THE FIRST BOOK OF FRANCIS BACON 



OF THE 



PROFICIENCE AND ADVANCEMENT OF 

 LEARNING 



DIVINE AND HUMAN 

 TO THE KING 



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THERE 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 ser- 

 vants 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 later, 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. 



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 and faculties 

 which the philosophers call intellectual; the largeness of 



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