Part I

Engraved title page to Of the Advancement and Proficience of Learning or the Partitions of Sciences, the first English translation of Francis Bacon’s De Dignitate & Augmentis Scientiarum (1623). The book was published in 1640, being printed in Oxford by Leon. Lichfield, Printer to the University, for Rob. Young and Ed. Forrest. The engraving was made by William Marshall. The translation was done by the Rev. Doctor Gilbert Wats, and the book was dedicated to King Charles I and his son, who later became King Charles II.

The Latin motto at the top of the picture reads ‘Ratione et Experientia Foederantur’ (transl: ‘Reason and Experience have been confederated/allied together’. The motto beneath the ship reads ‘Multi pertransibunt & augebitur Scientia’ (transl: ‘Many shall pass through and learning shall be increased’ – Daniel 12). ‘INSTAVR.MAG.P.I’ beneath the clasped hands refers to the Instauratio Magna (‘The Great Instauration’).

The globe at the top right-hand of the picture is that of the ‘Mundus Visibilis’ (transl: ‘the Visible World’), whilst that at the top left-hand is that of the ‘Mundus Intellectualis’ (transl: ‘the Intellectual World’). The right-hand ‘Oxonium’ (‘Oxford’) pillar has ‘Scientiæ’ (‘Sciences’) on its base, whilst the left-hand ‘Cantabrigia’ (‘Cambridge’) pillar has ‘Philosophiæ’ (‘Philosophies’). The motto shared by the two pillars reads ‘Moniti Meliora’, an abbreviation of the fuller motto ‘Moniti Meliora Sequamar’ (transl: ‘Let us, being admonished, follow better things’ – Virgil, Aeneid iii, 188).

Information concerning the Great Instauration, plus facsimiles of the Baconian/Rosicrucian pictures, can be found in the books published by the FBRT (see Publications).

FBRT members receive regular essays and discussion papers on these and other subjects.