About
1617?
England
Since Bacon's ideal was widespread revolution of the common method of scientific inquiry,
there had to be some way by which his method could become widespread.
His solution was to lobby the state to make natural philosophy
a matter of greater importance – not only to fund it, but also to regulate it.
While in office under Queen Elizabeth, he even advocated for the employment of a Minister for Science and Technology;
a position which IOTL was never realised.
Later under King James, Bacon wrote in The Advancement of Learning:
"The King should take order for the collecting and perfecting of a Natural and Experimental History,
true and severe (unencumbered with literature and book-learning),
such as philosophy may be built upon,
so that philosophy and the sciences may no longer float in air,
but rest on the solid foundation of experience of every kind."
While Bacon was a strong advocate for state involvement in scientific inquiry,
he also felt that his general method should be applied directly to the functioning of the state as well.
For Bacon, matters of policy were inseparable from philosophy and science.
Bacon recognised the repetitive nature of history, and sought to correct it by making the future direction of government more rational.
In order to make future civil history more linear and achieve real progress,
he felt that methods of the past and experiences of the present should be examined together
in order to determine the best ways by which to go about civil discourse.
Bacon began one particular address to the house of Commons with a reference to the book of Jeremiah:
"Stand in the ancient ways, but look also into present experience
in order to see whether in the light of this experience ancient ways are right.
If they are found to be so, walk in them."
In short, he wanted his method of progress building on progress in natural philosophy to be integrated into England's political theory.
Bacon: Anyway you slice it
In the light of his experience
The possible POD is that Francis Bacon is appointed Minister for Science and Technology in March 1617, by himself or James.
As regent (for that month only) he can do that.
He makes the post a ten year term of office with a generous income and allowance for experiments.
A bold move that he realises he must justify to King James before the month is out.
He threw himself into practical applications of known science to the betterment of the realm.
King James might immediately benefit if his accounts and taxes were calculated/checked using
John Napier's Bones, Promptuary and location arithmetic.
Bacon derives the use of the decimal point from the same book: Rabdologiæ
He also applies Napier's work on logarithms to his own work and that of the ministry.
Exchequer accounting is improved (be order of the Regent) to a point that more time is spent in collection and
detection of exise, less in calculating, but to more certain (higher) totals.
'Tyrocinium Chymicum' and 'Of the Proficience and Advancement of Learning, Divine and Human)'
reprinted to provide copies for the royal library
and that of each university, royal school and every well known alchemist.
'To steer them from the supernatural to the natural and godly'
A lens grinding industry is established in Cambridge (later Cambridge Instruments)
Telescopes are to be used to watch for invasion,
read distant signals and make scientific enquiries.
Cornelis Jacobszoon Drebbel is commissioned as a ministry 'pioneer' in optics and placed in charge of Cambridge Instruments.
A new tax on enclosed land is proposed, to benefit, in part, the people by way of education and alms houses.
This is aimed at limiting the Levellers that have rioted in the midlands in recent years, leveling hedges and enclosures.
People might see them(selves) as denying their neighbour's alms and education (to read and write).
Written protest being more civilised even a potential rioter might benefit the state.
The Gregorian calander must be adopted at once for natural and divine reasons, the Papal Bull is a side issue.
A plan for implimenting this is commissioned at once.
Bacon founds a national Scientific Society (James would later grant it a royal charter) in London.
Initially it is known as the House of Solomon in honour of that biblical king's wisdom.
Through patronage of the new socity Bacon seeks to propogate his scientific method and academic ideals.
Proficience and Advancement of Learning Quote:
"Excellent King, those, which are fruitful in their generations,
should likewise be careful of the good estate of future times.
Queen Elizabeth was a sojourner in the world in respect of her unmarried life,
and was a blessing to her own times; and yet your Majesty,
whom God hath already blessed with so much royal issue,
it is proper and agreeable to be conversant in those acts
also which are in their nature permanent and perpetual:
amongst the which there is not any more worthy than the further endowment of the world
with sound and fruitful knowledge. To return therefore where we left,
it remaineth to consider of what kind those acts are which have been undertaken
and performed by kings and others for the increase and advancement of learning.
The works or acts of merit towards learning are conversant about three objects:
the places of learning, the books of learning, and the persons of the learned.
The works which concern the seats and places of learning are four; foundations and buildings,
endowments with revenues, endowments with franchises and privileges, institutions and ordinances for government."
Proficience and Advancement of Learning Quote:
"First, therefore, amongst so many great foundations of colleges in Europe,
I find it strange that they are all dedicated to professions,
and none left free to arts and sciences at large.
And this I take to be a great cause that hath hindered the progression of learning.
Neither is it to be forgotten, that this dedicating of foundations to professory learning
hath not only had a malign aspect and influence upon the growth of sciences,
but hath also been prejudicial to states and governments.
For hence it proceedeth that princes find a solitude in regard of able men to serve them in causes of state,
because there is no education collegiate which is free; where such as were so disposed might
give themselves to histories, modern languages, books of policy and civil discourse,
and other the like enablements unto service of estate."
This is enough to interest the free spending King James in further scientific reforms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Atlantis quote:
Only the best and brightest of Bensalem's citizens are selected to join Salomon's House, in which scientific experiments are conducted in Baconian method in order to understand and conquer nature, and to apply the collected knowledge to the betterment of society. Near the end of the work, the Father of Salomon's House catalogues the activities of the institution's members:
“For the several employments and offices of our fellows, we have twelve that sail into foreign countries under the names of other nations (for our own we conceal), who bring us the books and abstracts, and patterns of experiments of all other parts. These we call merchants of light.
