they ought to be, useful in their places in a public way; they ought to become Agents for the advancement of universal Learning: and to this effect I could wish, that their places might not be made, as every where they are, Mercenary, but rather honorary; and that with the competent allowance of two hundred pounds a year; some employments should be put upon them further than a bare keeping of the Books. It is true that a fair Library, is not only an ornament and credit to the place where it is; but an useful commodity by itself to the public; yet in effect it is no more than a dead Body as now it is constituted, in comparison of what it might be, if it were animated with a public Spirit to keep and use it, and ordered as it might be for public service. For if such an allowance were settled upon the employment as might maintain a man of parts and generous thoughts, than a condition might be annexed to the bestowing of the Place▪ that none should be called thereunto but such as had approved themselves zealous and profitable in some public ways of Learning to advance the same, or that should be bound to certain tasks to be prosecuted towards that end, whereof a List might be made, and the way to try their Abilities in prosecuting the same should be described, lest in after times, unprofitable men creep into the place, to frustrate the public of the benefit intended by the Doners towards posterity. The proper charge then of the honorary Librarie-Keeper in an University should be thought upon, and the end of that Employment, in my conception, is to keep the public stock of Learning, which is in Books and Manuscripts to increase it, and to propose it to others in the way which may be most useful unto all; his work then is to be a Factor and Trader for helps to Learning, and a Treasurer to keep them, and a dispenser to apply them to use, or to see them well used, or at least not abused; And to do all this, First a Catalogue, of the Treasury committed unto his charge is to be made, that is all the Books and Manuscripts, according to the Titles whereunto they belong, are to be ranked in an order most easy and obvious to be found, which I think is that of Sciences and Languages; when first all the Books are divided into their subjectam materiam whereof they Treat, and then every kind of matter subdivided into their several Languages: And as the Catalogue should be so made, that it may always be augmented as the stock doth increase; so the place in the Library must be left open for the increase of the number of Books in their proper Seats, and in the Printed Catalogue, a Reference is to be made to the place where the Books are to be found in their Shelus or repositories. When the stock is thus known and fitted to be exposed to the view of the Learned World, Then the way of Trading with it, both at home and abroad, is to be laid to heart both for the increase of the stock, and for the improvement of it to use. For the increase of the stock both at home and abroad, correspondency should be held with those that are eminent in every Science, to Trade with them for their profit, that what they want and we have, they may receiv upon condition, that what they have and we want, they should impart in that faculty wherein their eminency doth lie; As for such as are at home eminent in any kind, because they may come by Native right to have use of the Librarie-Treasure, they are to be Traded withal in another way, viz. that the things which are gained from abroad, which as yet are not made common, and put to public use should be promised and imparted to them for the increase of their private stock of knowledge, to the end that what they have peculiar, may also be given in for a requital, so that the particularities of gifts at home and abroad, are to meet as in a Centre in the hand of the Librarie-keeper, and he is to Trade with the one by the other, to cause them to multiply the public stock, whereof he is a Treasurer and Factor. Thus he should Trade with those that are at home and abroad out of the University, and with those that are within the University, he should have acquaintance to know all that are of any parts, and how their vein of Learning doth lie, to supply helps unto them in their faculties from without and from within the Nation, to put them upon the keeping of correspondency with men of their own strain, for the beating out of matters not yet elaborated in Sciences; so that they may be as his Assistants and subordinate Factors in his Trade and in their own for gaining of knowledge: Now because in all public Agencies, it is fit that some inspection should be had over those that are entrusted therewith, therefore in this factory and Trade for the increase of Learning, some tie should be upon those Librarie-keepers to oblige them to carefulness. I would then upon this account, have an Order made that once in the year, the Librarie-keeper should be bound to give an account of his Trading, and of his Profit in his Trade (as in all humane Trade's Factors ought, and use to do to their principals at least once a year) and to this effect I would have it ordered, that the chief Doctors of each faculty of the University, should meet at a Convenient time in a week of the year, to receiv the Accounts of his Trading, that he may show them wherein the stock of Learning hath been increased, for that year's space; and then he is to produce the particulars which he hath gained from abroad, and lay them before them all, that every one in his own faculty m●● declare in the presence of others, that which he thinketh fit to be added to the public stock, and made common by the Catalogue of Additionals, which every year within the Universities is to be published in writing within the Library itself, and every three years (or sooner as the number of Additionals may be great, or later, if it be small) to be put in Print and made common to those that are abroad. And at this giving up of the accounts, as the Doctors are to declare what they think worthy to be added to the common stock of Learning, each in their Faculty; so I would have them see what the Charges and Pains are whereat the Librarie-Keeper hath been, that for his encouragement, the