9 o BACON 



military, etc. For there are innumerable things of this kind 

 that require not only a general knowledge, gained from the 

 stars, which are the agents, but also a particular one of the 

 passive subjects. 



Nor are elections to be wholly rejected, though not so much 

 to be trusted as predictions ; for we find in planting, sowing, 

 and grafting, observations of the moon are not absolutely tri- 

 fling, and there are many particulars of this kind. But elections 

 are more to be curbed by our rules than predictions ; and this 

 must always be remembered, that election only holds in such 

 cases where the virtue of the heavenly bodies, and the action 

 of the inferior bodies also, are not transient, as in the examples 

 just mentioned ; for the increases of the moon and planets are 

 not sudden things. But punctuality of time should here be ab- 

 solutely rejected. And perhaps there are more of these in- 

 stances to be found in civil matters than some would imagine. 



There are but four ways of arriving at this science, viz., i. By 

 future experiments; 2. Past experiments; 3. Traditions; 

 and, 4. Physical reasons. But, I. It is in vain at present to 

 think of future experiments, because many ages are required to 

 procure a competent stock of them. And, 2. As for the past, 

 it is true they are within our reach, but it is a work of labor and 

 much time to procure them. Thus astrologers may, if they 

 please, draw from real history all greater accidents, as inunda- 

 tions, plagues, wars, seditions, deaths of kings, etc., as also the 

 positions of the celestial bodies, not according to fictitious 

 horoscopes, but the above-mentioned rules of their revolutions, 

 or such as they really were at the time, and where the event con- 

 spires, erect a probable rule of prediction. 3. All traditions 

 should be well sifted, and those thrown out that manifestly clash 

 with physical reasons, leaving such in their full force as com- 

 port well therewith. And, 4. Those physical reasons are best 

 suited to this inquiry which search into the universal appetites 

 and passions of matter, and the simple genuine motions of the 

 heavenly bodies. And this we take for the surest guide to as- 

 trology. 



There remains another piece of wild astrology, though usual- 

 ly separated from it, and transferred to celestial magic as they 

 call it. It is a strange fiction of the human brain,d the receiving 

 the benign action of the stars upon seals and signets of gems 

 or metal suited to the purpose, so as to detain and fix, as it were, 



