Religio Medici, Hydriotaphia, et al, | Page 5

to time
appeared. By far the best edition of the whole of them is that published
by Simon Wilkin.
It is upon his "Religio Medici"--the religion of a physician--that
Browne's fame chiefly rests. It was his first and most celebrated work,
published just after his return from his travels; it gives us the impres-
sions made on his mind by the various and opposite schools he had
passed through. He tells us that he never intended to publish it, but that
on its being surreptitiously printed, he was induced to do so. In 1643,
the first genuine edition appeared, with "an admonition to such as shall
peruse the observations upon a former corrupt copy of this book." The
observations here alluded to, were written by Sir Kenelm Digby, and
sent by him to the Earl of Dorset. They were first printed at the end of
the edition of 1643, and have ever since been published with the book.
Their chief merit consists in the marvellous rapidity with which they
were written, Sir Kenelm having, as he tells us, bought the book, read it,
and written his observations, in the course of twenty-four hours!
The book contains what may be termed an apology for his belief. He
states the reasons on which he grounds his opinions, and endeavours to
show that, although he had been accused of atheism, he was in all
points a good Christian, and a loyal member of the Church of England.
Each person must judge for himself of his success; but the effect it
produced on the mind of Johnson may be noticed. "The opinions of
every man," says he, "must be learned from himself; concerning his
practice, it is safer to trust to the evidence of others. When the
testimonies concur, no higher degree of historical certainty can be
obtained; and they apparently concur to prove that Browne was a
zealous adherent to the faith of Christ, that he lived in obedience to His
laws, and died in con- fidence of His mercy."
The best proof of the excellence of the "Religio" is to be found in its
great success. During the author's life, from 1643 to 1681, it passed
through eleven editions. It has been translated into Latin, Dutch, French,
and German, and many of the translations have passed through several
editions. No less than thirty-three treatises have been written in
imitation of it; and what, to some, will be the greatest proof of all, it

was soon after its publication placed in the Index Expurgatorius. The
best proof of its liberality of sentiment is in the fact that its author was
claimed at the same time by the Romanists and Quakers to be a
member of their respective creeds!
The "Hydriotaphia," or Urn-burial, is a treatise on the funeral rites of
ancient nations. It was caused by the discovery of some Roman urns in
Norfolk. Though inferior to the "Religio," "there is perhaps none of his
works which better exemplifies his reading or memory."
The text of the present edition of the "Religio Medici" is taken from
what is called the eighth edition, but is in reality the eleventh, published
in London in 1682, the last edition in the author's life- time. The notes
are for the most part compiled from the observations of Sir Kenelm
Digby, the annotation of Mr. Keck, and the very valuable notes of
Simon Wilkin. For the account of the finding of Sir Thomas Browne's
skull I am indebted to Mr Friswell's notice of Sir Thomas in his
"Varia." The text of the "Hydriotaphia" is taken from the folio edition
of 1686, in the Lincoln's Inn library. Some of Browne's notes to that
edition have been omitted, and most of the references, as they refer to
books which are not likely to be met with by the general reader.
The "Letter to a Friend, upon the occasion of the Death of his intimate
Friend," was first published in a folio pamphlet in 1690. It was
reprinted in his posthumous works. The concluding reflexions are the
basis of a larger work, "Christian Morals." I am not aware of any
complete modern edition of it. The text of the present one is taken from
the original edition of 1690. The pamphlet is in the British Museum,
bound up with a volume of old poems. It is entitled, "A Letter to a
Friend, upon the occasion of the Death of his intimate Friend. By the
learned Sir Thomas Brown, Knight, Doctor of Physick, late of Norwich.
London: Printed for Charles Brone, at the Gun, at the West End of St
Paul's Churchyard, 1690."

TO THE READER.
CERTAINLY that man were greedy of life, who should desire to live
when all the world were at an end; and he must needs be very