PREFACE. IX 



letters; the one to the Earl of Salisbury, the other 

 to the University of Cambridge, which Georges 

 omits, and dedicates his translation to the High 

 and Illustrious Princess the Lady Elizabeth of Great 

 Britain, Duchess of Baviare, Countess Palatine of 

 Rheine, and Chief Electress of the Empire. As this 

 translation was published during the life of Lord 

 Bacon, by a great admirer of his works, and as it 

 is noticed by Archbishop Tenison, I have inserted it 

 in this volume. I am not certain that I have done 

 right, as it is my intention, with the translation of 

 all the works, to publish a new translation of these 

 fables ; for which I am indebted to a member of the 

 University of Oxford, [who has lately so emi 

 nently distinguished himself for his classical attain 

 ments, and who will I trust forgive this expression of 

 my affectionate respect for his virtuous exertions. It 

 would be grateful to me to say more. 



2. 

 CIVIL HISTORY. 



At an early period of his life, Bacon was im 

 pressed with the importance of a History of England 

 from the union of the Roses to the union of the 

 Kingdoms. In the Advancement of Learning, pub 

 lished in 1605, he says, if But for modern histories,* 

 &quot; whereof there are some few very worthy, but the 

 &quot; greatest part beneath mediocrity, leaving the care 

 &quot; of foreign stories to foreign states, because I will 

 &quot; not be curiosus in aliena republica, I cannot fail 



* See vol II. page 110. 



