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。
Toquestionthetheologicalviewofphysicalsciencewas，evenlongafterthecloseoftheMiddleAges，exceedinglyperilous。
WehaveseenhowoneofRogerBacon’sunpardonableoffenceswashisargumentagainsttheefficacyofmagic，andhow，centuriesafterward，CorneliusAgrippa，Weyer，Flade，Loos，Bekker，andamultitudeofotherinvestigatorsandthinkers，sufferedconfiscationofproperty，lossofposition，andeventortureanddeath，forsimilarviews。[275]
[275]ForanaccountofBacon’streatise，DeNullitateMagiae，seeHoefer。FortheuproarcausedbyBacon’steachingatOxford，seeKopp，GeschichtederChemie，Braunschweig，1869，vol。i，p。
63；andforasomewhatreactionarydiscussionofBacon’srelationtotheprogressofchemistry，seearecentworkbythesameauthor，AnsichtenuberdieAufgabederChemie，Braunschweig，1874，pp。85etseq。；also，foranexcellentsummary，seeHoefer，Hist。delaChimie，vol。i，pp。368etseq。ForprobablythemostthoroughstudyofBacon’sgeneralworksinscience，andforhisviewsoftheuniverse，seeProf。Werner，DieKosmologieundallgemeineNaturlehredesRogerBaco，Wein，1879。Forsummariesofhisworkinotherfields，seeWhewell，vol。i，pp。367，368；
Draper，p。438；Saisset，DescartesetsesPrecurseurs，deuxiemeedition，pp。397etseq。；Nourrisson，ProgresdelaPenseehumaine，pp。271，272；Sprengel，HistoiredelaMedecine，Paris，1865，vol。ii，p。397；Cuvier，HistoiredesSciencesNaturelles，vol。i，p。417。AstoBacon’sorthodoxy，seeSaisset，pp。53，55。ForspecialexaminationofcausesofBacon’scondemnation，seeWaddington，citedbySaisset，p。14。ForabriefbutadmirablestatementofRogerBacon’srealtiontotheworldinhistime，andofwhathemighthavedonehadhenotbeenthwartedbytheology，seeDollinger，StudiesinEuropeanHistory，Englishtranslation，London，1890，pp。178，179。ForagoodexampleofthedangerofdenyingthefullpowerofSatan，eveninmuchmorerecenttimesandinaProtestantcountry，seeaccountoftreatmentinBekker’sMondeEnchantebythetheologiansofHolland，inNisard，HistoiredesLivresPopulaires，vol。i，pp。
172，173。Kopp，inhisAnsichten，pushescriticismeventosomescepticismastoRogerBaconbeingtheDISCOVERERofmanyofthethingsgenerallyattributedtohim；but，afteralldeductionsarecarefullymade，enoughremainstomakeBaconthegreatestbenefactortohumanityduringtheMiddleAges。ForRogerBacon’sdeepdevotiontoreligionandtheChurch，seecitationandremarksinSchneider，RogerBacon，Augsburg，1873，p。112；also，citationfromtheOpusMajus，inEicken，chap。vi。OnBaconasa“Mohammedan。”seeSaisset，p。17。FortheinterdictionofstudiesinphysicalsciencebytheDominicansandFranciscans，seeHenriMartin，HistoiredeFrance，vol。iv，p。283。ForsuppressionofchemicalteachingbytheParliamentofParis，seeibid。，vol。xii，pp。14，15。Forproofsthattheworldissteadilyworkingtowardgreatdiscoveriesastothecauseandpreventionofzymoticdiseasesandtheirpropogation，seeBeale’sDiseaseGerms，BaldwinLatham’sSanitaryEngineering，MichelLevy’sTraiteaHygienePubliqueetPrivee。ForasummaryofthebullSpondentpariter，andforanexampleofinjurydonebyit，seeSchneider，GeschichtederAlchemie，p。160；andforastudiouslymoderatestatement，Milman，LatinChristianity，bookxii，chap。vi。ForcharacterandgeneraleffortsofJohnXXII，seeLea，Inquisition，vol。iii，p。436，alsopp。452etseq。Forthecharacterofthetwopapalbriefs，seeRydberg，p。177。ForthebullSummisDesiderantes，seepreviouschaptersofthiswork。
ForAntoniodeDominis，seeMontucla，Hist。desMathematiques，vol。i，p。705；Humboldt，Cosmos；Libri，vol。iv，pp。145etseq。