extraordinary expenses in correspondencies and transcriptions for the public good, may be allowed him out of some Revenues, which should be set a part to that effect, and disposed of according to their joint-consent and judgement in that matter. Here than he should be bound to show them the Lists of his correspondents, the Letters from them in Answer to his, and the reckoning of his extraordinary expense should be allowed him in that which he is indebted, or hath freely laid out to procure Rarities into the stock of Learning. And because I understand that all the Book-Printers or Stationars of the Commonwealth are bound of every Book which is Printed, to send a Copy into the University Library; and it is impossible for one man to read all the Books in all Faculties, to judge of them what worth there is in them; nor hath every one Ability to judge of all kind of Sciences what every Author doth handle, and how sufficiently; therefore I would have at this time of giving accounts, the Librarie-keeper also bound to produce the Catalogue of all the Books sent unto the Universitie's Library by the Stationars that Printed them; to the end that every one of the Doctors in their own Faculties should declare, whether or no they should be added, and where they should be placed in the Catalogue of Additionals; For I do not think that all Books and Treaties which in this age are Printed in all kinds, should be inserted into the Catalogue, and added to the stock of the Library, discretion must be used and confusion avoided, and a course taken to distinguish that which is profitable, from that which is useless; and according to the verdict of that Society, the usefulness of Books for the public is to be determined; yet because there is seldom any Books wherein there is not something useful, and Books freely given are not to be cast away, but may be kept, therefore I would have a peculiar place appointed for such Books as shall be laid aside to keep them in, and a Catalogue of their Titles made Alphabetically in reference to the Autor's name, with a note of distinction to show the Science to which they are to be referred. These thoughts come thus suddenly into my head, which in due time may be more fully described, if need be, chiefly if, upon the ground of this account, some competency should be found out and allowed to maintain such charges as will be requisite, towards the advancement of the Public good of Learning after this manner. The second Letter. Sir! IN my last I gave you some incident thoughts, concerning the improvement of an honorary Librarie-keeper's-place, to show the true end and use thereof, and how the keepers thereof should be regulated in the Trade, which he is to drive for the Advancement of Learning, and encouraged by a commpetent maintenance, and supported in extraordinary expenses for the same. Now I wish that some men of public Spirits and lovers of Learning, might be made acquainted with the Action, upon such grounds as were then briefly suggested; who knows but that in time something might be offered to the trusties of the Nation, with better conceptions than these I have suggested. For, if it be considered that amongst many Eminencies of this Nation, the Library of Oxford is one of the most considerable for the advancement of Learning, if rightly improved and Traded withal for the good of Scholars at home and abroad; If this (I say) be rightly considered and represented to the public Reformers of this age, that by this means this Nation as in other things, so especially for Piety and Learning, and by the advancement of both, may now be made more glorious than any other in the world; No doubt such as in the Parliament know the worth of Learning will not be avers from further overtures, which may be made towards this purpose. What a great stir hath been heretofore, about the Eminency of the Library of Heidelberg, but what use was made of it? It was engrossed into the hands of a few, till it became a Prey unto the Enemies of the Truth. If the Librarie-keeper had been a man, that would have traded with it for the increase of true Learning, it might have been preserved unto this day in all the rarities thereof, not so much by the shutting up of the multitude of Books, and the rareness thereof for antiquity, as by the understandings of men and their proficiency to improv and dilate knowledge upon the grounds which he might have suggested unto others of parts, and so the Librarie-rarities would not only have been preserved in the spirits of men, but have fructified abundantly therein unto this day, whereas they are now lost, because they were but a Talon digged in the ground; And as they that had the keeping of that Library made it an Idol, to be respected and worshipped for a rarity by an implicit faith, without any benefit to those who did esteem of it a far off: so it was just with God that it should fall into the hands of those that in all things follow an Idolatrous way, to blind men with shows without all reality of substantial virtue, which is only eminent in this, that it becometh profitable unto all, by dilating the light of knowledge, and the love of grace and goodness in the hearts of all men, that are fit to receiv the one and the other; And where this Aim is not in those that are entrusted with public places; there they in the end will be found unprofitable servants; for the trust which God hath put into their hands to profit withal, they discharge not for the account which every one is to give unto him of his Stewardship, is not how careful he hath kept things of use unto himself, to pride himself in the possession of that which others have not, (as the custom of men is, that know not what true glory is) but how faithfully and diligently he hath distributed the same to such as were worthy thereof for their good, that they might be stirred up both to glorify God for his goodness; and to imitate him in the Communication of all good things unto others for his sake freely. This was Christ's Work on Earth to receiv us, unto the Glory of God; this was that which he taught by this practice, that it is more blessed to give, then to receiv. This is that which this envious World cannot relish, and what