320 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS 



notwithstanding you would have me first to acquaint 

 yourself therewith, and then only such as your Majesty 

 should consent unto, and think proper for it : In pur 

 suance whereof I most humbly offer this following 

 discourse, which I shall with a most ready and implicit 

 obedience augment, diminish, or alter, as your Majesty 

 shall think fittest ; disputing nothing, much less waiv 

 ing anything, that your Majesty shall command either 

 as to substance or circumstance. 



&quot;My LORDS, 



&quot; Amongst Almighty God s infinite mercies to 

 me in this world, I account it one of the greatest that 

 his Divine goodness vouchsafed me parents as well 

 careful as able to give me virtuous education, and 

 extraordinary breeding at home and abroad, in Ger 

 many, France, and Italy ; allowing me abundantly in 

 those parts, and since most plentifully at my master of 

 happy memory, the late King s Court, by which means, 

 had it not been my own fault, I ought to have become 

 better able and more capable to serve Almighty God, 

 my King and country, which obligatory ends of theirs 

 have I always had in my eyes, as drawing and sucking 

 them thence, it being certainly the greatest and surest 

 portions parents can leave to their children; since 

 breeding and knowledge cannot be taken from them, 

 when as riches and possessions are fading and perish 

 able, witness my own case, my Lords. Yet, by dear- 

 bought experience and their great expenses, for which 

 I honour the happy memory of my most beloved parents, 

 more than for my very life, drawn from them, they 

 giving me by the one but my being, and by the other by 

 bene esse. Whereby I find nothing more certain than 

 that the way to make oneself considerably useful to his 

 Prince and nation, is the surest means for him to become 



