Dedication to the Edition of 1597' 



THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE 



To M. ANTHONY BACON 

 his deare Brother. 



Lou ING and beloued Brother, I doe no we like some that 

 haue an Or char de ill neighbored, that gather their fruit 

 before it is ripe, to preuent stealing. These fragments of 

 my conceites were going to print ; To labour the staie of 

 them had bin troublesome, and subiect to interpretation ; 

 to let them passe had beene to adveture the wrong they 

 mought receiue by vntrue Coppies, or by some garnish- 

 ment, which it mought please any that should set them 

 forth to bestow upon them. Therefore I helde it best 

 discreation to publish them my selfe as they passed long 

 agoe from my pen, without any further disgrace, then the 

 weaknesse of the Author. And as I did euer hold, there 

 mought be as great a vanitie in retiring and withdrawing 

 mens conceites (except they bee of some nature) from the 

 world, as in obtruding them : So in these particulars I 

 haue played my selfe the Inquisitor, and find nothing to 

 my vnderstanding in them contrarie or infectious to the 

 state of Religion, or manners, but rather (as I suppose) 



1 This dedication and that to the edition of 1612 are here printed 

 as they stand as a specimen of the spelling of these editions. 