stop's the current of true love in the hearts of men? Nothing so much as the self-seeking of men in the ways of Learning, by which they covetously obstruct the fountains of life and comfort, which might overflow and water abundantly the barren and thirsty Souls of those that perish for want of address nnto wisdom; which in all the ways of humane and divine Learning might be mainly advanced, by the industry of one man in such a place, whose Trade should be such as I formerly described, to deal with the spirits of all men of parts, to set them a working one by and towards another, upon the subjects which he should be entrusted withal to keep in the stock of Learning. It is the Glory and Riches of Nations and of great Cities, to make themselves the Centre of Trade for all their Neighbours; and if they can find ways of polity, to oblige their Neighbours to receiv from their Magazines the Commodities whereof they stand in need, it is every way a great benefit unto the State, so it may be in matters of Learning, and by the Trade of Sciences this Church may oblige all the Neighbour Churches, and that University all Foreigners that Trade in knowledge to receiv precious Commodities, whereof they stand in need, from our Magazines and Storehouses; if a painful Steward and dispenser thereof, be employed and maintained to use industry for so blessed a work, from whence much Glory to God in the Gospel, and honour will redound to the Nation. For although the ways of humane Learning are almost infinite and wonderfully various, and have their peculiar uses in the outward life of man, for which most men affect them, yet in one that is to mind the universal good of all, the whole variety and diversity of matters useful unto this present life, as they come within the sphere of Learning must be reduced, and may be subordinate unto the advancement of the Gospel of Christ, wherein the Glory of the Nation, at this and all times should be thought to stand: And truly that is the thing which takes most with me, for which I would have that Library thus improved by a faithful keeper, that when his Trade is set on foot, with all those that are of eminent parts in their several faculties, we knowing who they are and wherein their eminencies do lie, may have opportunities to provoke them to the right use thereof, by giving them Objects from our store; and furnishing them with tasks and matters to be elaborated, which cannot be diverted from the scope of God's glory to be made known unto all men in Jesus Christ, for there is nothing of knowledge in the mind of man, which may not be conveniently referred to the virtues of God in Christ, whereby the humane nature is to be exalted to that dignity whereunto he hath received it, that it should by him rule over the whole Creätion. And the want of this Aim to look upon things in order to him, and to set them a working without relation to him, is that which blast's all our endeavours, and makes them determine in confusion and disorder; For whatsoëver is not directed in its own place with some reference unto him must be overthrown; nor is there any way left for any to prosper in that which he undertaketh, but to learn to know him and respect him in it, for the advancement of the Kingdom over the Souls of men, which by the Sanctified use of all knowledge is chiefly effected. If then the Trade of Learning is to be set a foot in a public way, and regulated to deserv the countenance of a Religious State, this Aim, and the way of prosecuting of it must be intended and beaten out; For except Sciences be reform in order to this Scope, the increase of knowledge will increase nothing but strife, pride and confusion, from whence our sorrows will be multiplied and propagated unto posterity; but if he, who is to be entrusted with the managing of this Trade, be addressed in the way which leadeth unto this Aim without partiality, his negotiation will be a blessing unto this age and to posterity. I have no time to enlarge upon this Subject, or to conceiv a formal and regular discourse, but the thoughts which thus fall into my mind I impart unto you, that you may give them as hints unto others, who of themselves will be able to enlarge them either to the House, or to such as can in due time sway the Counsels of leading men in this Commonwealth. AN Idea of Mathematics written by Mr Joh. Pell to Samuel Hartlib. Sir! THe sum of what I have heretofore written or spoken to you, concerning the advancement of the Mathematics, is this: As long as men want will, wit, means or leisure to attend those studies, it is no marvel if they make no great progress in them. To remedy which, I conceiv these means not to be amiss. 1. To write a Consiliarius Mathematicus, (so I call it) answering to these 3 questions: Q. 1. What fruit or profit ariseth from the study of Mathematics? Q. 2. What helps are there for the attaining this profitable knowledge? Q. 3▪ What order is to be observed in using these helps? To this purpose it should contain 1. A plain and popular discourse of the extent of the Mathematics, with the profit that redound's, first to the Student himself, and then to the Country wherein there are many such grounded Artists. 2. A Catalogue of Mathematicians and their works in this order: 1. A Synopsis of all the several kinds of Mathematical writings, either extant in print, or accessible Manuscripts in public Libraries, with several numbers set to every kind. 2. A Chronical Catalogue of all Mathematician's names that ever were of note, according to the order of the years when they lived, with the year when any of their works were first printed, 3. A Catalogue of the writings themselves, in the order of years in which they were printed in any language: And this I would contrive thus: First, the year of our Lord, and then the names of all the Mathematical Books Printed that year in any Country or Language, after the usual manner of Catalogues: but 1. Adding the volume, that is, not only what fold [40. 80. etc.] but also the number of leaus, that we may estimate the bulk of the Book. 2. Prefixing before the title the year to which you must look back to know either when it was written, or when it was last before Printed, in that or any other Language. 