'Cogitctta et Visa! 115

better than the corresponding portions of those finally
adopted.

The date of the COGITATA ET YisA1 is nearly fixed
by the copy forwarded in 1607 to Sir Thomas Bodley.
Another was, some time after, presented to Launcelot
Andrews, Bishop of Ely, with a letter throwing light on
the author's manner of composing his work :—

" I hasten not to publish ; perishing, I would prevent, . . .
for with me it is thus : if I bind myself to an argument, it
loadeth my mind ; but if I rid my mind of the present cogi-
tation, it is rather a recreation. These miscellanies I pur.
pose to suppress if God give me leave to write a just and
perfect volume of philosophy, which I go on with slowly."

About the same time, to his friend .Toby Matthews,
with a copy of the ' I)e Sapientia Veterum,' he writes :—

" My great work goeth forward ; but, after my manner, I
alter ever when I add. So that nothing is finished till all
be finished."

And to Casaubon—

" You are right in supposing that my great desire is to
draw the sciences out of their hiding-places into the light.
How great an enterprise in this kind I am attempting, and
with what small helps, you will learn perhaps hereafter."

The 'Cogitata et Visa,5 covering the ground of the
first book of the ' Orgaiium/ begins by reference to the

1 This is an expansion of a previous tract, " Fihim Labyrinth!
sive formula Inquisition is," the Jurst of three papers with the same
title. The second is the " Inquisitio legitima de inotti," mentioned
(1608) in the ' Commentarius.' The third is the " Seala Intellectus,"
forming the preface to Part IV. of the * Instaumtio.* The same per-
plexing- confusion of nomenclature appears in the two collections cm-
titled 'Phenomena Umversi,'