146 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OP LEARNING 



same in the mind that the other is in the body, matters 

 of strangeness without worthiness. 



3. This art of memory is but built upon two intentions ; 

 the one prenotion, the other emblem. Prenotion dis- 

 chargeth the indefinite seeking of that we would re- 

 member, and directeth us to seek in a narrow compass, 

 that is, somewhat that hath congruity with our place 

 of memory. Emblem reduceth conceits intellectual to 

 images sensible, which strike the memory more ; out 

 of which axioms may be drawn much better practique 

 than that in use : and besides which axioms, there are 

 divers moe touching help of memory, not inferior to 

 them. But I did in the beginning distinguish, not to 

 report those things deficient, which are but only ill 

 managed. 



XVI. 1. There remaineth the fourth kind of 

 rational knowledge, which is transitive, concerning the 

 expressing or transferring our knowledge to others ; 

 which I will term by the general name of tradition or 

 delivery. Tradition hath three parts ; the first con- 

 cerning the organ of tradition ; the second concerning 

 the method of tradition ; and the third concerning the 

 illustration of tradition. 



2. For the organ of tradition, it is either speech or 

 writing : for Aristotle saith well, ' Words are the images 

 of cogitations, and letters are the images of words.' 

 But yet it is not of necessity that cogitations be ex- 

 pressed by the medium of words. For whatsoever is 

 capable of sufficient differences, and those perceptible 

 by the sense, is in nature competent to express cogita- 

 tions. And therefore we see in the commerce of bar- 

 barous people, that understand not one another's lan- 

 guage, and in the practice of divers that are dumb and 

 deaf, that men's minds are expressed in gestures, though 

 not exactly, yet to serve the turn. And we understand 

 further, that it is the use of China, and the kingdoms of 

 the High Levant, to write in characters real, which 

 express neither letters nor words in gross, but things or 

 nations ; insomuch as countries and provinces, which 

 understand not one another's language, can neverthe- 