3. Setting in the margin, after the Title. 1. The year wherein it was the next time Printed. 2. The number of reference to the Synopsis in the first page; By which numbers one may presently run over all the Books of one sort, of this or that particular subject. 3. A Counsel directing a student to the best Books in every kind; In what order, and how to read them, What to observe, what to beware of in some Mathematicasters', how to proceed and keep all. 4. A Paraenesis, First, To all those who have means and leisure, and a wit not unapt for these studies, to set upon them in regard 1. of their profitableness to the student, and to mankind. 2. of that more refined pleasure of hunting out hidden truths, wrestling with difficult Problems, and getting the victory; and so much the rather, because 3. of the great facility that is now in that study, by reason of the many helps to spare much labour, time and cost, which our forefathers were forced to spend. Secondly, To all those who have understanding to estimate the worth of these studies, and wealth wherewith to purchase themselves lasting honour by the wise dispensing of it, to take more notice of this sort of students, and to encourage them, setting apart the choicest of them, to perfect the inventions, to which their Genius leads them. Especially, To all Princes and Estates, whom it concerns to take a course, 1. that their dominions may be better furnished with this sort of students. 2. That the way may be made less laborious and costly, 3. That Mathematica ingenia may be discovered and assisted. To which end it would be good. 2. to erect a Public Library, containing all those Books, and one instrument of every sort that hath been invented, with sufficient revenue, 1. To buy one copy of all those that shall be Printed yearly in other Countries. and 2. To maintain a Librarie-keeper of great judgement, to whom it may belong † 1. To peruse all Books of such subjects, to be Printed within that Country, and 1. Suppress whatsoëver is not according to Art, that Learners be not abused, and 2. Admonish the Writers, if they bring nothing but stale stuff. 2. Upon his credit to approv excellent inventions, and unpartially to commend the inventors to the rewarders. 3. To receiv, record and place one Printed copy of every Book so perused, sent into the Library, well bound at the Autor's or Bookseller's charge. 4. To resolve any student that enquire's about any Problem, whether it have been done already or no, fearing lest he should actum agere, and therefore perhaps suppressing some invention which he hath light upon, but doubts it is old and to be found in some of the Books of that Library. 5. To receiv, † etc. all such Manuscripts as shall be brought thither by way of gift, Legacy or the like. 6. To maintain correspondence with such as himself in other Countries, to know what is Printed there. 7. To take notice of all his Countrymen that are fit to be Teachers, etc. 8. To keep a Catalogue of all such workmen as are able and fit to be employed in making Mathematical Instruments and representations, working upon Wood, Magnets, Metals, Glass, etc. 9 To give testimonial, after examination, to all sorts of practisers, as Pilots, Masters, Landmeters, Accomptants, etc. of their speculative ability and practical dexterity, that those that have occasion to use such men, be not abused by unable undertakers, to their exceeding great damage. By the Catalogue, men might be informed, in that multitude of Books, with which the world is now pestered, what the names are of those Books that tend to this study only. In the Library, they might find the Books themselves, read them, and if they liked them, know whither to send to buy them: Besides, any, whether foreigners or others, might have recours thither, and learn what helps that Country would afford them in these studies. And this is the best course that I can think on for the making use of such helps as we have already. If men desire better helps, let them employ fit Artists. 3. To write and publish these three new Treatises: 3 † 1. Pandectae Mathematicae, Comprehending as Clearly, Orderly, and Thrftily, and Ingenuously as may be, whatsoëver may be gathered out of all those Mathematical Books and Inventions that were before us, or that may be inferred as Consectaries thereon; citing, at the end of every period or Proposition, the ancientest Author in which it is found, and branding all later writers if they be taken stealing, or borrowing without acknowledgement, or [which is worses] expressly arrogating to themselves any other man's inventions. This would bring that great Library into far less room, to the saving of more labour, time and cost, to all after-students, than men can yet well imagine. But because this also would be too great and cumbersome to carry about us, Let there be composed 2. Comes Mathematicus, 4 † Comprehending in a pocket-Book, [and therefore as briefly as may be] the usefullest Tables and the Precepts for their use, in solving all Problems, whether purely Mathematical, or applied to such practices as men's various occasions may require. And lastly, that in this kind of Learning also, we be no longer tied to Books, Let there be composed 3. Mathematicus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 5 or An instruction, showing how any Mathematician that will take the pains, may prepare himself, so, as that he may, though he be utterly destitute of Books or Instruments, resolve any Mathematical Problem as exactly as if he had a complete Library by him. And this is the Idéa, which I have long framed to myself, according to my fashion, with whom this passeth for an undoubted truth, that the surest way to come to all possible excellency in any thing, is to propose to our selves the perfectest Idéas that we can imagine, then to seek the means tending thereto, as rationally as may be, and to prosecute it with indefatigable diligence; yet, if the Idéa prove too high for us, to rest our selus content with approximation. As for this present Idéa, I am so far from counting it meerly-impossible, that I see not why it might not be performed by one man, without any assistants, provided that he were