as he had measured out in his mind, and such as really ought to be procured, which is," he says, 66 a great and royal work, requiring the purse of a prince, and the assistance of a people." He, therefore, in his presentation letter to the king, expresses his anxiety for the compiling a Natural History, (y) and, he renews his solicitation in his next letter to the king. (a)

Copies of the work were presented

To the King,

To the University of Cambridge,
To Sir Henry Wotton, and

To Sir Edward Coke.

The following are the letters of presentation and the answers:

TO THE KING.

It may please your most excellent Majesty, Ir being a thing to speak or write, specially to a king, in public, another in private, although I have dedicated a work, or rather a portion of a work, which at last I have overcome, to your majesty by a public epistle, where I speak to you in the hearing of others; yet I thought fit also humbly to seek access for the same, not so much to your person, as to your judgment, by these private lines.

The work, in what colours soever it may be set forth, is no more but a new logic, teaching to invent and judge by induction, as finding syllogism incom(x) Postea, xvi.

(y) Next page.

petent for sciences of nature; and thereby to make philosophy and sciences both more true and more active.

This tending to enlarge the bounds of reason, and to endow man's estate with new value, was no improper oblation to your majesty, who, of men, is the greatest master of reason, and author of beneficence.

There be two of your council, and one other bishop (p) of this land, that know I have been about some such work near thirty years; so as I made no haste. And the reason why I have published it now, specially being unperfect, is, to speak plainly, because I number my days, and would have it saved. There is another reason of my so doing, which is to try, whether I can get help in one intended part of this work, namely, the compiling of a natural and experimental history, which must be the main foundation of a true and active philosophy.

This work is but a new body of clay, whereinto your majesty, by your countenance and protection, may breathe life. And, to tell your majesty truly what I think, I account your favour may be to this work as much as an hundred year's time: for I am persuaded, the work will gain upon men's minds in ages, but your gracing it may make it take hold more swiftly; which I would be very glad of, it being a work meant, not for praise or glory, but for practice and the good of men. One thing, I confess, I am ambitious of, with hope, which is, that af

(p) Dr. Lancelot Andrews, Bishop of Winchester.

ter these beginnings, and the wheel once set on going, men shall seek more truth out of Christian pens, than hitherto they have done out of heathen. I say with hope; because I hear my former book of the Advancement of Learning, is well tasted in the universities here, (k) and here, (k) and the English colleges abroad and this is the same argument sunk deeper. And so I ever humbly rest in prayers, and all other duties,

Your majesty's most bounden and

York-House, this 12th

of October, 1620.

devoted servant,

FR. VERULAM, Canc.

This Letter was written with the King's own hand, to my Lord Chancellor Verulam, upon his Lordship's sending to his Majesty his Novum Orga

num.

My Lord,

I have received your letter and your book, than the which you could not have sent a more acceptable present unto me. How thankful I am for it cannot better be expressed by me than by a firm resolution I have taken; first, to read it through with care and attention, though I should steal some hours from my sleep. Having otherwise as little spare-time to read it as you had to write it. And then to use the liberty of a true friend, in not spar

(k) In the year 1620 the Advancement of Learning was known in our universities.-Qy. Is it known in the year 1828?

ing to ask you the question in any point whereof I shall stand in doubt: "Nam ejus est explicare, cujus est condere," as on the other part I will willingly give a due commendation to such places as in my opinion shall deserve it. shall deserve it. In the mean time I can with comfort assure you, that you could not have made choice of a subject more befitting your place, and your universal and methodical knowledge; and in the general, I have already observed, that you jump with me, in keeping the mid-way between the two extremes; as also in some particulars, I have found that you agree fully with my opinion. And so praying God to give your work as good success as your heart can wish, and your labours deserve, I bid you heartily farewell. JAMES R.

Octob. 16, 1620.

To the King, thanking his Majesty for his gracious acceptance of his book.

May it please your Majesty,

I cannot express how much comfort I received by your last letter of your own royal hand. I see your majesty is a star, that hath benevolent aspect and gracious influence upon all things, that tend to a general good.

66

Daphni, quid antiquos siguorum suspicis artus?

Ecce Dionæi processit Cæsaris astrum;

Astrum, quo segetes gauderent frugibus, et quo
Duceret apricis in collibus uva colorem. (n)

This work, which is for the bettering of men's

(n) Virgil, Eclog. IX. vers. 46-50.

bread and wine, which are the characters of temporal blessings and sacraments of eternal, I hope, by God's holy providence, will be ripened by Cæsar's

star.

Your majesty shall not only do to myself a singular favour, but to your business a material help, if you will be graciously pleased to open yourself to me in those things, wherein you may be unsatisfied. For though this work, as by position and principle, doth disclaim to be tried by any thing but by experience, and the results of experience in a true way; yet the sharpness and profoundness of your majesty's judgment ought to be an exception to this general rule; and your questions, observations, and admonishments, may do infinite good.

This comfortable beginning makes me hope farther, that your majesty will be aiding to me, in setting men on work for the collecting of a natural and experimental history; which is "basis totius negotii," a thing, which I assure myself will be, from time to time, an excellent recreation unto you; I say, to that admirable spirit of yours, that delighteth in light and I hope well, that even in your times, many noble inventions may be discovered for man's use. For who can tell, now this mine of truth is opened, how the veins go; and what lieth higher, and what lieth lower? But let me trouble your majesty no further at this time. God ever preserve and prosper your majesty.

October 19, 1620.