420 PREFACE TO DE AUG. SCIENTIARUM. 



however were in this instance quite successful ; and by sacri- 

 ficing a little symmetry of form, he succeeded in effectually 

 preserving the substance of this first part of his great work. 1 



Tenison mentions " Mr. Herbert" that is, George Herbert, 

 the poet as one of the translators employed. But we have it 

 upon Rawley's authority that Bacon took a great deal of pains 

 with it himself (proprio marte plurimum desudavit) so that 

 we must consider the whole translation as stamped with his 

 authority. Many years before he had asked Dr. Playfer to 

 do it ; who (according to Tenison) sent him a specimen, but 

 " of such superfine Latinity, that the Lord Bacon did not en- 

 courage him to labour further in that work, in the penning 

 of which he desired not so much neat and polite, as clear mascu- 

 line and apt expression." 2 And it is not improbable that some 

 such difficulty may have occurred. But Playfer's failure may 

 be sufficiently accounted for by the state of his health. A 

 memorandum in the Commentarius Solutus dated 26 July, 1608 

 " Proceeding with the translation of my book of Advance- 

 ment of Learning hearkening to some other if Playfer should 

 fail," shows that at that time it was still in his hands ; and he 

 died at the beginning of the next year. 



I have only to add that all the notes to this work which bear 

 no signature are Mr. Ellis's, except such parts of them as are 

 inserted within brackets. These, as well as all notes signed 

 J. S., are mine. 



J. S. 



1 The volume in which it originally appeared hore the following general titlepage : 

 Opera Francisci Baronis de Verulamio, vice-comitis Sancti Albani, Tomus primus. 

 Qui continet De Augmentis Scientiarum libros IX. Ad regem suum. Londini, in 

 cfficina Joannis Haviland, MDCXXIII. But this had reference to a collection 

 (which he then meditated) of all his works, in Latin ; not to the order of the 

 Instauratio, which was not in a condition to be published consecutively. See Epistola 

 ad Fulgentium : Opuscula, p. 172. 



2 Baconiana, p. 26. 



