42 BACON'S ESSAYS 



to save the phaenomena ; though they knew there were no 

 such things ' ; and in like manner, that the schoolmen had 

 framed a number of subtle and intricate axioms and 

 theorems, to save the practice of the church. 



The causes of superstition are, pleasing and sensual rites 

 and ceremonies ; excess of outward and pharisaical holiness ; 

 over-great reverence of traditions, which cannot but load 

 the church ; the stratagems of prelates for their own 

 ambition and lucre ; the favouring too much of good 

 intentions, which openeth the gate to conceits and novelties; 

 the taking an aim at divine matters by human, which 

 cannot but breed mixture of imaginations : and, lastly, 

 barbarous times, especially joined with calamities and 

 disasters. Superstition, without a veil, is a deformed 

 thing ; for as it addeth deformity to an ape to be so like 

 a man, so the similitude of superstition to religion makes 

 it the more deformed. And as wholesome meat cor- 

 rupteth to little worms, so good forms and orders 

 corrupt into a number of petty observances. There is 

 a superstition in avoiding superstition, when men think 

 to do best if they go furthest from the superstition formerly 

 received ; therefore care would be had that (as it fareth 

 in ill purgings) the good be not taken away with the 

 bad ; which commonly is done when the people is the 

 reformer. 



XVIII 

 OF TRAVEL 



TRAVEL, in the younger sort, is a part of education ; in 

 the elder, a part of experience. He that travelleth into a 

 country before he hath some entrance into the language, 

 goeth to school, and not to travel. That young men 

 travel under some tutor, or grave servant, I allow well ; so 

 that he be such a one that hath the language, and hath 

 been in the country before ; whereby he may be able to 

 tell them what things are worthy to be seen in the country 

 where they go ; what acquaintances they are to seek ; what 