ForWeyer，Flade，Bekker，Loos，andothers，seethechaptersofthisworkonMeteorology，DemoniacalPossessionandInsanity，andDiabolismandHysteria。
Thetheologicalatmosphere，whichinconsequencesettleddownaboutthegreatuniversitiesandcolleges，seemedlikelytostifleallscientificeffortineverypartofEurope，anditisoneofthegreatwondersinhumanhistorythatinspiteofthisdeadlyatmosphereaconsiderablebodyofthinkingmen，undersuchprotectionastheycouldsecure，stillpersistedindevotingthemselvestothephysicalsciences。
InItaly，inthelatterhalfofthesixteenthcentury，cameastrikingexampleofthedifficultieswhichsciencestillencounteredevenaftertheRenaissancehadunderminedtheoldbeliefs。AtthattimeJohnBaptistPortawasconductinghisinvestigations，and，despiteaconsiderablemixtureofpseudo-science，theywerefruitful。Hiswasnot“blackmagic。”
claimingtheaidofSatan，but“whitemagic。”bringingintoservicethelawsofnature——theprecursorofappliedscience。
Hisbookonmeteorologywasthefirstinwhichsoundideaswerebroachedonthissubject；hisresearchesinopticsgavetheworldthecameraobscura，andpossiblythetelescope；inchemistryheseemstohavebeenthefirsttoshowhowtoreducethemetallicoxides，andthustohavelaidthefoundationofseveralimportantindustries。Hedidmuchtochangenaturalphilosophyfromablackarttoavigorousopenscience。Heencounteredtheoldecclesiasticalpolicy。Thesocietyfoundedbyhimforphysicalresearch，“ISecreti。”wasbrokenup，andhewassummonedtoRomebyPopePaulIIIandforbiddentocontinuehisinvestigations。
So，too，inFrance。In1624，someyoungchemistsatParishavingtaughttheexperimentalmethodandcutloosefromAristotle，thefacultyoftheologybesettheParliamentofParis，andtheParliamentprohibitedthesenewchemicalresearchesundertheseverestpenalties。
ThesamewarcontinuedinItaly。Evenafterthebeliefinmagichadbeenseriouslyweakened，theoldtheologicalfearanddislikeofphysicalsciencecontinued。In1657occurredthefirstsittingoftheAccademiadelCimentoatFlorence，underthepresidencyofPrinceLeopoldde’MediciThisacademypromisedgreatthingsforscience；itwasopentoalltalent；itsonlyfundamentallawwas“therepudiationofanyfavouritesystemorsectofphilosophy，andtheobligationtoinvestigateNaturebythepurelightofexperiment“；itenteredintoscientificinvestigationswithenergy。Borelliinmathematics，Rediinnaturalhistory，andmanyothers，enlargedtheboundariesofknowledge。Heat，light，magnetism，electricity，projectiles，digestion，andtheincompressibilityofwaterwerestudiedbytherightmethodandwithresultsthatenrichedtheworld。
Theacademywasafortressofscience，andsiegewassoonlaidtoit。Thevotariesofscholasticlearningdenounceditasirreligious，quarrelswerefomented，Leopoldwasbribedwithacardinal’shatanddrawnawaytoRome，and，aftertenyearsofbeleaguering，thefortressfell：Borelliwasleftabeggar；
Olivakilledhimselfindespair。
So，too，thenotedAcademyoftheLinceiattimesincurredtheillwillofthepapacybytheveryfactthatitincludedthoughtfulinvestigators。Itwas“patronized“byPopeUrbanVIII
insuchmannerastoparalyzeit，anditwasafterwardvexedbyPopeGregoryXVI。EveninourowntimesessionsofscientificassociationswerediscouragedandthwartedbyaskindlyapontiffasPiusIX。[276]
