Nori: 3 i. 



British Museum, and of which the following is the title : An Essay of a King, 

 tt itti an explanation what manner of persons those should be that are to execute the 

 power or ordinance of the King s Prerogative. Written by the Right Honorable 

 Francis, Lord Verulam Viscount Saint Aiban. Decemh. 2. London, Printed 

 for Richard Best, 1642. 



Immediately following this essay is the tiact entitled, An Explanation what 

 manner of persons those should be that are to execute the power or ordinance of the 

 King s Prerogative, written by the said Francis Bacon, lute Lord Chancellor , 

 and Lord of St. Albans. This explanation thus concludes : &quot; And to conclude, 

 custom cannot confirm that which is any ways unreasonable of itself. Wisdom 

 will not allow that which is many ways dangerous, and no ways profit 

 able. Justice will not approve that government where it cannot be but wrong 

 must be commited. Neither can there be any rule by which to try it, nor 

 means of reformation of it. Therefore, whosoever desireth government must 

 seek such as he is capable of, not such as seemeth to him most easy to execute ; 

 for it is apparent that it is easie to him that knoweth not law nor justice to rule 

 as he listeth, his will never wanting a power to itself; but it is safe and blame- 

 lesse both for the judge and people, and honour to the king, that judges be ap 

 pointed who know the law, and that they be limited to governe according to 

 the law.&quot; Who can suppose that this was the work of Lord Bacon, or doubt 

 the purpose for which, in those tumultuous times, it was composed and ascribed 

 to him ? 



6. In 1648, this tract was incorporated in a small 4to volume, of which the 

 title page is as follows : The Remaines of the Right Honorable Francis Lord 

 Vernlan, Viscount of St. Albanes, sometimes Lord Chancellour of England. Being 

 Essayes and severall Letters to severall great Personages, and other pieces of 

 various and high concernment not heretofore published. A Table whereof for 

 the Readers more ease is adjoyned. London : Printed by B. Alsop, for Lawrence 

 Chapman, and are to be sold at his Shop neer the Savoy in the Strand. 1648. 



The Table of Contents consists of forty-nine subjects, of which the four first 

 are : 



1. An Essay of a King. 



2. An explanation of what manner of persons they should be, that are 



to execute the power or ordinance of the King s Prerogative. 



3. Short notes of Civil Conversation. 



4. An Essay on Death. 



The first article, &quot; An Essay of a King,&quot; with its Appendix, &quot; An Explana 

 tion, &c.&quot; is a copy of this tract published in 1642 : who the author was does 

 not appear, nor is there any preface or address, or explanation of the sources 

 from whence the different subjects were selected, or the authority upon which 

 they were ascribed to Lord Bacon. That some of them (for instance, the 

 opinion respecting the Charter House) were his lordship s is clear : and, but 

 for these authentic documents, it is probable that the other* publications would 

 have fallen stillborn from the press ; but they may have been supported, as 

 Machiavel intimates that error is often supported by its alliance to truth, when 

 he says, in a passage cited by Lord Bacon, &quot; the kingdom of the clergy had 

 been long before at an end, if the reputation and reverence towards the poverty 

 of friars had not borne out the scandal of the superfluities and excesses of 

 bishops and prelates.&quot; Let it not, therefore, be hastily inferred that the essay 

 is genuine, because it appears in some good company : in some, not all, for 

 the Essay of Death, which has not found any advocate, is in the same volume. 



7. In 1656, a tract was published, of which the following is the title page : 

 The Mirrour of State and Eloquence. Represented in the Incomparable Letters 

 of the Famous Sir Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam, St. Albans, to Queene Eliza 

 beth, King James, and other Personages of the highest tritst, and honour in the 

 three Nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Concerning the better and 

 more sure Establishment of those Nations in the affaires of Peace and Warre. 

 With an ample and admirable accompt of his Faith, written by the express Com 

 mand of King lames : Together -with the Character of a true Christian, and 



