IntworecentyearssixtythousandchildrendiedinEnglandandinWalesofscarletfever；probablyquiteasmanydiedintheUnitedStates。HadnotBaconbeenhindered，weshouldhavehadinourhands，bythistime，themeanstosavetwothirdsofthesevictims；andthesameistrueoftyphoid，typhus，cholera，andthatgreatclassofdiseasesofwhosephysicalcausesscienceisjustbeginningtogetaninkling。Puttogetheralltheeffortsofalltheatheistswhohaveeverlived，andtheyhavenotdonesomuchharmtoChristianityandtheworldashasbeendonebythenarrow-minded，conscientiousmenwhopersecutedRogerBacon，andclosedthepathwhichhegavehislifetoopen。
ButdespitethepersecutionofBaconandthedefectionofthosewhooughttohavefollowedhim，championsoftheexperimentalmethodrosefromtimetotimeduringthesucceedingcenturies。
Weknowlittleofthempersonally；ourmainknowledgeoftheireffortsisderivedfromtheendeavoursoftheirpersecutors。
Undersuchguidancethesecularrulerswerenaturallyvigorous。
InFranceCharlesVforbade，in1380，thepossessionoffurnacesandapparatusnecessaryforchemicalprocesses；underthislawthechemistJohnBarrillonwasthrownintoprison，anditwasonlybythegreatesteffortthathislifewassaved。InEnglandHenryIV，in1404，issuedasimilardecree。InItalytheRepublicofVenice，in1418，followedtheseexamples。ThejudicialtortureandmurderofAntoniodeDominiswerenotsimplyforheresyhisinvestigationsinthephenomenaoflightwereanadditionalcrime。InSpaineverythinglikescientificresearchwascrushedoutamongChristians。SomeearnesteffortswereafterwardmadebyJewsandMoors，butthesewerefinallyendedbypersecution；andtothishourtheSpanishrace，insomerespectsthemostgiftedinEurope，whichbeganitscareerwitheverythinginitsfavourandwitheveryformofnobleachievement，remainsinintellectualdevelopmentbehindeveryotherinChristendom。