The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

NATURAL HISTORY OF WINDS. 441
cardinal, those which blow in the half-wards of within the tropics) we may find places condemned
those; and mnedian winds, those which blow be- among the ancients.
tween these half-wards: likewise of those which It is certain, that to those who sail between
blow betwixt these half-wards; let those be called the tropics in a free and open sea, there blows a
major medians which blow in a quadrant or fourth constant and settled wind (which the seamen call
part of these divisions: the lesser medians are a breeze) from east to -':st. This wind is not of
all the rest. Now the particular division is that so little force, but that, partly by its own blowwhich follows: ing, and partly by its guiding the current of theo
sea, it hindereth seamen froin coming back again
Cardinal. North. the same way they went to Peru.
M North-andobyheast, 2. In our seas in Europe, when it is fair dry
Med. Maj. North-north-east, or aquilo.
North-east, and by north, or iueses. weather, and no particular winds stirring, there
Semicard. North-east. blows a soft kind of gale from the east, which
North-east and by east. folloeth the sun.
Med. Maj. East-north-east, or czecias.
East and by north. 3. Our common observations do admit that the
Cardinal. East, or subsolanus. higher clouds are for the most part carried from
East by south.
ed.Ma East by south-eastorulturnus. east to west; and that it is so likewise when
Med. Maj. East-south-east,or vulturnus.
South-east and by east. here below upon the earth, either there is a great
Semicard. South-east. calm, or a contrary wind; and if they do not
South-east and by south. so always, it is because sometimes particular
MIed. Xlaj. South-south-east, or phrenicias.
South and by east. winds blow aloft which overwhelm this general
Cardinal. South. wind.
South- and by west. d Caution. If there be any such general wind,
151ed. Maj. South-south-west, or libonotus.
South-west and by south. in order to the motion of the heaven, it is not so
Semicard. Soutl-west, or libs. firm nor strong but that it gives way to particular
th-Med. Maj. W est and by west. winds. But it appears most plainly amongst the
Med. Maj. West-south-west, or africus.
West and by south. tropics, by reason of the larger circles which it
Cardinal. West, or favonius. makes. And, likewise, it is so when it blows on
ed. Maj. west-no west, nd by north. high, for the same cause, and by reason of its free
MIed. Maj. West-north-west, or corus.
North-west and by west. course. Wherefore, if you will take it without
Semicard. North-west. the tropics, and near the earth, (where it blows
North-west and by north, or thrascias. most gently and slowly,) make trial of it in an
Med. Maj. North-north-west, or circius.
North and by west. open and free air, in an extreme calm, and in
high places, and in a body which is very movable,
There are also other names of winds. Apeliotes, and in the afternoon, for at that time the particuthe east wind, argestes, the south-west, olympias, lar eastern wind blows more sparingly.
the north-west, scyron, the south-east, hellespon- Injunction. Observe diligently the vanes and
tius, the east-north-east, for these we care not. weathercocks upon the tops and towers of churchLet it suffice that we have given constant and es, whether, in extreme calms, they stand confixed names of winds, according to the order and tinually towards the west or not.
disposition of the regions of the heavens: we do
not set much by the comments of authors, since An indirect experirnent.
the authors themselves have little in them. 4. It is certain, that here with us in Europe the
eastern wind is drying and sharp; the west wind,
Free Wainds. contrariwise, moist and nourishing. May not
this be by reason that (it being granted that the
To the sixth article. air moves from east to west) it must of necessity
1. There is not a region of the heaven from be that the east wind, whose blast goeth the same
whence the winds doth not blow. Yea, if you way, must needs disperse and attenuate the air,
divide the heaven into as many regions as there whereby the air is made biting and dry; but the
be degrees in the horizon, you shall find winds western wind, which blows the contrary way,
sometimes blowing from every one of them. turns the airs back upon itself, and thickens it,
2. There are some whole countries where it whereby it becomes more dull, and, at length,
never rains, or, at least, very seldom; but there moist.
is no country where the wind doth not blow, and An indirect experimnent.
that frequently. 5. Consider the inquisition of the motion and
General Winds. flowing of waters, whether they move from east
to west; for, if the two extremes, heaven and
To the second article. waters, delight in this motion, the air which is
1. Concerning general winds, experiments are in the midst will go near to participate of the
plain; and it is no marvel, seeing that (especially i same.
VOL. III. —56