4 DEDICATION. 



whilst living with the sincerest zeal, and I shall, perhaps, 

 before my death have rendered the age a light unto pos 

 terity, by kindling this new torch amid the darkness of 

 philosophy. This regeneration and instauration of the 

 sciences is with justice due to the age of a prince surpass 

 ing all others in wisdom and learning. There remains for 

 me but to make one request, worthy of your Majesty, and 

 very especially relating to my subject, namely, that resem 

 bling Solomon as you do in most respects, in the gravity of 

 your decisions, the peacefulness of your reign, the expan 

 sion of your heart, and, lastly, in the noble variety of 

 books you have composed, you would further imitate the 

 same monarch in procuring the compilation and completion 

 of a Natural and Experimental History, that shall be genuine 

 and rigorous, not that of mere Philologues, and serviceable 

 for raising the superstructure of philosophy, such in short 

 as I will in its proper place describe : that, at length, after 

 so many ages, philosophy and the sciences may no longer 

 be unsettled and speculative, but fixed on the solid founda 

 tion of a varied and well considered experience. I for my 

 part have supplied the instrument, the matter to be worked 

 upon must be sought from things themselves. May the 

 great and good God long preserve your majesty in safety. 



Your Majesty s 



Most bounden and devoted, 



FRANCIS VERULAM, 

 Chancellor. 