neither distracted with cares for his maintenance, nor diverted by other employments. The excellency of this work, makes me wish mine own Nation the honour of first undertaking and perfecting this design, And I conceiv I have some reason to hope that it will be so. For, though I know few or none that are both able and willing to promote designs of this nature, yet can I not therefore be persuaded that this Kingdom is so destitute of learned Nobility and Gentry, that there can be found none to countenance and advance this part of Learning, even in this way, if they could see it possible and likely to be effected. As for the Library and Catalogue, 1.2 there can be no doubt but they may easily be had, if Money be not wanting. Nor is it unlikely that divers of this Nation (if they be set apart for it) are able to compose the other 3. new Treatises; For though I know no such, yet I persuade myself there may be found amongst us men able to encounter all the difficulties, and to endure all the labour, that they must needs meet with in the raising of so great a Fabric. And I the rather believ that there are many such, because for mine own part, notwithstanding the want of Counsel and helps in that study, and the innumerable diversions and distractions that I have had, I am nevertheless come to such a confidence of my understanding the depth of that study, that, were I to pen those Pandects, 3. I should lay heavier Laws upon myself, than I have already mentioned; namely, First to lay down such an exact Method or description of the process of Man's reason in inventions, that afterward it should be imputed merely to my negligence and disobedience to my own Laws, [and not to their insufficiency] if, from my first grounds, seeds, or principles, I did not, in an orderly way, according to that prescribed Method, deduce, not only all that ever is to be found in our Antecessor's writes, and whatsoëver they may seem to have thought on, but also all the Mathematical inventions, Theorems, Problems and Precepts, that it is possible for the working wits of our successors to light upon, and that in one certain, unchanged order, from the first seeds of Mathematics, to their highest and noblest applications, as well as to the meanest and most ordinary. Not setting them down at random as they come in my head, as those before us have done, so that they seem to have light upon their Problems and the solutions of them by chance, not to have found them by one perpetual, constant, invariable process of Art. Yet such an Art may men invent, if they accustom themselves, as I have long done, to consider, not only the usefulness of men's works, and the meaning and truth of their writes, but also how it came to pass that they fell upon such thoughts, and that they proposed to themselves such ends, or found out such means for them. Were these Pandects thus made and finished, I suppose it is manifest, that by their orderly, rational and uniform compleatness, above all that hath been hitherto written, they would spare after-students much labour and time that is now spent in seeking out of Books, and disorderly reading them, and struggling with their cloudy expressions, unapt representations, different Methods, confusions, tautologies, impertinencies, falsehoods by paralogisms and pseudographemes, uncertainties because of insufficient demonstrations, etc. besides much cost also, now thrown away upon the multitude of Books, the greater part whereof they had perhaps been better never to have seen. And it may be some would like the Method of that work so well, as to extend it farther, and apply it to other studies; in speculation imitating this my wariness, that no falsehood be admitted, and no truth omitted; and for practice enuring themselves, any subject being propounded, to determine the number of all the Problems that can be conceived concerning it, and any Problem being propounded, demonstratively to show either all the means of its solution, or the impossibility of it: and if so, then whether it be not yet, or not at all possible. Men would easily see how to contract these Pandects into a pocket-Book for their ordinary use. 4. But so to lay them up in their heads, 5. as to need no Book at all [according to that desideratum of mine, to have a Mathematicus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉] will perhaps seem utterly impossible to most: No man, that ever I heard of, having proposed such a scope to himself before. But perhaps they will conceiv it more possible, if it pleas them to suspend their judgements, till they have considered what means may be used to fortify the imagination, to prompt the memory, to regulate our reason, and what effects may be produced by the uniting of these means, and the constant exercising of them. For mine own part, the consideration of the incomparable excellency, unstained pleasure, unvaluable profitableness, and undoubted possibility of this whole design, hath prevailed so far with me, that, notwithstanding all the discouragements that I have met withal, I have done more towards it than bare Idéa. BIBLIOTHECA AUGUSTA, SERENISSIMI, ILLUSTRISSIMI PRINCIPIS, ac DOMINI, D. AUGUSTI, Ducis Brunovicensis, & Lunaeburgensis. Quae est WOLFERBYTI. In Bibliothecam Augustam. VIderat Augustam Dea Caesia Bibliothecam, Augusti manibus Guelphicâ in Vrbe strui: Nunc mihi tur●igeras quantumuìs Ma●●spiter arces Objice, quas vehemens Occaracingit, ait. Grandia si Libris praefers tormenta, memento▪ Illa homines-miseros, hanc posuisse Deum. M. Henricus Julius Scheurl, Moralium in Acad. Juliâ Professor publicus. BIBLIOTHECA AUGUSTA, quae hodie Guelpherbiri, antiquissimâ Ducum Brunovicensium Sede visitur, sive locum, sive armaria, sive ipsam denique molem, & congeriem Librorum, sub eo nomine intelligas, primum, & unicum, Autorem habet, Serenissimum Illustrissimum Principem, ac Dominum, Dominum AUGUSTUM, Ducem Brunovicensem & Lunaeburgensem, qui, ut à primis adolescentiae annis, artium cultor solertissimus, & ingeniorum censor acutissimus, ità etiam, quod istis adhaeret, praestantissimorum in omni eruditionis genere Librorum amantissimus. Exemplum quidem, & ardorem, Illustrissimus Princeps ad istos conatus, à Regibus & Imperatoribus, qui curam hanc verè Regiam sibi propriam esse voluerunt: Rem verò nullam ab aliis habuit. Obversabatur nempe animo Osimanduas Aegypti Rex, qui ut est apud Diodorum Siculum, lib. 1. cap. 49. sacrae Bibliothecae à se erectae, titulum esse voluit: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, MEDICATORIUM ANIMAE, ut vertit L. Rhodomanus, ejúsque ut in Regno, itâ & in laudabili instituto post aliquot secula Successor Ptolomaeus Philadelphus, cujus Bibliotheca, exemplo, imò & Libris summi Aristotelis instructa, omnium Historicorum ore, & laudibus celebris: Eumenes item, seu Attalus, (utrique enim, huic patri, illi filio laudem hanc Historia tribuit) Pergami Reges, quorum tantum in hoc negotio studium, ut cum Ptolomaeus chartas seu papyrum, quam sola Aegyptus suppeditaverat, invidè supprimeret, veritus, nè Attalus veterem illam Aegypti Bibliothecam nouâ suâ aequaret; ille ferro, quod dicitur, viam sibi aperiendam, nouámque Librorum conficiendorum rationem inveniendam censeret, optimo sanè successu: membranarum enim ex corio animalium confectarum usum, ut Varro autor est apud Plinium lib. 13. cap. 11. invenit, cui omne quicquid ad Typographiae inventionem usque superat Librorum, unicè debemus. Unde meritò factum est, ut in aeviternam inventoris Pergami Regis memoriam, hujusmodi membranae adhuc hodie Pergamenae dicantur. Nec defuit Principi domesticum Illustrissimorum Antecessorum lineae Principalis Guelphicae, Arcis Guelpherbiti Possessorum, exemplum, qui & ipsi superiori seculo instructissimam Bibliothecam, copiâ tamen Librorum huic Augustae non comparandam, paraverant, quam demum Anno aeràe Dionysianae 1617. ultimus istius Lineae FREDERICUS VLRICUS Academiae Juliae, quae est Helmaestadii, possidendam, & utendam liberaliter contulit. Res, ut patet, augurio, & omine felicissimo non carens. Ut enim Principi AUGUSTO possessio, & avita Sedes Ducatûs Guelphici, satis dudum destinata demonstraretur, idem Genius, quem in postremis istius Ducatûs Possessoribus HENRICO Bellicoso, seu Juniore, JULIO Pacifico, HENRICO JULIO sapientissimo, & FRIDERICO VLDARICO mitissimo, universus Orbis admirabatur, in Principem AUGUSTUM eruditissimum, transferendus erat, atque ut illustrior esset ejus sama, omne quicquid in re Librariâ Antecessorum diligentia praestiterat, ad Academiam Juliam transire, omnis verò lans erectae Bibliothecae Augustae, soli & unico Principi AUGUSTO propria esse debebat. Superâsse autem non immeritò dicendus est AUGUSTUS in hoc studio, & opere, sive Ptolomaeos, sive Attalos, sive JULIUM, & AUGUSTUM, primos Romanorum Imperatores, (nec horum enim studium in negotio librario eruditis ignotum) quòd Ptolomaeus Philadelphus non proprio sive ingenio, sive industriâ, sed alienâ, Demetrii nempe Phalerei viri Atheniensis, scriptis, & factis illustrissimi, rem confecerit: Caesar verò curam hanc, quam magno animo conceperat, & nisi fata intercepissent, absolvisset, Marco Varroni, Graecorum Latinorúmque doctissimo, quo nullus eâ tempestate in orbe terrarum isti negotio aptior, dederit. AVGVSTVS quoque Imperator, nec ipse quidem, sed per Asinium Pollionem (Oratorem, & Senatorem Romanum nobilem) absolvit. Princeps verò AUGUSTUS, & primus autor pulcerrimi sui Operis, & sibimetipsi Demetrius, Varro, Pollio, cujus solius vigiliis, & curis nocturnis diurnisque Bibliotheca AUGUSTA acquisita, & composita est. Exemplo Pisistrati, Atheniensium, ut tum vocabantur, Tyranni, qui Bibliothecam Atheniensem ad publicum usum, non per alios, sed ipse componebat, cui & Homerum digestum, correctúmque debemus: Magnus profectò vir, modò cognomen illud odiosum tollas. Initium Bibliothecae Augustae colligendae factum est, Anno aerae Dionysianae 1604. ad confluentem Albis, & Jetzae, in Principis AUGUSTI Ducatu Lunaeburgico, in Aulâ, & adjuncto cognomini oppido Hitzackerâ, loco quidem ante constitutam ibidem Principis Aulam, satìs obscuro, quem tamen non minùs atque olim Ulysses Ithacam suam satìs illustrem reddidit. In hoc recessu satìs amoeno, inter alia Principis opera magnifica, parvis primùm initiis crevit haec Bibliotheca, in illam magnitudinem, quae hodie non sine admiratione cernitur. Ex haereditate ullâ nihil erat, quod in tantae molis auspicium, aut fundamentum cederet, immensis autem sumptibus conquirebatur, quicquid optimae notae Librorum, in quocunque genere eruditionis in Germaniâ, Galliâ, Hispaniâ, Angliâ, Belgio, ipsâ denique Italiâ inveniri poterat. Quicquid erat doctorum virorum Romae, Neapoli, Venetiis, Florentiae (quibus in locis Princeps AUGUSTUS per aliquod annos eruditissimorum virorum familiaritate usus erat) Lutetiae, Londini, Oxoniae, ut de Germaniâ nihil addatur, illorum operâ magnis sumptibus ad conquirendos optimae notae Libros conducebatur. Incrementum operi coepto haud contemnendum dedit Bibliotheca summi viri, & de universâ Germaniâ optimè meriti Marquardi Freheri, Caelii item Curionis, ejusdémque filii Coelii Augustini Curionis, magno Reipubls. literariae damno, in ipso aetatis flore ante parentem exstincti: Joachimi quoque Clutenii, cujus variam eruditionem Sylloge ejus rerum quotidianarum satìs demonstrat. Crevit igitur in magnum, & merito suo admirandum numerum, non quorumvis, sed optimorum, & selectorum Librorum, ut hodie, (21. nempe Maii, Anni 1649.) numerentur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, (ut vocat Plutarch in M. Antonio) singulares Libri seu Volumina, licèt in uno Volumine plures saepe Libri, sive Tractatus, inveniantur, ferme viginti millia. Voluminum nempe, Manuscriptorum 764 Theologicorum 7287 Juridicorum 2578 Physicorum, & quae ad primam Philosophiam pertinent 460 Medicorum. 580 Mathematicorum in genere, & in specie Geometricorum 168 Geographicorum 86 Astronomicorum 197 Musicorum 54 Arithmeticorum 52 Ethicorum 778 Politicorum 682 Historicorum 2133 Ad res Bellicas pertinentium 142 Oeconemicorum 41 Logicorum 65 Rhetoricorum 401 Grammaticorum 407 Poëticorum 746 Variorum, seu ut vulgò vocantur Quodlibeticorum, in quibus nempe, vel-diversi Tractatus, ad diversas disciplinas pertinentes, conjuncti visuntur: vel tales Tractatus in iis deprehenduntur, in quibus varia, modò ad has, modò ad alias disciplinas pertinentia explicantur. 