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the Middle Ages； had their heads full； as the 〃Arabian Nights〃 prove； of
enchanters； genii； peris； and what not？ The Jewish rabbis had their
Cabala； which sprang up in Alexandria； a system of philosophy founded
on the mystic meaning of the words and the actual letters of the text of
Scripture； which some said was given by the angel Ragiel to Adam in
Paradise； by which Adam talked with angels； the sun and moon；
summoned spirits； interpreted dreams； healed and destroyed； and by that
book of Ragiel； as it was called； Solomon became the great magician and
master of all the spirits and their hoarded treasures。
So strong； indeed； was the belief in the mysteries of the Cabala； that
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Reuchlin； the restorer of Hebrew learning in Germany； and Pico di
Mirandola； the greatest of Italian savants； accepted them； and not only
Pope Leo X。 himself； but even statesmen and warriors received with
delight Reuchlin's cabalistic treatise； 〃De Verbo Mirifico；〃 on the mystic
word 〃Schemhamphorash〃that hidden name of God； which whosoever
can pronounce aright is； for the moment； lord of nature and of all
daemons。
Amulets； too； and talismans； the faith in them was exceeding ancient。
Solomon had his seal； by which he manded all daemons； and there is a
whole literature of curious nonsense； which you may read if you will；
about the Abraxas and other talismans of the Gnostics in Syria； and
another； of the secret virtues which were supposed to reside in gems：
especially in the old Roman and Greek gems； carved into intaglios with
figures of heathen gods and goddesses。 Lapidaria； or lists of these gems
and their magical virtues； were not unmon in the Middle Ages。 You
may read a great deal that is interesting about them at the end of Mr。
King's book on gems。
Astrology too； though Pico di Mirandola might set himself against the
rest of the world； few were found daring enough to deny so ancient a
science。 Luther and Melancthon merely followed the regular tradition of
public opinion when they admitted its truth。 It sprang probably from the
worship of the Seven Planets by the old Chaldees。 It was brought back
from Babylon by the Jews after the Captivity； and spread over all Europe
perhaps all Asia likewise。
The rich and mighty of the earth must needs have their nativities cast；
and consult the stars； and Cornelius Agrippa gave mortal offence to the
Queen…Dowager of France （mother of Francis I。） because； when she
pelled him to consult the stars about Francis's chance of getting out of
his captivity in Spain after the battle of Pavia； he wrote and spoke his
mind honestly about such nonsense。
Even Newton seems to have hankered after it when young。 Among
his MSS。 in Lord Portsmouth's library at Hurstbourne are whole folios of
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astrologic calculations。 It went on till the end of the seventeenth century；
and died out only when men had begun to test it； and all other occult
sciences； by experience； and induction founded thereon。
Countless students busied themselves over the transmutation of metals。
As for magic； necromancy； pyromancy； geomancy； coscinomancy； and all
the other manciesthere was then a whole literature about them。 And the
witch…burning inquisitors like Sprenger； Bodin； Delrio； and the rest；
believed as firmly in the magic powers of the poor wretches whom they
tortured to death； as did； in many cases； the poor wretches themselves。
Everyone； almost； believed in magic。 Take two cases。 Read the
story which Benvenuto Cellini； the sculptor； tells in his life （everyone
should read it） of the magician whom he consults in the Coliseum at Rome；
and the figure which he sees as he walks back with the magician； jumping
from roof to roof along the tiles of the houses。
And listen to this story； which Mr。 Froude has dug up in his researches。
A Church missioner at Oxford； at the beginning of the Reformation；
being unable to track an escaped heretic； 〃caused a figure to be made by
an expert in astronomy；〃 by which it was discovered that the poor wretch
had fled in a tawny coat and was making for the sea。 Conceive the
respected head of your Collegeor whoever he may bein case you slept
out all night without leave； going to a witch to discover whether you had
gone to London or to Huntingdon； and then writing solemnly to inform the
Bishop of Ely of his meritorious exertions！
In such a mad world as this was Paracelsus born。 The son of a Swiss
physician； but of noble blood； Philip Aureolus Theophrastus was his
Christian name； Bombast von Hohenheim his surname； which last word he
turned； after the fashion of the times； into Paracelsus。 Born in 1493 at
Einsiedeln （the hermitage）； in Schweiz； which is still a famous place of
pilgrimage； he was often called Eremitathe hermit。 Erasmus； in a letter
