98 BACON'S ESSAYS 



XXXIX 

 OF CUSTOM AND EDUCATION 



MEN'S thoughts are much according to their inclination ; 

 their discourse and speeches according to their learning and 

 infused opinions ; but their deeds are after as they have 

 been accustomed. And therefore as Machiavel well noteth 

 (though in an evil-favoured instance,) there is no trusting to 

 the force of nature nor to the bravery of words, except it 

 be corroborate by custom. His instance is, that for the 

 achieving of a desperate conspiracy, a man should not rest 

 upon the fierceness of any man's nature, or his resolute 

 undertakings ; but take such an one as hath had his hands 

 formerly in blood. But Machiavel knew not of a friar 

 Clement, nor a Ravillac, nor a Jaureguy, nor a Baltazar 

 Gerard ; yet his rule holdeth still, that nature, nor the en- 

 gagement of words, are not so forcible as custom. Only 

 superstition is now so well advanced, that men of the first 

 blood are as firm as butchers by occupation ; and votary 

 resolution is made equipollent to custom even in matter of 

 blood. In other things the predominancy of custom is 

 every where visible ; insomuch as a man would wonder to 

 hear men profess, protest, engage, give great words, and 

 then do just as they have done before ; as if they were 

 dead images, and engines moved only by the wheels of 

 custom. 



We see also the reign or tyranny of custom, what it 

 is. The Indians (I mean the sect of their wise men) lay 

 themselves quietly upon a stack of wood, and so sacrifice 

 themselves by fire. Nay the wives strive to be burned 

 with the corpses of their husbands. The lads of Sparta, of 

 ancient time, were wont to be scourged upon the altar of 

 Diana, without so much as queching. I remember, in 

 the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's time of England, an 

 Irish rebel condemned, put up a petition to the Deputy 

 that he might be hanged in a with, and not in an 

 halter ; because it had been so used with former rebels. 

 There be monks in Russia, for penance, that will sit 



