Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/404

 276 EDITOR S PREFACE. It was published in folio, in the year 1625. The following is a copy of the titlepage. The Historic OftheRaigne Of King Henry The Seventh Written By the Right Honourable Francis Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban. London, Printed by W. Stransby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret. . He sent copies of the history, to the Queen of Bohemia, and to the Bishop of Lincoln, Di. Wil liams, his successor. &quot; To the Queen of Bohemia. &quot;It may please your majesty, &quot; I find in books, and books I dare allege to your majesty in regard of your singular ability to read and judge of them even above your sex, that it is accounted a great bliss for a man to have leisure with honour. That was never my fortune nor is. For time was, I had honour without leisure ; and now I have leisure without honour. And I cannot say so neither altogether, considering there remain with me the marks and stamp of the king s, your father s, grace, though I go not for so much in value as I have done. But my desire is now to have leisure without loitering, and not to become an abbey-lubber, as the old proverb was, but to yield some fruit of my private life. Having therefore written the reign of your majesty s famous ancestor, King Henry the Seventh, and it having passed the file of his Majesty s judgment, and been graciously also accepted of the prince, your brother, to whom it is dedicated, I could not forget my duty so far to your excellent majesty, to whom, for that I know and have heard, I have been at all times so much bound, as you are ever present with me, both in affection and admiration, as not to make unto you, in all humbleness, a present thereof, as now being not able to give you tribute of any service. If King Henry the Se venth were alive again, I hope verily he could not be so angry with me for not flattering him, as well pleased in seeing himself so truly described in colours that will last and be believed. I most hum bly pray your majesty graciously to accept of my good-will ; and so, with all reverence kiss your hands, praying to God above, by his divine and most benign providence, to conduct your affairs to happy issue ; and resting &quot; Your majesty s most humble and devoted servant, FR. ST. ALBAN. &quot;April 20, 1622.&quot; &quot;To the Lord Viscount St. Alban. &quot; My very good lord, &quot;I have received, by this bearer, the privy seal for the survey of coals, which I will lay aside until I shall hear further from my lord steward, and the rest of the lords. &quot;I am ready to do as much as your lordship desireth, in keeping Mr. Cotton of from the violence of those creditors : only himself is, as yet, wanting in some particular directions. &quot;I heartily thank your lordship for your book ; and all other symbols of your love and affection, which I will endeavour, upon all opportunities, to deserve : and, in the mean time, do rest &quot; Your lordship s assured faithful &quot; poor friend and servant, &quot; Westminster College, this 7th of Febuary, 1622. &quot; Jo LINCOLN, C. S. To the Right Honourable his very good lord, the Lord Viscount St. Alban.&quot; In a letter, written in the year 1622, to the Bishop of Winchester, and prefixed, in the nature of a dedication, to his dialogue touching a holy war, he says, &quot; having in the work of my Instaura- Uor V ;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;1 in contemplation the general good of men in their very being, and the dowries of nature ;