Page:The Harveian oration - delivered at the Royal College of Physicians, October 18th, 1899 (IA b24975941).pdf/14

 allowed to have some share in Harvey's great discovery.

In briefly reviewing Harvey's life and work, we must in order to rightly estimate his genius take into consideration the circumstances in which he lived.

Harvey was born at Folkestone in 1578, into a world distracted by religious dissension. Queen Elizabeth was excommunicate; the massacre of St. Bartholomew was still fresh in the memory; the Netherlands were fighting Spain for life and liberty; Mary of Scotland was a prisoner waiting her tragic end.

While Harvey was still at his mother's knee he must have learnt how Drake had accomplished his circumnavigation and had returned laden with treasure; and as a lad of ten he may have stood upon the cliffs of Folkestone aud have seen how his countrymen, then as now, could sink minor differ- ences in the face of a common danger, as, led by the patriotic Lord Howard of Effingham, our fleet drove the Spanish Armada to its destruction.

Upon this great victory there followed a period of peace, prosperity, and extended commerce. The manor-house was tending more and more to replace the fortified stronghold of the feudal chieftain, a certain evidence of advancing civilisation; men found leisure for contemplative work; and the judicious Hooker began to teach that God revealed