2092 Scriptores verò seu Autores, quorum monumenta in praedictis Voluminibus exstant, numerantur 37077 Tractatus autem, sive diversorum, sive eorundem Autorum, supra 60000. Et nè quis inmortalia ipsius Principis AUGUSTI monumenta hìc desideret, visuntur non tantùm ibidem ea, quae ab alienâ profecta industriâ, vitam ipsi debent, veluti, (ut de multis pauci nominentur) Antonii Bonfin●i symposion trimetron: Bartholomaei Fontii Commentarius in Persium, verùm etiam praeclara ejusmetipsius Scripta, eruditorum Orbi sub nomine GUSTAVI SELENI, olim exhibita: CRYPTOGRAPHIA nempe, quâ (teste Clarissimo Naudaeo in Bibliographiâ Politicâ) eruditissimi Trithemii Steganographia hactenus omnibus sermè eruditis, ipsi etiam FRANCISCO JUNIO magica credita, hujúsque judicio, Vulcano consecrata, ità illustrata est, ut quicquid in Trithemio obscurum involutúmque tamdiu in summâ omnium veneratione, & opinione delituerat, omnium oculis patefactum, atque retectum sit. Videatur eruditissimus Gerhardus Joh. Vossius, ipsius Clarissimi Francisci Junii gener, libro de arte Grammaticâ primo, Cap. 41. Praeter Trithemii Steganographica in Opere hoc Cryptographico omnia ea explicantur, & clarissimae luci exponuntur, quae, in isto reconditae scientiae & profundae indaginis negotio, humani ingenii vis excogitare potuit. LUSUS quoque SCHACHIAE unà cum RYTHMOMACHIA seriae & profundae eruditionis Opus. Prodiit uterque Liber, iste quidem Lunaeburgi, hic verò Lipsiae in formâ majori, seu folio, ut vocant, elegantissimis typis excusus, & imaginibus exornatus. HISTORIA item vitae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 JESUS CHRISTI, ex quatuor, ut vocantur, Evangelistarum, & reliquis novi Foederis libris, sermone Principis patrio concinnata & accuratâ pensitatione ità elaborata, ut quicquid hactenus difficultatum, seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnium eruditorum ingenia mirificè exercuit, id feliciter explicatum, & sacrorum Scriptorum consensus, ut Augustinus loquitur, clarissimè demonstratus sit. Manuscriptorum, ut vocantur, librorum haud contemnendus in hac Bibliothecâ est numerus, & Thesaurus, quorum nonnullos ipse Princeps in Ungariâ, occasione itinerum ad D. D. Imperatores RUDOLPHUM II. & FERDINANDUM II. in arduis negotiis susceptorum, magno aere redemit, in tenuissimâ magni pretii membranâ elegantissimis litteris scriptos, laciniam illustrissimae Bbliothecae, Budae, Regni Ungariae Metropoli quondam, à Matthiâ Hunniade Corvino, circa An. Christi 1485. erectae, & Turcarum Tyranno Solimanno, cum Anno aere Dionys. 1541. fraude, & vi Budam caperet, viduámque Joannis Regis Hungariae Elisabetham, quam cum Regno defendendam se venisse simulaverat, cum filiolo infante ejiceret, ereptae. Bibliotheca haec Matthiae Hunniadis (verba sunt Antonii Bonfinii, rerum Ungaricarum decad. 4. lib. 7. mirâ utriusque linguae foecunditate fuit completa, cultus autem Librorum luxuriosissimus: cujus prosterioris testes locupletissimi sunt hi Manuscripti, quorum occasione haec adducta sunt. Nec desunt Instrumenta Mathematica exquisitissimè fabrefacta, Sphaerae item & Globi, quibus Sphaerae coelestis sidera & motus, facies item Globi terrestris miro artificio accuratè representantur. Nequaquam verò numero isto, quem suprà posuimus, clauditur haec Bibliotheca, cum quotidie magnis sumptibus, & indefesso studio accedat, & conquiratur, quicquid melioris notae Librorum sive noviter, sive denuò editum prodit, aut in omnibus orbis partibus investigari, & redimi potest, adeóque Bibliotheca haec AUGUSTA nè vanum sit nominis augurium, singulis diebus augetur. Primordia, ut suprà notatum, in tranquillo Principis AUGUSTI Hitzakerianae ●thacae Regno, satis quidem auspicatò sumsi●, parùm tamen aberat, quin Anno Christi 1636. absente Principe, & Aulam suam Brunsvicum, Urbem suam haereditariam, transferente, rapaces manus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bellonae Filii, à Principe nunquam laesi, experta fuisset: qui licèt spe & animo eam planè devoraverat; vigili tamen Principis curâ & itinere properatissimo, unguibus hujus Harpiyae intercipiebatur. Fatum istud olim experta erat illustris Atheniensium Bibliotheca, cum Xerxes Persarum Monarcha, devictis Atheniensibus, hostibus suis, potissimam praedae partem eam faceret, & transferret. Restituit tamen eandem trecentos triginta post Annos Seleucus Nicanor Syriae Rex, qui eam insigniter auctam, magnis item muneribus locupletatam, Athenas remittendam curavit. Postquam igitur dominium & possessio Ducatûs Guelphici, Principi AUGUSTO legitímè delata erat, Arx verò Guelpherbytana, avita & vera Ducum Brunsvicensium Sedes, quae Seculi hujus est iniuria, legitimum suum dominum nondum admitteret, transtulit Bibliothecam Princeps Brunsvicum, Ducatûs Guelphici Metropolin, & avitum Ducum Brunsvicensium dominium, unà cum Ducatu, jure haereditario sibi delatum, eíque locum concessit fatìs magnificum, in antiquissimâ Majorum suorum TANQVARDI & BRUNONIS, fratrum, Ducum Saxoniae (cui posteriori, & ortum, & nomen Brunsvicum debet) Sede, contiguâ Augustissimo St. Blasii Templo, condito olim ab HENRICO LEONE nemini Historicorum non celebrato, à quo Princeps AUGUSTUS rectâ, quod dicitur, lineâ, ortum ducit. Optimo sanê consilio, quod & olim veteres Aegypti Reges Bibliothecas suas Memphi, celeberrimae Aegypti Metropoli, in Templo Vulcani (cujus magnificentiam apud Herodotum videre licet) habitare voluerint: Ptolomaei item tam prior, quam posterior, à Cleopatrâ, Antonii Triumviri amoribus famosa, è ruderibus excitata Bibliotheca, Alexandria apud Serapidis, immensae molis & stupendi artificii Templum, totius Aegyptiacae superstitionis arcem, collocata fuerit, teste Tertulliano, qui gentiles, ad inspiciendum textum Hebraeum S. Scripturae, eò advocat & amandat. Acceptâ tandem XIV. Septembris, Anno 1643. Arce & Urbe Wolferbyte, transiit eodem unà cum Principe, Bibliotheca haec Augusta, sedémque sortita est è regione Aulae illustrissima adeóque reddita ést pars Regiae, ut Principi semper in propinquo & promptu sint, immortales illae, eaedémque sanctissimae nunquam non loquentes Animae, ut Plinius hujusmodi eruditorum monumenta scitè vocat lib. 35. Cap. 2. Locus, seu aedificium ubi reposita est; olim loricis, scutis, hastis, aliísque Bellonae ornamentis & instrumentis