A HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY. CHAPTER I. State of Literature and Science in Europe during the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries-Prevalence of Ecclesiastical AuthorityIts baneful effect on Learning-Labours of Barlaam, Petrarch, and Boccaccio-Their zeal for Classical Literature-Restoration of Classical Learning in Italy-Discovery of Ancient Manuscripts-Patronage of learning by the Medici family-Philosophy not advanced-Roger Bacon-Other English Philosophers-Leonardo da Vinci-His great philosophical acquirements-Establishes an Academy of Arts at Milan-Theoretical Reformers of Science in the Sixteenth Century-CasalpinusCampanella-Ramus Bruno Galileo Francis BaconEstablishment of Scientific Societies Institution of the Academia Secretorum Naturæ-Academy at Venice-Accademia dei Lyncei-Della Crusca-Del Cimento-Great number of Academies and Scientific Institutions founded in ItalyTheir quaint Titles-Establishment of a Society of Antiquaries in England in 1572-Its dissolution by James I.-Proposition for a Royal Academy in England-Curious Scheme for its Incorporation-Charles I. grants a Special License for establishing a Scientific Institution styled 'Minerva's Museum'Objects of the Institution-Duties of the Professors-Scientific and Literary Societies in Germany-Their brief existenceNumber of Books printed in the principal Cities of Europe from the Invention of Printing to the beginning of the Sixteenth Century-Establishment of the French Academy-Its subsequent Incorporation with the Academy of Sciences-First Institution for the Investigation of Science out of Italy, established in England-Laplace's Opinion of Scientific Societies. ON N the fair land of Italy rose the intellectual sun, whose vivifying rays penetrated, and eventually dispersed, the gloomy clouds of deep ignorance and VOL. I. B 2 diant the Renasceme HISTORY OF superstition, that hung over Europe from the decline of the Roman Empire. The long interval, from the overthrow of Roman civilization to the fourteenth century, is mainly characterized by the absolute reign of ecclesiastical authority. In common with all earthly powers, Philosophy was compelled to bow before the altar of Church despotism, and was solely employed in the defence of a subtile and mystical theology. "It was an offence" says Dr. Whewell, "against religion as well as reason, to reject the truth; and the truth could be but one. In this manner arose that claim, which the doctors of the Church put forth, to control men's opinions upon all subjects1." Tennemann, in his Geschichte der Philosophie, mentions a papal rescript, admonishing the members of an university to "be content with the landmarks of science already fixed by their fathers, to have due fear of the curse pronounced against him who removeth his neighbour's landmark, and not to incur the blame of innovation or presumption"." "The Italians in the thirteenth century," remarks Professor Ranke, "manifested a grand tendency towards searching investigation, intrepid pursuit of truth, noble aspirations, and high prophetic visions of discovery. Who shall say whither this tendency would have led? But the Church marked out a line which they were not to overstep,-woe to him who ventured to pass it!" Barlaam, a Calabrian monk, and afterwards Bishop of Locri, had considerable influence in reviving a 'Phil. Ind. Sc., Vol. I. p. 151. Hist. of the Popes, Vol. 1. p. 502. Vol. vi. p. 461. taste for classical literature in Italy. The Calabrian Churches were long attached to the throne of Constantinople, and several of the monks of St. Basil pursued their studies on mount Athos, and the schools of the East. Barlaam visited Constantinople in the early part of the fourteenth century; and, when sent, in 1339, as ambassador to Pope Benedict the Twelfth, had the good fortune to be the first to revive beyond the Alps the memory, or rather the writings, of Homer'. According to Petrarch and Boccaccio, he was a man far in advance of the age in which he lived, and gifted with profound learning and genius'. At the court of Avignon he formed an intimate acquaintance with Petrarch, and had considerable influence on the studies of this immortal poet, who stands prominently forward as one of the great regenerators of literature; the pioneer and handmaid to science. At Petrarch's recommendation, the Republic of Florence founded a chair of Grecian literature in 13607; and we are informed that the highest honour was attached to classical learning, and that Petrarch, Dante, and Boccaccio, obtained a degree of celebrity for their erudition unequalled by the schoolmen of the middle ages. These men, says Tennemann, waren die ersten Dichter von ausgezeichneter originalitat, die zugleich mit hoher Achtung, gegen die Classiker erfüllt waren, und den Enthusiasmus verbreiteten, mit welchem die griechische Literatur aufgenommen wurde3. 4 Gibbon, Dec. and Fall of the Rom. Em., Vol. x. p. 116. • Mém. sur la Vie de Petrarque, Tom. I. p. 406. ? Sismondi, Ital. Rep. 8 Gesch., Vol. IX. p. 15. The Italians may, indeed, be said to have discovered as it were anew the ancient world of literature; and a passion for erudition spread throughout the land, with an ardour and rapidity highly remarkable, when contrasted with the ignorance of the preceding centuries'. The wealthy inhabitants of the principal Italian cities became ardent cultivators of literature and philosophy, in the true original meaning of this word, and all Europe was ransacked to discover the manuscripts of classical authors. The success of the search, however, was greatly impeded by the monks, whose interest it was to keep the literary treasures to themselves, as the transcribing of them was a source of considerable emolument. Poggio, a contemporary of Petrarch, has given us a melancholy account of the barbarous ignorance of the monastic possessors of some of the ancient manuscripts. When attending the Council at Constance, he visited the Convent of Saint Gallo, situated about twenty miles from that town, where, he was informed, certain manuscripts were kept, and this, on examination, proved to be the fact. His words record graphically the condition in which they were found: Tra una grandissima copia di libri dic' egli che lungo sarebbe l'annoverare, trovammo un Quintiliano ancor sano e salvo, ma pien di polvere e d'immondezza; perciocchè eran que' libri nella biblioteca, non com' il loro onor richiedeva, ma sepolti in una oscura e tetra prigione, cioè nel fondo di una torre, in cui non si getterebbon nemmeno i Hallam says, "Petrarch was more proud of his Latin poem called Africa, than of the sonnets and odes which have made him immortal." |
