136 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 



and as it is no doubt a precious seed sown in your Ma 

 jesty s heart by the hand of God s divine majesty, so, I 

 hope, in the maturity of your Majesty s own time it will 

 come up and bear fruit. But to return thence whither 

 I have been carried; observing in your Majesty, upon so 

 notable proofs and grounds, this disposition in general of 

 a prudent and royal regard to the amendment of your laws, 

 and having, by my private labour and travel, collected 

 many of the grounds of the common laws, the better to 

 establish and settle a certain sense of law, which doth now 

 too much waver in incertainty, I conceived the nature of 

 the subject, besides my particular obligation, was such, as 

 I ought not to dedicate the same to any other than to your 

 sacred majesty; both because though the collection be 

 mine, yet the laws are yours ; and because it is your Ma 

 jesty s reign that hath been as a goodly seasonable spring 

 weather to the advancing of all excellent arts of peace. 

 And so concluding with a prayer answerable to the present 

 argument, which is, that God will continue your Majesty s 

 reign in a happy and renowned peace, and that he will 

 guide both your policy and arms to purchase the conti 

 nuance of it with surety and honour, I most humbly crave 

 pardon, and commend your Majesty to the divine preser 

 vation. 



Your Sacred Majesty s most humble 



and obedient Subject and Servant, 



FRANCIS BACON. 



