The Works of Francis Bacon

TO THE

Right Honourable my very good Lord

THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM,

His Grace Lord High Admiral of England.

EXCELLENT LORD,

SOLOMON says,

“A good name is as a pre“ cious ointment;" and I assure myself such will your Grace's name be with posterity : for your fortune and merit both have been emi. nent; and you have planted things that are like to last. I do now publish my Essays ; which, of all

other works, have been most current: for that, as it seems, they come home to men's business and bosoms. I have enlarged them both in number and weight; so that they are indeed a new work : I thought it therefore agreeable to my affection and obligation to your Grace, to prefix your name be: fore them, both in English and Latin ; for I do conceive, that the Latin volume of them, being in the universal language, may last as long as books last. My Instauration I dedi

cated to the king ; my History of Henry the Seventh, which I have now translated into Latin, and my portions of Natural History, to the Prince; and these I dedicate to your Grace, being of the best fruits, that, by the good increase which God gives to my pen

and labours, I could yield. God lead your Grace by the hand.

Your Grace's most obliged

And faithful servant,

FR. ST. ALBAN.