still extant； but suspected not to be genuine； addressed him by that name。
How he passed the first thirty…three years of his life it is hard to say。
He used to boast that he had wandered over all Europe； been in Sweden；
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Italy； in Constantinople； and perhaps in the far East； with barber…surgeons；
alchemists； magicians； haunting mines； and forges of Sweden and
Bohemia； especially those which the rich merchants of that day had in the
Tyrol。
It was from that work； he said； that he learnt what he knew： from
the study of nature and of facts。 He had heard all the learned doctors and
professors； he had read all their books； and they could teach him nothing。
Medicine was his monarch； and no one else。 He declared that there was
more wisdom under his bald pate than in Aristotle and Galen； Hippocrates
and Rhasis。 And fact seemed to be on his side。 He reappeared in
Germany about 1525； and began working wondrous cures。 He had
brought back with him from the East an arcanum； a secret remedy； and
laudanum was its name。 He boasted； says one of his enemies； that he
could raise the dead to life with it； and so the event all but proved。 Basle
was then the university where free thought and free creeds found their
safest home； and hither OEcolampadius the reformer invited young
Paracelsus to lecture on medicine and natural science。
It would have been well for him； perhaps； had he never opened his lips。
He might have done good enough to his fellow…creatures by his own
undoubted powers of healing。 He cured John Frobenius； the printer；
Erasmus's friend； at Basle； when the doctors were going to cut his leg off。
His fame spread far and wide。 Round Basle and away into Alsace he was
looked on； even an enemy says； as a new AEsculapius。
But these were days in which in a university everyone was expected to
talk and teach； and so Paracelsus began lecturing； and then the weakness
which was mingled with his strength showed itself。 He began by burning
openly the books of Galen and Avicenna； and declared that all the old
knowledge was useless。 Doctors and students alike must begin over
again with him。 The dons were horrified。 To burn Galen and Avicenna
was as bad as burning the Bible。 And more horrified still were they when
Paracelsus began lecturing； not in the time…honoured dog…Latin； but in
good racy German； which everyone could understand。 They shuddered
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under their red gowns and hats。 If science was to be taught in German；
farewell to the Galenists' formulas； and their lucrative monopoly of
learning。 Paracelsus was bold enough to say that he wished to break up
their monopoly； to spread a popular knowledge of medicine。 〃How
much；〃 he wrote once； 〃would I endure and suffer； to see every man his
own shepherdhis own healer。〃 He laughed to scorn their long
prescriptions； used the simplest drugs； and declared Nature； after all； to be
the best physicianas a dog； he says； licks his wound well again without
our help； or as the broken rib of the ox heals of its own accord。
Such a man was not to be endured。 They hated him； he says； for the
same reason that they hated Luther； for the same reason that the Pharisees
hated Christ。 He met their attacks with scorn； rage； and language as
coarse and violent as their own。 The coarseness and violence of those
days seem incredible to us now； and； indeed； Paracelsus； as he confessed
himself； was； though of gentle blood； rough and unpolished； and utterly； as
one can see from his writings； unable to give and take； to conciliate
perhaps to pardon。 He looked impatiently on these men who were （not
unreasonably） opposing novelties which they could not understand； as
enemies of God； who were balking him in his grand plan for regenerating
science and alleviating the woes of humanity； and he outraged their
prejudices instead of soothing them。
Soon they had their revenge。 Ugly stories were whispered about。
Oporinus； the printer； who had lived with him for two years； and who left
him； it is said； because he thought Paracelsus concealed from him unfairly
the secret of making laudanum； told how Paracelsus was neither more nor
less than a sot； who came drunk to his lectures； used to prime himself with
wine before going to his patients； and sat all night in pothouses swilling
with the boors。
Men looked coldly on himlonged to be rid of him。 And they soon
found an opportunity。 He took in hand some Canon of the city from
whom it was settled beforehand that he was to receive a hundred florins。
The priest found himself cured so suddenly and easily that； by a strange
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logic； he refused to pay the money； and went to the magistrates。 They
supported him； and pelled Paracelsus to take six florins instead of the
hundred。 He spoke his mind fiercely to them。 I believe； according to
one sto