[276]ForPorta，seetheEnglishtranslationofhismainsummary，NaturalMagick，London，1658。Thefirstchaptersareespeciallyinteresting，asshowingwhattheword“magic“hadcometomeaninthemindofamaninwhommediaevalandmodernideaswerecuriouslymixed；seealsoHoefer，HistoiredelaChimie，vol。ii，pp。102-106；alsoKopp；alsoSprengel，HistoiredelaMedecine，vol。iii，p。239；alsoMusset-Pathay。FortheAccademiadelCimento，seeNapier，FlorentineHistory，vol。v，p。485；
Tiraboschi，StoriadellaLitteratura；HenriMartin，HistoiredeFrance；Jevons，PrinciplesofScience，vol。ii，pp。36-40。ForvalueattachedtoBorelli’sinvestigationsbyNewtonandHuygens，seeBrewster’sLifeofSirIsaacNewton，London，1875，pp。128，129。Libri，inhisfirstEssaisurGalilee，p。37，saysthatOlivawassummonedtoRomeandsotorturedbytheInquisitionthat，toescapefurthercruelty，heendedhislifebythrowinghimselffromawindow。ForinterferencebyPopeGregoryXVIwiththeAcademyoftheLincei，andwithpublicinstructiongenerally，seeCarutti，StoriadellaAccademiadeiLincei，p。126。PiusIX，withallhisgeniality，seemstohaveallowedhishostilitytovoluntaryassociationstocarryhimveryfarattimes。ForhisanswertoanapplicationmadethroughLordOdoRussellregardingasocietyforthepreventionofcrueltytoanimalsandhisanswerthat“suchanassociationcouldnotbesanctionedbytheHolySee，beingfoundedonatheologicalerror，towit，thatChristiansowedanydutiestoanimals。”seeFrancesPowerCobbe，HopesoftheHumanRace，p。207。
Ahostilitysimilarinkind，thoughlessindegree，wasshowninProtestantcountries。
EvenafterThomasiusinGermanyandVoltaireinFranceandBeccariainItalyhadgivenfinalblowstothebeliefinmagicandwitchcraftthroughoutChristendom，thetraditionalorthodoxdistrustofthephysicalsciencescontinuedforalongtime。
InEnglandamarkeddislikewasshownamongvariousleadingecclesiasticsandtheologianstowardstheRoyalSociety，andlatertowardtheAssociationfortheAdvancementofScience；andthisdislike，aswillhereafterbeseen，sometimestookshapeinseriousopposition。
Asarule，bothinProtestantandCatholiccountriesinstructioninchemistryandphysicswasforalongtimediscouragedbyChurchauthorities；and，whenitssuppressionwasnolongerpossible，greatpainsweretakentosubordinateittoinstructionsupposedtobemorefullyinaccordancewiththeoldermethodsoftheologicalreasoning。
Ihavenowpresentedinoutlinethemoredirectandopenstruggleofthephysicalscienceswiththeology，mainlyasanexteriorfoe。Wewillnextconsidertheirwarfarewiththesamefoeinitsmoresubtleform，mainlyasavitiatingandsterilizingprincipleinscienceitself。
Wehaveseenthusfar，first，howsuchmenasEusebius，Lactantius，andtheircompeers，opposedscientificinvestigationasfutile；next，howsuchmenasAlberttheGreat，St。ThomasAquinas，andthemultitudewhofollowedthem，turnedthemaincurrentofmedievalthoughtfromsciencetotheology；and，finally，howalonglineofChurchauthoritiesfromPopesJohnXXIIandInnocentVIII，andtheheadsofthegreatreligiousorders，downtovarioustheologiansandecclesiastics，CatholicandProtestant，ofaveryrecentperiod，endeavouredfirsttocrushandafterwardtodiscouragescientificresearchasdangerous。
Yet，injuriousasallthiswastotheevolutionofscience，therewasdevelopedsomethinginmanyrespectsmoredestructive；andthiswastheinfluenceofmystictheology，penetrating，permeating，vitiating，sterilizingnearlyeverybranchofscienceforhundredsofyears。AmongtheformstakenbythisdevelopmentintheearlierMiddleAgeswefindamixtureofphysicalsciencewithapseudo-scienceobtainedfromtextsofScripture。Incompoundingthismixture，JewsandChristiansviedwitheachother。Inthisprocessthesacredbookswereusedasafetich；