The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

EDITOR'S PREFACE. 277
and in my work of laws, the general good of men likewise in society, and the dowries of governiment; I thought in duty I owed somewhat unto my own country, which I ever loved; insomuch as
although my place hath been far above my desert, yet my thoughts and cares concerning the good
thereof were beyond, and over, and above my place: so now being, as I am, no more able to do my
country service, it remained unto me to do it honour: which I have endeavoured to do in my work
of the reign of King Henry the Seventh."
Soon after the publication, he expressed his anxiety that the history should be translated into
Latin. In a letter to Mr. Tobie Matthew, he says, " It is true, my labours are now most set to have
those works, which I had formerly published, as that of Advancement of Learning, that of Henry
the Seventh, that of the Essays, being retractate, and made more perfect, well translated into Latin
by the help of some good pens, which forsake me not. For these modern languages will, at one
time or other, play the bankrupts with books: and since I have lost much time with this age, I
would be glad, as God shall give me leave, to recover it with posterity."
In the year 1627, this history was published in French.t In 1629, there was a new edition in
English. In 1638, an edition in Latin was published by Dr. Rawley; and the press has since
abounded with editions.2
Such was the progress of the History of Henry the Seventh.
In the composition, Lord Bacon seems to have laboured with some anxiety.
Aubrey, in his anecdotes, says, 6" about his time, and within his view, were borne all the wits that
could honour a nation or help study. He came often to Sr. John Danvers at Chelsey. Sir John
told me that when his lordship had wrote the history of Henry the Seventh, he sent the manuscript
copy to him to desire his opinion of it before'twas printed. Qd Sir John, your lordship knows
that I am no scholar.'Tis no matter, said my lord, I know what a scholar can say; I would know
what you can say. Sir John read it, and gave his opinion what he misliked, (which I am sorry I
have forgot,) which my lord acknowledged to be true, and mended it.' Why,' said he,'a scholar
would never have told me this.'"
And it appears by a letter from his faithful friend, Sir Thomas Meautys, that the king did correct
the manuscript. The letter is dated January 7, 162~, and directed ",To the Lord Viscount St.
Alban." It contains the following passage.
"' Mr. Murray tells me, the king hath given your book to my Lord Brooke, and enjoined him to
read it, recommending it much to him: and then my Lord Brooke is to return it to your lordship;
and so it may go to the press, when your lordship pleases, with such amendments, as the king hath
made, which I have seen, and are very few, and those rather words, as epidemic, and mild instead
of debonnaire, &c. Only that of persons attainted, enabled to serve in parliament by a bare reversal
of their attainder, the king by all means will have left out. I met with my Lord Brooke, and told
him that Mr. Murray had directed me to wait upon him for the book, when he had done with it.
He desired to be spared this week, as being to him a week of much business; and the next week I
should have it: and he ended in a compliment, that care should be taken, by all means, for good ink
and paper to print it in; for that the book deserveth it. I beg leave to kiss your lordship's hands."
But notwithstanding this labour and anxiety, the work is perhaps an illustration of Archbishop
Tenison's observation upon Dr. Playfer's attempt to translate the," Advancement of Learning."
"6 Men generally come short of themselves when they strive to outdo themselves. They put a
force upon their natural genius, and, by straining of it, crack and disable it."
If, however, in the History of Henry the Seventh, it is vain to look for the vigour or beauty with
which the Advancement of Learning abounds: if there is not such nervous language as ", the honest
and just bounds of observation by one person upon another, extend no farther but to understand him
sufficiently whereby not to give him offence, or whereby to be able to give him faithful counsel, or
whereby to stand upon reasonable guard and caution in respect of a man's self: but to be speculative into another man, to the end to know how to work him, or wind him, or govern him, proceedeth
from a heart that is double and cloven, and not entire and ingenuous."
If there is not such beauty as " men have entered into a desire of learning and knowledge, sometimes upon a natural curiosity, and inquisitive appetite; sometimes to entertain their minds with
variety and delight; sometimes for ornament and reputation; and sometimes to enable them to victory
of wit and contradiction; and most times for lucre and profession; and seldom sincerely to give a
true account of their gift of reason, to the benefit and use of men: as if there were sought in knowledge a couch, whereupon to rest a searching and restless spirit; or a tarrasse for a wandering and
variable mind to walk up and down with a fair prospect; or a tower of state, for a proud mind to
X 8vo. Paris, Par Holman, of which there is a copy in the British Museum.
In 1611, and in 1647, and in 1662; and in the British Museum there is a MS. (Sloan's collection, 84,) entitled Notes,
taken out of his History of the reign of Henry Seventh; and another MS. Harleian, vol. ii. of Catalogue 300, entit ed Notes
of Henry Seventh's reign, set down in MS. by the Lord Chancellor Bacon.
2A