NOTE A A A. 



jto which, and by which it should be delivered. And therefore I make it my 

 nimble suit to your lordship to present this mean, but well meant writing to his 

 lajesty, and with it my humble and zealous duty ; and also my like humble 

 juest of pardon, if I have too often taken his name in vain, not only in the 

 iication, but in the voucher of the authority of his speeches and writings. 

 Lnd so I remain, &c. 



Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Thomas Bodley, upon sending him his Book of the 

 Advancement of Learning. 



Sir, I think no man may more truly say with the psalm, &quot; multum incola 

 fuit anima mea.&quot; For I do confess, since I was of any understanding, my 

 mind hath in effect been absent from that I have done, and in absence errors 

 are committed, which I do willingty acknowledge ; and amongst the rest, this 

 great one that led the rest ; that knowing myself by inward calling to be fitter 

 to hold a book than to play a part, I have led my life in civil causes, for which 

 I was not very fit by nature, and more unfit by the preoccupation of my mind. 

 Therefore, calling myself home, I have now for a time enjoyed myself, where 

 likewise I desire to make the world partaker ; my labours (if so I may term 

 that which was the comfort of my other labours) I have dedicated to the king, 

 desirous if there be any good in them, it may be as fat of a sacrifice incensed to 

 his honour ; and the second copy I have sent unto you, not only in good affec 

 tion, but in a kind of congruity, in regard of your great and rare desert of 

 learning : for books are the shrines where the saint is, or is believed to be. And 

 you having built an ark, to save learning from deluge, deserve, in propriety, any 

 new instrument or engine, whereby learning should be improved or advanced. 

 So, &c. 



A Letter of the like Argument to the Lord Chancellor. 



May it please your good Lordship, 1 humbly present your lordship with a 

 work, wherein as you have much commandment over the author, so your lord 

 ship 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 this nature. And so 

 with signification of my most humble duty and affection towards your lordship, 

 I remain, &c. 



Sir Francis Bacon to the Earl of Salisbury, upon sending him one of his Books 

 of Advancement of Learning. 



It may please your good Lordship, I present your lordship with a work of 

 my vacant time, which if it had been more, the work had been better. It 

 appertained to your lordship (besides my particular respects) in some propriety, 

 in regard you are a great governor in a province of learning, and (that which is 

 more) you have added to your place affection towards learning, and to your 

 affection judgment, of which the last I could be content were (for the time) 

 less, that you might the less exquisitely censure that which I offer to you. But 

 sure I am, the argument is good, if it had lighted upon a good author ; but I 

 shall content myself to awake better spirits, like a bellringer which is first up, 

 to call others to church. So, with my humble desire of your lordship s good 

 acceptation, I remain. 



