TESTIMONIES 



CONSECRATED 



To the 



MERIT 



OF THE 

 INCOMPARABLE PHILOSOPHER 



Sir F R A N C I S BACON, 



BY 



Some of the Beft-learn'd of this inftant Age. 



' Lthough feifere Inquijitors of truth ^^ and fuch who 

 by their learned Labours ftand upon publick Re- 

 cord in the approv'd Archives of Eternity, may, in 

 an humble diftance, lay claim and title to that ft- 

 cred Prerogative — Ego autetH ah homine Tejlitnoni" 

 um non Capto 5 ipfa enim Opera qu<e facto tefiantur de 



mt 5 yet becaufe fuch Great Authors^ in their high flight, are fo 



leflen'd in the air of unfrequented contemplations j and take fuch 

 unbeaten ways, as they become the weak, roonder of common Ca- 

 pacities, accuftom'd to popular opinions , and authoriz'd Errors ; 

 and in this admiring Ignorance, the prejudicate obje&s of Emulation, 

 EnvyJealoufies5and fuch like impotent paflions : It feems (in a fort) 

 neceffary, that the way be clear'd before fuch Writers 5 and that 

 they enter the Theatre, as well with the fufFrage of voice , to gain 

 upon the will j as with the ftrength of Reafon, to convince the Vn- 

 derjianding. 



Wherefore, not fo much for the honour of this Author, (though 

 that is intended too) as for the aid of forae anticipate Readers, not 

 yet manu-milfed from a fervile belief to the liberty of their own 

 judgements, (fuch, I mean, as are yet under the minority of an im- 

 plicite faith,) I thought good to deliver this imperfeft lift of £>£- 

 ponents, which the precipitancy of this Edition, would not permit 

 to fill up with forae other great Names, both of this Kingdom, and 

 offbrreign Nations. Whdt is wanting here to the accomplifliment 

 of this Catalogue, Time, the Parent of Truth, (hall confummate. 



Lc Sienr Mativan CoUnfellor and Secretary to the King oi France^ 



[C] id 