“We have three that collect the experiments which are in all books. These we call depredators.
“We have three that collect the experiments of all mechanical arts, and also of liberal sciences, and also of practices which are not brought into arts. These we call mystery–men.
“We have three that try new experiments, such as themselves think good. These we call pioneers or miners.
“We have three that draw the experiments of the former four into titles and tables, to give the better light for the drawing of observations and axioms out of them. These we call compilers.
“We have three that bend themselves, looking into the experiments of their fellows, and cast about how to draw out of them things of use and practice for man’s life and knowledge, as well for works as for plain demonstration of causes, means of natural divinations, and the easy and clear discovery of the virtues and parts of bodies. These we call dowry–men or benefactors.
“Then after divers meetings and consults of our whole number, to consider of the former labours and collections, we have three that take care out of them to direct new experiments, of a higher light, more penetrating into nature than the former. These we call lamps.
“We have three others that do execute the experiments so directed, and report them. These we call inoculators.
“Lastly, we have three that raise the former discoveries by experiments into greater observations, axioms, and aphorisms. These we call interpreters of nature."
Even this short excerpt demonstrates that Bacon understood that science requires analysis and not just the accumulation of observations. Bacon also foresaw that the design of experiments could be improved.
Bacon's cypher was the original binary coding of the English alphabet.
a AAAAA g AABBA n ABBAA t BAABA
b AAAAB h AABBB o ABBAB u-v BAABB
c AAABA i-j ABAAA p ABBBA w BABAA
d AAABB k ABAAB q ABBBB x BABAB
e AABAA l ABABA r BAAAA y BABBA
f AABAB m ABABB s BAAAB z BABBB
Thomas Bushall (mining engineer) was Bacon's assistant until Bushall testified against him for corruption.
Let us suppose that Bushall is a spur to honesty and modest living for Bacon.
Bushall's master establishes the House of Solomon as 'The Royal Academy - Colledge of King James' - having two MPs
History: Edmund Mary Bolton (English History)
Geography and Astronomy: Nathanael Carpenter
Ancient Languages and Divinity: Richard Brett
Mathematics, Navigation and Astronomy: Robert Hues (Tower of London - voluntary)
Translation(Algonquian forex), Mathematics, and Astronomy: Thomas Harriot
Chemistry and Medicine: Walter Warner (Tower of London - voluntary)
Political and Physical Philosophy: Thomas Hobbes
Chemistry, Astonomy and Navigation: Henry Percy (Tower of London)
Law: Edward Coke MP
Architecture: Inigo Jones (designs the college in a revolutionary neo-classical style)
Francis Bacon (Vice Chancellor) MP
Robert Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury (Chancellor)
Robert Blake (the Royal Navy) is just 19.
£12,000 to build on the Chelsea College site (previous college united or replaced).
"Whereas his Majesty, of his most Royal and Zealous Care for the Defense of true Religion now established within this Realm of England, and for the refuting of Errors and Heresies repugnant unto the same, hath been graciously pleased, by his Letters Patents under the great Seal of England, to found a College at Chelsea near London, and therein to place certain learned Divines, and to Incorporate the same by the Name of The Provost and Fellows of the College of King James in Chelsea, near London, of the Foundation of the same James King of England; and hath of his most gracious Bounty and Goodness, not only endowed the same with certain Lands, Privileges, and Immunities; but hath also for their further Maintenance and Sustentation, given unto them a Capacity and Ability, to receive and take from his Majesty, or any of his loving Subjects, any Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, Gifts, Benefits, and Profits whatsoever, not exceeding in the whole the Yearly Value of Three Thousand Pounds, as in and by the said Letters Patents doth more at large appear. And whereas, also it is manifest and evident, that the bringing in of fresh Streams of running Water into the City of London, is very convenient, necessary, and profitable, as well for the private use of such as shall rent the same, as a Help for cleansing the said City in the time of Sickness, and preserving the same against all sudden Adventures of Fire: It is therefore Enacted, &c. that it shall and may be lawful to the said Provost and Fellows, their Successors, Deputies, and Assigns, at all and every such Place and Places, in the open Fields or Marshes, lying between the Bridge called Lock Bridge, in or near the Parish of Hackney, in the County of Middlesex, and the Bridge called Bow Bridge at Stratford Bow in the Parish of Stepney in the said County, (as by the said Provost and Fellows, their Successors, Deputies, or Assigns, by, and with, the Consent and Allowance of the Occupiers and Owners of the Soil in the said Place or Places, and in default of such Assent and Allowance, by such Composition, first to be made with the said Occupiers and Owners of the said Soil, as by the Commissioners, by vertue of this Act to be in this Behalf appointed, shall be thought fit and convenient) to dig or cut from, and out of the main River of Lee, on that Side or Bank of the same River which is next unto the City of London, a Ditch or Trench not exceeding in Breadth Ten Foot, or to Scour, Cleanse, or Enlarge unto the Breadth aforesaid, any old Ditch or Trench there already made; and the same Ditch or Trench either Old or New, so to be made or to be cleansed, to convey by and thorough the said Fields and Marshes, in all Places convenient, in such Sort as the same may again "
- James I and VI Rex
So Chelsea College became the Royal Academy - King James' College. A site of six acres with a quad of college buildings, halls and grounds. Attached to the researching side of the academy was the tower of London, due in part to those that toiled within it and part because the results were to be secret until judged more usefully public. The canals into the city were a large source of income and they were covered in public places to keep them under control of the Academy and free from foul waste. The largest problem of corruption was in the body politic. Bribery and religious plotting.