THE SECOND BOOK 145 



the entry. For the art of the characters, or other visible 

 notes of words or things, it hath nearest conjugation 

 with grammar ; and therefore I refer it to the due place. 

 For the disposition and collocation of that knowledge 

 which we preserve in writing, it consisteth in a good 

 digest of common-places ; wherein I am not ignorant 

 of the prejudice imputed to the use of common-place 

 books, as causing a retardation of reading, and some 

 sloth or relaxation of memory. But because it is but 

 a counterfeit thing in knowledges to be forward and 

 pregnant, except a man be deep and full, I hold the 

 entry of common-places to be a matter of great use and 

 essence in studying, as that which assureth copie of in 

 vention, and contracteth judgement to a strength. 

 But this is true, that of the methods of common-places 

 that I have seen, there is none of any sufficient worth : 

 all of them carrying merely the face of a school, and not 

 of a world ; and referring to vulgar matters and pe- 

 dantical divisions, without all life or respect to action. 

 2. For the other principal part of the custody of 

 knowledge, which is memory, I find that faculty in my 

 judgement weakly inquired of. An art there is extant 

 of it ; but it seemeth to me that there are better pre 

 cepts than that art, and better practices of that art 

 than those received. It is certain the art (as it is) may 

 be raised to points of ostentation prodigious : but in 

 use (as it is now managed) it is barren, not burdensome, 

 nor dangerous to natural memory, as it is imagined, 

 but barren, that is, not dexterous to be applied to the 

 serious use of business and occasions. And therefore 

 I make no more estimation of repeating a great number 

 of names or words upon once hearing, or the pouring 

 forth of a number of verses or rhymes ex tempore, or 

 the making of a satirical simile of everything, or the 

 turning of everything to a jest, or the falsifying or con 

 tradicting of everything by cavil, or the like (whereof 

 in the faculties of the mind there is great copie, and 

 such as by device and practice may be exalted to an 

 extreme degree of wonder), than I do of the tricks of 

 tumblers, funambuloes, baladines ; the one being the 



