The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

212 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. BooK II.
kinds of proofs to the differing kinds of subjects; "copia," and such as by device and practice may
for there being but four kinds of demonstrations, be exalted to an extreme degree of wonder,) than I
that is, by the immediate consent of the mind or do of the tricks of tumblers, funambulos, baladines;
sense, by induction, by sophism, and by congru- the one being the same in the mind that the other
ity, (which is that which Aristotle calleth de- is in the body, matters of strangeness without
monstration in orb or circle, and not s"a noti- worthiness.
oribus;") every of these hath certain subjects in This art of memory is but built upon two inthe matter of sciences, in which respectively Itentions; the one prenotion, the other emblem.
they have chiefest use; and certain others, from Prenotion dischargeth the indefinite seeking of that
which respectively they ought to be excluded we would remember, and directeth us to seek in a
and the rigour and curiosity in requiring the more narrow compass, that is, somewhat that hath consevere proofs in some things, and chiefly the facil- gruity with our place of memory. Emblem reity in contenting ourselves with the more remiss duceth conceits intellectual to images sensible,
proofs in others, hath been amongst the greatest which strike the memory more; out of which
causes of detriment and hinderance to knowledge. axioms, may be drawn much better practice than
The distributions and assignations of demonstra- that in use; and besides which axioms there are
tions, according to the analogy of sciences, I note divers more touching help of memory, not inferior
as deficient. to them. But I did in the beginning distinguish,
The custody or retaining of knowledge is either not to report those things deficient, which are but
in Writing or Memory; whereof writing hath two only ill managed.
parts, the nature of the character, and the order of There remaineth the fourth kind of rational
the entry; for the art of characters, or other visible knowledge, which is transitive, concerning the
notes of words or things, it hath nearest conjuga- expressing or transferring our knowledge to
tion with grammar; and therefore I refer it to others; which I will term by the general name
the due place: for the disposition and collocation of tradition or delivery. Tradition hath three
of that knowledge which we preserve in writing, parts; the first concerning the organ of tradition;
it consisteth in a good digest of commonplaces; the second concerning the method of tradition;
wherein I am not ignorant of the prejudice imputed and the third concerning the illustration of trato the use of commonplace books, as causing a dition.
retardation of reading, and some sloth or relaxation For the organ of tradition, it is either speech or
of memory. But because it is but a counterfeit writing: for Aristotle saith well, "l Words are the
thing in knowledges to be forward and pregnant, images of cogitations, and letters are the images
except a man be deep and full, I hold the entry of of words;" but yet it is not of necessity that cogicommonplaces, to be a matter of great use and es- tations be expressed by the medium of words.
sence in studying, as that which assureth " copia" For whatsoever is capable of sufficient differences,
of invention, and contracteth judgment to a and those perceptible by the sense, is in nature
strength. Butthis is true, that of the methods of competent to express cogitations. And therefore
commonplaces that I have seen there is none of any we see in the commerce of barbarous people, that
sufficient worth; all of them carrying merely the understand not one another's language, and in the
face of a school, and not of a world; and refer- practice of divers that are dumb and deaf, that
ring to vulgar matters and pedantical divisions, men's minds are expressed in gestures, though
without all life, or respect to action. not exactly, yet to serve the turn. And we underFor the other principal part of the custody of stand further, that it is the use of China, and the
knowledge, which is Memory, I find that faculty kingdoms of the high Levant, to write in chain my judgmentweaklyinquiredof. Anartthere racters real, which express neither letters nor
is extant of it: but it seemeth to me that there are words in gross, but things or notions; insomuch
better precepts than that art, and better practices of as countries and provinces, which understand
that art than those received. It is certain the art, not one another's language, can nevertheless read
as it is, may be raised to points of ostentation pro- one another's writings, because the characters
(ligious; but in use, as it is now managed, it is are accepted more generally than the languages
barren, (not burdensome, nor dangerous to natural do extend; and therefore they have a vast multimemory, as is imagined, but barren,) that is, not tude of characters, as many, I suppose, as radical
dexterous to be applied to the serious use of busi- words.
ness and occasions. And therefore Imake no more These notes of cogitations are of two sorts;
estimation of repeating a great number of names or the one when the note hath some similitude or
words upon once hearing, or the pouring forth of congruity with the notion; the other ", ad placia number of verses or rhymes extempore, or the tum," having force only by contract or acceptamnaking of a satirical simile of every thing, or the tion. Of the former sort are hieroglyphics and
turning of every thing to a jest, or the falsifying or gestures. For as to hieroglyphics, things of anc.ontradicting of every thing by cavil, or the like, cient use, and embraced chiefly by the JEgyptians,
(whereof in the faculties of the mind there is great one of the most ancient nations, they are Lut as