LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 79 



A Letter of the like Argument to the Lord Chan 

 cellor. 



May it please your good Lordship, 

 I humbly present your lordship with a work, wherein as 

 you have much commandment over the author, so your 

 lordship hath also great interest in the argument. For to 

 speak without flattery, few have like use of learning, or like 

 judgment in learning, as I have observed in your lordship. 

 And again, your lordship hath been a great planter of learn 

 ing, not only in those places in the church which have been 

 in your own gift, but also in your commendatory vote, no man 

 hath more constantly held, &quot; detur digniori,&quot; and therefore 

 both your lordship is beholden to learning, and learning 

 beholden to you. Which maketh me presume, with good 

 assurance, that your lordship will accept well of these my 

 labours, the rather because your lordship in private speech 

 hath often begun to me, in expressing your admiration of his 

 majesty s learning, to whom I have dedicated this work ; and 

 whose virtue and perfection in that kind did chiefly move me 

 to a work of &quot;this nature. And so with signification of my 

 most humble duty and affection towards your Lordship, I 

 remain, etc. 



Sir Francis Bacon, of the like Argument, to the Earl 

 of Northampton, with request to present the 

 Book to his Majesty. 



It may please your good Lordship, 

 Having finished a work touching the Advancement of 

 Learning, and dedicated the same to his sacred majesty, 

 whom I dare avouch (if the records of time err not) to be 

 the learnedest king that hath reigned ; I was desirous in a 

 kind of congruity, to present it by the learnedest counsellor in 

 this kingdom, to the end, that so good an argument, lightening 



