NOTE 3 I. 



of King Henry the Seventh, and the small book, which in your language you 

 have called Saggi Morali, but I give it a graver title, that of Sermones Fideles, 

 or Interiora Rerum, and these essays will not only be enlarged in number but 

 still more in substance.&quot; 



In the year 1622, in his letter to the Bishop of Winchester, concerning his 

 published ami intended writings, he says, &quot; As for my Essays, and some other 

 particulars of that nature, I count them but as the recreations of my other 

 studies, and in that manner purpose to continue them ; though I am not igno 

 rant that those kind of writings would t with less pains and assiduity, perhaps 

 yield more lustre and reputation to my name than the others I have in hand ; 

 but I judge the use a man should seek in publishing his writings before his 

 death to be but an untimely anticipation of that which is proper to follow, and 

 not to go along with him.&quot; Then see his Dedications to the different editions. 



Tennison s Notice of Latin Edition. 



The nature of the Latin edition and of the Essays in general is thus stated by 

 Archbishop Tennison : 



&quot; The Essays, or Counsels Civil and Moral, though a by-work also, do yet 

 make up a book of greater weight by far than the apothegms : and coming 

 home to men s business and bosoms, his lordship entertained this persuasion 

 concerning them, that the Latin volume might last as long as books should 

 last. His lordship wrote them in the English tongue, and enlarged them 

 as occasion served, and at last added to them the Colours of Good and Evil, 

 which are likewise found in his book De Augmentis. The Latin translation of 

 them was a work performed by divers hands; by those of Doctor Hacket (late 

 Bishop of Lichfield), Mr. Benjamin Johnson (the learned and judicious poet), 

 and some others, whose names I once heard from Dr. Rawley ; but I cannot 

 now recal them. To this Latin edition, he gave the title of Sermones Fideles, 

 after the manner of the Jews, who called the words Adagies, or Observations of 

 the Wise, Faithful Sayings; that is, credible propositions worthy of firm 

 assent and ready acceptance. And (as I think) he alluded more particularly, 

 in this title, to a passage in Ecclesiastes, where the Preacher saith that he 

 sought to find out Verba Delectabilia (as Tremellius rendered) the Hebrew), 

 pleasant words (that is, perhaps, his Book of Canticles;) and Verba Fidelia 

 (as the same Tremellius), Faithful Sayings ; meaning, it may be, his Collec 

 tion of Proverbs. In the next verse, he calls them words of the wise, and so 

 many goads and nails given Ab eodem pastore, from the same shepherd (&quot;of 

 the flock of Israel].&quot; 



Publication of Latin Edition by Rawley. 



In the year 1638, Rawley published in folio a volume containing amongst 

 other works, &quot; Sermones Fideles, ab ipso Honoratissimo Auctore, praetorquam 

 in paucis, Latinitate donatus.&quot; In his address to the reader he says : &quot; Acce- 

 dunt quas prius Delibationes Civiles et Morales inscripserat : quasetiam in lin- 

 guas plurimas modernas translatas esse novit sed eas postea et numero, et pon- 

 dere, auxit ; in tantum, ut veluti opus novum videri possint ; quas mutato 

 titulo, Sermones Fideles sive Interiora Rerum, inscribi placuit. Addi etiam 

 voluit. The title page, dedication, and the table of contents are annexed : 

 _ Sermones Fideles sive, Interiora Rerum. Per Franciscum Baconum Baronem de 

 lervlamio, Vice-Comitem Sancti Albani. Londini, Excusum, typis Edwardi 

 Griffin. Prostant ad Insignia Regia in Coemeterio D. Pauls, apud Richurdum 

 Whitakerum, 1638. 



Illustri and Excellent! Domino Georgio Duci Buckingham!, summo Anglia? 



Admirallio. 



Honoratissime Domine, Salomon inquit, Nomen bonum est instar vncruenti 

 fragrantis et pretiosi ; neque dubito, quintale futurum sit nomen tuumapud 

 posteros. Etenim et fortuna, et meritatua, praecelluerunt. Et videris ea plan- 

 tasse, quaesint duratura. In lucem jam edere mini visum est Delibationes 

 meas, quae ex omnibus meis operibus fuerunt acceptissimae : quia forsitan 



