PREFACE. 



IN the spring of 1626, Lord Bacon died. In the 

 same year, Dr. Rawley, &quot;his Lordship s first and last 

 &quot; chaplain,&quot; as he always proudly entitles himself, col 

 lected and published the different poems which were 

 written to the memory of his honored master *. In 

 the year 1627, he published the Sylva Sylvarum, 

 with an address to the reader, explaining the inten 

 tion of Lord Bacon in the compilation of this work, 

 and the probable objections which might be made to 

 the publication; that it was not methodical ; and that 

 many of the experiments would be deemed vulgar 

 and trivial. 



With respect to the want of method, although, 

 to use the words of Dr. Rawley, &quot; he that looketh 

 * attentively into the work, shall find that they have a 

 &quot; secret order,&quot; yet knowing as he did the charms of 

 symmetry in arrangement and beauty of style, and 

 the necessity of adopting them to insure an imme 

 diate and favourable reception of abstruse works, 

 Lord Bacon was never misled by the love of order : he 

 did not worship this idol ; but &quot; as Hercules, when he 



* It is a small 8vo, of which there is a copy in the British 

 Museum. 



VOL. iv. b 



