



THH 



FIRST BOOK OF FRANCIS BACON; 



OF THE PROFICIENCE AND 



ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, 



DIVINE AND HUMAN. 



To the King. 



Ie T 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 

 and excellency of your individual person, than to the 

 business 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 



