Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

172 FRANCIS BACON
Astronomy, 1 weak, with good foundations, but by no means
sound.
Astrology, 2 not to be despised, but not practised so as to be
useful or sane.
Medicine, 3 Pathology and the Art of Prolonging Life—deficient.
Metaphysics,* or the Doctrine of the Human Soul, and of the
influence of mind on body — deficient.
Physiognomy and Gestures, 5 study of them — deficient.
In order to minister to the extreme poverty of science in all
these departments, Bacon, as has been said, drew up a catalogue
of 130 " Histories " which he found wanting, and which he
strove, by his own exertions, and with help from friends, to
furnish, or at least to sketch out.
Those who nourish the belief that, in the sixteenth century,
the ordinary scribe or author could pick from casual reading, by
intercourse in general society, or by his penny-worth of observation,
such a knowledge of scientific facts as is exhibited (though
in a simple form) in the best plays of the time, will do well to
consider this catalogue, and to reflect that the particulars in it
are, for the most part, discussed as new and fruitful branches of
information, or food for speculation, in the works of Bacon. To
this consideration it would be well to add a study of the works
of a similar description current before Bacon began to publish, and
to see how much of the " popular science " which we connect with
Bacon was known, say, in the year 1575, beyond the walls of the
monastery or the cell of the philosopher. Then see how far
such knowledge reappears in any pre-Baconian poetry.
Bacon's method, says Spedding, in his dialogue with Ellis,
" presupposed a History (or dictionary as you call it) of universal
nature, as a storehouse of facts to tvork ow." 6 In these words
1 Thema Cceli.
2 Do Aug.; Sylva Sylvarum.
3 Hist. Life and Death, etc.; Ess. Eegimen of Health, Recipes, etc.
4 Doctrine of the Human Soul; De Aug., etc., etc.
5 De Aug.; Sylv. Sylv.
6 Spedding, Works, Preface to Parasceve.