NOTE 3 I. 



aduentur the wrong they mought receiue by vntrue coppies, or by some garnish 

 ment which it mought please any one that shold set them forth to bestow upon 

 them. Therefore 1 helde it best discretion to publish them my selfe as they 

 passed long agoe from my pen without any further disgrace, then the weakenes 

 of the author. And as 1 did euer hold there mought be as great a vanitie in 

 retyring and withdrawing metis conceits (except they be of some nature) from 

 the world, as in obtruding them : so in these particulars 1 haue played my selfe 

 the iiujuisitor, and find nothing to my vnderstanding in them contrary, or infec 

 tious to the state of religion, or manners, but rather (as I suppose) medicinable. 

 Onely I disliked now to put them out, because they will be like the late newe 

 halfpence, which though the siluer were good, yet the pieces were small. But 

 since they would not stay with their master, but wold needs trauel abroad, I 

 haue preferred them to you, that are next myself, dedicating them, such as they 

 are, to our loue, in the depth whereof (I assure you) I somtimes wish your 

 infirmities transslated upon my selfe, that her maiesty mought haue the seruice 

 of so active and able a mind, and I mought bee with excuse confined to these 

 contemplations and studies for which I am fittest, so commende I you to the 

 presentation of the diuine maiestie. From my chamber at Grayes Inne, this 

 30 of lariuary, 1597. 



Your entire louing brother, FRAN. BACON.&quot; 



It consists of ten Essays. 



1. OfStudie. 6. Of Expence. 



2. Of Discourse. 7. Of Regimen and Health. 



3. Of Ceremonies and Respects. 8. Of Honour and Reputation. 



4. Of Followers and Friends. 9. Of Faction. 



5. Of Sutors. 10. Of Negotiating. 



The volume is in 12mo. and consists of thirteen double pages, not very cor 

 rectly printed. Ex. gr. In the table of contents the first essay is &quot;of Studie j&quot; 

 in the body of the work it is &quot; of Studies.&quot; So again, in the table of contents, 

 the fifth essay is &quot; Sutors ; &quot; in the body of the work it is &quot; of Sutes,&quot; &c. &c. 

 Lord Bacon s favorite style was, I am inclined to think, in aphorisms, as he 

 states in various parts of his works, and particularly in the advancement of 

 learning under the head of Tradition, where, amongst ottier styles, he considers 

 &quot;style methodical or in aphorisms : &quot; and, as may be seen in the Novum Or- 

 ganum, which is composed wholly in aphorisms. This first edition of the Es 

 says, although apparently in continued discourse, is really severed and in apho 

 risms. The following is an exact copy of part of the first essay, and they are 

 all separated in the same manner. 



1F Reade not to contradict, nor to believe, but to waigh and consider. 



If Some bookes are to bee tasted, others to be swallowed, and some 



few to be chewed and disgested : that is some bookes are to be read only 



in partes ; others to be read but cursorily, and some few to be read 



wholly and with diligence and attention. 



IF Histories make men wise, poets wittie, the mathematicks subtle, 

 naturall philosophic deepe : morall grave, logicke and rhetorick able to 

 contend. 



There are two copies of this edition in the University library at Cambridge : 

 and there is Archbishop Sancroft s copy in Emanuel library : there is a copy in 

 the Bodleian, and I have a copy. 



This small volume contains, as appears by the title-page, not only the essays, 

 but Religious Meditations and Places of Persuasion and Dissu asion. The reli 

 gious meditations are in Latin, and are not printed, as the essays are, for 

 Hooper : and the paging is not continued from the essays, but begins page 1. 

 The following is a copy of the title-page : Meditat wnes Sacra- . Londini. Ex- 

 cudebat loJiannes Windet, 1597. At the conclusion of the volume is, &quot; Printed 

 at London by John Windet for Hnmfrey Hooper, 1597.&quot; So that, although the 

 name of Hooper does not appear in the title prefixed to the Meditationes Sacrae, 

 it is evident that Windet was the printer for Hooper. 



At the conclusion of the Meditationes Sacrae, a tract entitled &quot; Of the Coa 

 lers of Good and Ecil, a Fragment,&quot; is annexed. The paging is continued from 



