FIRST BOOK OF FRANCIS BACON; 
a 
OF THE PROFICIENCE AND 
ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, 
DIVINE AND HUMAN. 
To the King. 
I. HERE were under the law, excellent King, both 
daily sacrifices and freewill offerings; the one 
proceeding upon ordinary observance, the other upon a 
devout cheerfulness: in like manner there belongeth to 
kings from their servants both tribute of duty and presents 
of affection. In the former of these I hope I shall not live 
to be wanting, according to my most humble duty, and 
the good pleasure of your Majesty’s employments: for the 
latter, I thought it more respective to make choice of 
» some oblation, which might rather refer to the propriety 
| d excellency of, your individual person, than to the 
| ‘bynes of your crown and state. 
2. Wherefore, representing your Majesty many times 
unto my mind, and beholding you not with the inquisitive 
eye of presumption, to discover that which the Scripture 
telleth me is inscrutable, but with the observant eye of 
duty and admiration; leaving aside the other parts of 
your virtue and fortune, I have been touched, yea, and 
possessed with an extreme wonder at those your virtues 
B 
ries 
