Classical Works

Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626
Sylva sylvarum, or, a natural history in ten centuries: whereunto is newly added the History naturall and experimentall of life and death
London : Printed by J.F. and S.G. fro William Lee and are to be sold by Thomas Williams, 1664. The eighth edition, whereunto is added, Articles of enquiry touching metals and minerals.

Credited with the first enunciation of "inductive reasoning" Bacon was at once a scientist and politician, rising to become Lord Chancellor under James 1. Sylva Sylvarum was conceived as part of a great work incorporating "all knowledge" which Bacon began after his conviction for bribery (he pleaded guilty). He was fascinated with numbers and the book consists of ten chapters each with 100 subjects. Some of these are medical (eg the cause of hiccoughs) but most are abstract.

Deane Collection
Wing B330 Deane at B298