Thofe fmallest Things of Nature let me know,
Rather than all their greatest Actions do.
Whoever would depofed Truth advance
Into the Throne ufurp'd from it,
Muft feel at first the Blows of Ignorance,
And the fharp Points of envious Wit.
So when by various Turns of the celestial Dance,
In many thousand Years

A Star, fo long unknown, appears,

Though Heaven it felf more beauteous by it grow, It troubles and alarms the World below,

Does to the Wife a Star, to Fools a Meteor fhow.

IX.

With Courage and Succefs you the bold Work begin ;
Tour Cradle has not idle been:
None e'er but Hercules and you could be
At five Years Age worthy a Hiftory.
And ne'er did Fortune better yet
Th' Hiftorian to the Story fit:
As you from all old Errors free...
And purge the Body of Philofophy;
So from all modern Follies He
Has vindicated Eloquence and Wit.
His candid Stile like a clean Stream does flide,
And his bright Fancy all the way.
Does like the Sun-fhine in it play;

It does like Thames, the best of Rivers, glide,
Where the God does not rudely overturn,

But gently pour the crystal Urn,

And with judicious Hand does the whole Current guide. H'as all the Beauties Nature can impart,

And all the comely Drefs without the Paint of Art.

A. COWLEY.

AN

ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE

READE R.

T

HE Reader is entreated to take Notice, that much of this Difcourfe was written and printed above

two Years before the reft: For this Caufe, in the first and fecond Books, he may chance to find fome Expreffions, that by reason of the difference of Time may seem not well to agree with the laft: But thofe having pass'd the Prefs fo long ago, were out of my Power of changing them; and therefore I will refer it to his Kindness to do it for me.

I must also acquaint him, that in the Title of my Book I have taken a Liberty, which may be liable to Exception: I have call'd it a History of the Royal Society; whereas the first Part wholly treats of the State of the

Ancient

1

Ancient Philofophy; and the third chiefly contains a Defence and Recommendation of experimental Knowledge in general: So that it is only the fecond Book that peculiarly defcribes their Undertaking. But for my Excufe I may alledge the Example of many of the Ancients, who have often from the principal Part of their Works given Title to all the reft: In their Imitation, though this Book does treat of many Subjects that are not Hiftorical, yet I have prefum'd to name the whole a Hiftory, because that was the main End of my Defign.

The Style perhaps in which it is written, is larger and more contentious than becomes that Purity and Shortnefs which are the chief Beauties of hiftorical Writings: But the Blame of this ought not fo much to be laid upon me, as upon the Detractors of fo noble an Inftitution: For their Objections and Cavils againf it, did make it necessary for me to write of it, not altogether in the way of a plain History, but fometimes of an Apology.

THE

THE

HISTORY

OF THE

Inftitution, Defign, and Progrefs,

OF THE

ROYAL SOCIETY

O F

LONDON,

"For the Advancement of experimental Philofophy.

I

Shall here prefent to the World, an Sect. I. Account of the first Inftitution of The Preface, the Royal Society; and of the Pro and Defign gress, whic which they have already made: of this Dif course. In hope, that this learned and inquifitive Age, will either think their Indeavours worthy of its Affiftance; or elfe will be thereby provok'd, to attempt fome greater Enterprize (if any fuch can be found out) for the

A

Bene

Benefit of human Life, by the Advancement of Real Knowledge.

Perhaps this Task, which I have propos'd to my felf, will incur the Cenfure of many judicious Men, who may think it an over-hafty, and presumptuous Attempt; and may object to me, that the Hiftory of an Affembly which begins with so great Expectations, ought not to have been made publick fo foon; till we could have produced very many confiderable Experiments, which they had try'd, and fo have given undeniable Proofs of the Usefulness of their Undertaking.

In answer to this, I can plead for my felf, that what I am here to fay, will be far from preventing the Labours of others in adorning fo worthy a Subject; and is premis'd upon no other account, than as the nobleft Buildings are first wont to be reprefented in a few Shadows, or fmall Models; which are not intended to be equal to the chief Stru&ture it self, but only to fhew in little, by what Materials, with what Charge, and by how many Hands, that is afterwards to be rais'd. Although, therefore, I come to the Performance of this Work, with much lefs Deliberation, and Ability, than the Weightiness of it requires; yet, I truft, that the Greatness of the Defign it felf, on which I am to speak, and the Zeal which I have for the Honour of our Nation, which have been the chief Reasons that have mov'd me to this Confidence of Writing, will ferve to make fomething for my Excufe. For what greater matter can any Man defire, about which to employ his Thoughts, than the Beginnings of an Illuftrious Company, which has already laid fuch excellent Foundations of fo much Good to Mankind?

Or,