Then craved I
pardon, at his Majesty's hand, for my boldness in sending him my '_Monas
Hieroglyphica_,' dedicated to his father; but I did it of the sincere
and entire good-will that I bare to his father Maximilian, and also unto
his Majesty. He then thanked me very kindly, saying that he knew of my
great endowments, and the esteem I had gotten of the learned; of this he
had been informed by the Spanish ambassador. He said my book was rather
too hard for his capacity; but he heard I had something to say to him,
_Quod esset pro sua utilitate_. 'And so I have,' I replied, looking back
to see first that we were alone. Hereupon, I began to declare how all
my lifetime had been spent in learning, and with great pains and cost I
had come to the best knowledge that man might attain to in this world. I
had found, too, that no man living, neither any book, was able to teach
me those truths that I desired and longed for. Therefore I concluded
within myself to make intercession and prayer to the Giver of all wisdom
to send unto me knowledge, whereby I might know the nature of His
creatures, and also enjoy means to use them to His honour and glory.
Pages:
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393