THE 



FIRST BOOK OF FRANCIS BACON; 



OP THE PKOFICIENCE AND 



ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, 



DIVINE AND HUMAN. 



To the King. 



1. There were under the law, excellent King, both 

 daily sacrifices and freewill offerings ; the one pro- 

 ceeding 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 re- 

 spective 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 in- 

 quisitive eye of presumption, to discover that which 

 the Scripture telleth me is inscrutable, but with the 

 observant eye of duty and cdiuiration ; leaving aside 

 the other parts of your virtue and fortune, I have been 

 touched, yea, and possessed with an extreme wonder 



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