asservandis destinatus fuerat, dignus omninò cui hodie aureis literis titulus fiat: — Armamentaria sacrae Pallados, & doctis habitata Palatia Musis. Aditus ejus Augustissimus, solitam Principis Magnificentiam spirans, ipsum tamen sacrarium modicè ornatum, quin potius ad exemplum peritorum Architectorum, neque aureo lacunari comptum, neque pavimentum, neque armaria, seu pegmata, ut Cicero vocat, neque cunei, loculi aut plutei aliuni quam viridem colorem referunt▪ Fulgorem enim, sive aureum, sive quemvis alium oculis officere viridem è contra colorem reficiendis, & recreandis esse oculis, scriptioni, & lectioni, dudum notatum est naturae Mystis. Usum hujus Bibliothecae quod attinet, non in spectaculum, aut ornamentum studiosâ quadam luxuriâ, ut olim querebatur Seneca, conquisitus est hic Thesaurus, nec ut cum blattis, tineis, situ, & squalore bellum gerat: Sed ideo pars Regiae facta est, ut ipsi Principi in propinquo, & promptu sit sanctissimarum & sapientissimarum Animarum Senatus frequentissimus, cum quo disserat, animum instruat, paret, & ad quaicunque Regii officii partes componat. Id enim exprimit ea, quam aureis Literis in vestibulo Bibliothecae legi voluit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, pulcerrima sanè, gemmis omnibus & auro contrà carior: QUANDO OMNES PASSIM LOQUUNTUR, ET DELIBERANT, OPTIMUM A MUTIS ET MORTUIS CONSILIUM EST; HOMINES QUOQUE SI TACEANT, VOCEM INVENIENT LIBRI, ET QUAE. NEMO DICIT, PRUDENS ANTIQUITAS SUGGERIT. Eadem olim mens Alphonso Arragoniae Regi, cui quotidie in ore, Mortuos esse optimos Consiliarios. Nec aliud responsum tulit Zeno Citticus Philosophus, oraculum sciscitans, (verba sunt Diogen. Laertii, lib. 8. de Vitis Philosophorum, in princ.) quo pacto optimè vivere posset? nempe: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, hoc est, Si mortuis colore concors fieret, sive, ut Zeno verè interpretabatur, Si antiquorum mortuorum familiaritate uteretur, eorúmque Libros magnâ attentione & studio, ad pallorem usque legeret. In Bibliothecis enim, ut de Juliâ quondam cecinit Magnus Calixtus, — vitam vivunt, & post sua fata loquuntur Sêclorumque minas superant, & edacia rerum Tempora, qui terris caput altiùs exeruerunt, Naturaeque super fines, super aethera celsum Evexêre animum. S●la haec monumenta super sunt, Per quae pugnat adhuc, vincit gentesque, triumphat Magnus Alexander, quin unquam magnanimorum Quicquid in orbe Ducum fuit, ex quo blanda Cupido Laudis, & humanas tentavit gloria mentes. Nil vivit viuétque, nisi hinc quod creditur: omne Quod reliquum est, nox alta & longa oblivio opacant. Hìc etiamnum Melpomene subnixa Cothurno, Lata Sophocleis diducit hiatibus ora, Confusósque lares & tristia funera Regum, Oedipodae Thalamos, & saevum plangit Oresten, Hîc legere est, queis firmetur Respublica fulcris, Et quid Erechthaeas olim seruârit Athenas, Quid pessum dederit: quibus artibus inclyta Roma Creverit, & populos, magnásque subegerit urbes: Queis etiam vitiis sensim labefacta, ruinam Traxerii, & lapsu totum tremefecerit Orbem: Hîc recluduntur naturae arcana, sinusque Daedalei, & quicquid gremio complectitur, arctis Inclusum fo iis, vigili cognoscere ment In promptu est: hìc descriptam pictámve tueri Terrarum faciem & vastae datur Amphitrites, Tiranìsque Globum, Lunae errorésque, laborésque Et picturati fulgentia sidera coeli. Quin ipsum ad coelos & splendida panditur astra Hìc iter, à patribus qu●ndam per saxa, per ignes Calcatum, & largo respersum sanguinis imbre. Et cum ipse Princeps nullum diem praetermittat, per quem cum mutis illis Doctoribus, de difficillimis negotiis, sive sacris, sive civilibus, sive militaribus, non colloquatur, fit, ut ipse sub clavibus quidem suis habeat Bibliothecam, ejusdémque jus & mancipium sibi retineat, usum verò eruditis omnibus, & praesertim ministris suis, quorum ope, seu sacra, seu civilia tractat, secum communem concedat, nec cuiquam alii, nisi qui nummo forsan harpacico hìc aliquid emtum veniat, deneget. Silentio autem nequaquam praetereundum est, immensam istam Librorum, Autorum & Tractatuum molem, ipsum Principem aliquot amplissimis Indicibus in eum ordinem, classes & numeros, suimet indusiriâ & manu redegisse, ut ad primam cujus●ibet, sive Autoris, sive Materiae requisitionem, quocunque in genere disciplinarum, praestò sit, primóque statim momento se tibi sistat & respondeat, quem volueris, aut vocaveris. Nec ullus est in tanto hec Autorum, & Librorum agmine, quem non noverit ipse Princeps AUGUSTUS, eâ in re non inferior CYRO, Persarum Monarchae, qui unumquemque militum in numerosissimo suo exercitu, proprio nomine ad se vocare poterat. Sufficiant paucissima haec, de multis dicta, ceu stillicidium, ut vetus habet verbum, de situlâ. Experiatur qui volet, inspiciendi, & penitiùs perserutandi copiam nactus, de pretiosissimo hoc divinae & humanae sapientiae Thesauro, idem, quod olim Regina Sabaea de Sapientiâ Solomonis profitebatur, paucissimis tantùm immutatis, proferet. 3. Reg. 10. Non credidi verbis narrantium mihi de rebus & sapientiâ tuâ, usque dum venerim, & viderint oculi mei: Sed ecce non indicatum mihi fuerat ejus dimidium, superas sapientiâ & bonitate famam, quam audiveram. Si igitur, teste Julio Capitolino, Gordianum Imperatorem ad coelum tulit, Sammonici Sereni morientis sexaginta duorum millium Librorum relicta Bibliotheca, siquidem (verba sunt Capitolini) tantae Bibliothecae copiâ & splendore donatus, in famam hominum literatorum ore pervenit, adeóquen alienis planè sumptibus, & diligentiâ clarus evasit: Si Ptolomaei, Attalus, Caesar, Augustus sumtibus quidem suis, aut certè manubiis, alienâ tamen diligentiâ, clarissimi extiterunt: Quid de Principe AuGUSTO fiet, cujus hunc tantum Thesaurum, non alienis sumtibus, non manubiis, non alienae diligentiae, sed propriae curae & sollicitudini, in cujus partem neminem hactenus vocavit, propriis item, iisdémque verè Regiis impensis, (quibus alii, sive Baccho, sive Dianae, sive Mercurio, sive aliis voluptatum illecebris litant) debemus? Ubi verò estis Principes, ut vos urat ac excitet honestus aemulandi ignis? Faxit DEUS, ut Thesaurus hic rerum divinarum, aeternarum, sit & ipse aeternus, neque prius, quam Mundi universa machina, laboret, aut intercidat. FINIS.