The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

CENT. X. NATURAL HISTORY. 135
one day after mass to King Lewis the Eleventh of fights, to make one cock more hardy, and the
France: " Sir, your mortal enemy is dead;" what other more cowardly. It would be tried also ill
time Duke Charles of Burgundy was slain at flying of hawks, or in coursing of a deer, or hare.
the battle of Granson against the Switzers. Some with greyhounds: or in horse-races, and the like
trial also would be made, whether pact or agree- comparative motions; for you may sooner by imament do any thing; as if two friends should agree, gination quicken or slack a motion, than raise or
that such a day in every week, they, being in far cease it; as it is easier to make a dog go slower,
distant places, should pray one for another, or than to make him stand still, that he may not run.
should put on a ring or tablet one for another's 991. In plants also you may try the force of
sake; whether if one of them should break their imagination upon the lighter sort of motions; as
vow and promise, the other should have any feeling upon the sudden fading, or lively coming up of
of it in absence. herbs, or upon their bending one way or other; or
988. If there be any force in imaginations and upon their closing and opening, &c.
affections of singular persons, it is probable the 992. For inanimate things, you may try the
force is much more in the joint imaginations and force of imagination, upon staying the working of
affections of multitudes: as if a victory should be beer when the barm is put in, or upon the coning
won or lost in remote parts, whether is there not of butter or cheese, after the churning, or the rensome sense thereof in the people whom it concern- net be put in.
eth, because of the great joy or grief that many 993. It is an ancient tradition everywhere' almen are possessed with at once! Pius Quintus, leged, for example of secret proprieties and inat the very time when that memorable victory fluxes, that the torpedo marina, if it be touched
was won by the Christians against the Turks, at with a long stick, doth stupefy the hand of him
the naval battle of Lepanto, being then hearing that toucheth it. Itis one degree of working at
of causes in consistory, brake off suddenly, and distance, to work by the continuance of a fit mesaid to those about him, 6" It is now more time we dium, as sound will be conveyed to the ear by
should give thanks to God, for the great victory striking upon a bow-string, if the horn of the bow
he hath granted us against the Turks:" it is true, be held to the ear.
that victory had a sympathy with his spirit; for 994. The writers of natural magic do attribute
it was merely his work to conclude that league. much to the virtues that come from the parts of
It may be that revelation was divine: but what living creatures, so as they be taken from therm,
shall we say then to a number of examples the creatures remaining still alive: as if the creaamongst the Grecians and Romans? where the tures still living did infuse some immateriate
people being in theatres at plays, have had news virtue and vigour into the part severed. So
of victories and overthrows, some few days before much may be true; that any part taken from a
any messenger could come. living creature newly slain, may be of greater
It is true, that that may hold in these things, force than if it were taken from the like creature
which is the general root of superstition: namely, dying of itself, because it is fuller of spirit.
that men observe when things hit, and not when 995. Trial would be made of the like parts of
they miss; and commit to memory the one, and individuals in plants and living creatures; as to cut
forget and pass over the other. But touching di- off a stock of a tree, and to lay that which you cut
vination, and the misgiving of minds, we shall off to putrefy, to see whether it will decay the rest
speak more when we handle in general the na- of the stock: or if you should cut off part of the
ture of minds, and souls, and spirits. tail or leg of a dog or a cat, and lay it to putrefy,
989. We have given formerly some rules of and so see whether it will fester, or keep from
imagination; and touching the fortifying of the healing, the part which remaineth.
same. We have set down also some few in- 996. It is received, that it helpeth to continue
stances and directions, of the force of imagination love, if one wear a ring, or a bracelet, of the hair
upon beasts, birds, &c., upon plants, and upon of the party beloved. But that may be by the exinanimate bodies: wherein you must still observe, citing of the imagination: and perhaps a glove,
that your trials be upon subtle and light motions, or other like favour, may as well do it.
and not the contrary; for you will sooner by ima- 997. The sympathy of individuals, that have
gination bind a bird from singing than from eating been entire, or have touched, is of all others the
or flying: and I leave it to every man to choose most incredible; yet according unto our faithful
experiments which himself thinketh most commo- manner of examination of nature, we will make
dious, giving now but a few examples of every some little mention of it. The taking away of
of the three kinds. warts, by rubbing them with somewhat that after990. Use some imaginant, observing the rules wards is put to waste and consume, is a common
formerly prescribed, for binding of a bird from experiment; and I do apprehend it the rather besinging, and the like of a dog from barking. Try cause of my own experience. I had from my
also the imagination of some, whom you shall childhood a wart upon one of my fingers: afteraccommodate with things to fortify it, in cocks wards, when I was about sixteen years old, being