be inâ—…lamed and prouokâ—… by tâ—…ir 〈◊〉 and glory 〈◊〉 to imitate thâ—…â—…n thâ—… likâ—… Aâ—… there is nothing cerâ—…ainely that 〈◊〉 mâ—…re 〈◊〉 imprâ—…ssion in a resolued minde thâ—…n thâ—…â—…port of â—…ormer exploits Hearing this man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and vigilant 〈◊〉 to contemne all 〈◊〉 oppose himselfe to â—…ll dangers whereby he â—…ght 〈◊〉 some-thing â—…orthy memory Anothâ—…r sustaiâ—…ing 〈◊〉 labours to purcâ—…ase himsâ—…lfe but a little â—…lory This man subiected to Seawrackes exposed to the mercy of the 〈◊〉 enuiroâ—…ed and hemmed in by eminâ—…nt dangerâ—… yâ—…t moderating his passions armes himselfe against thâ—… perils of Seâ—… aduerse wiâ—…ds the menaces of ruine with resolution â—…o endure the worst of fates euer meditating of that motiue to patience Noâ—…cere hoc primum 〈◊〉 Quid facere Victor debet Uictus pati These obseruations are receipts or cordials against the maladies of Fortune A man thus resolued cannot be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Pâ—…ince for hee gouernes a Dominion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Empire more imperious a Diaâ—…hy oâ—… Monarchy rather hauing disconsorting affections euer laying Siege and Battry to the pallace of the 〈◊〉 â—…hich moued Plutarch in his Morals definiâ—… to conâ—…lude That he who modâ—…rated his affections 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but hee that neuer past the boundâ—… and 〈◊〉 of tempâ—…rate motiues nor felt the deluding enforcements oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…im was wholy vertuous But the Moâ—…als pâ—…oposition was better then his conclusion 〈◊〉 mortall since the staine of his Originall Puriâ—… coâ—…ld 〈◊〉 subsist so secure or remaiâ—…e so vnmoueablâ—… as neuer to be engageâ—… to perturbations the 〈◊〉 attendants of 〈◊〉 In this first entrance to my Discourse hauing spoâ—… some-thing in generall of the vse and fruit of Hystory hauing by an equall diameter determined the proper place and center at which such Historicall relations ought to tend I will descend to the diuision of Histories which may properly branch themselues into Diuine Discursiue Morall Physicke or Mixt. For Diuine I will not comprehend them in my discourse being such as depend on their owne Arches drained from the pure Spring of Coelestiall Wisedome and therefore impossible to erre either in Action or Relation yet necessarily now and then immixed with morall Histories because their weight may better poise in the scale of euery Iudicious Reader when hee seeth Morall Discourse so well fortefied as by the pillar of Truth Albeit I approue of Hesiods words Fabulous Relations should not nor ought they to be authorised by Holy Writings It was a Pagans obseruation and worthy ours So should our prophane Pamphleters restraine their libidinous writings more and either write that which should propagate themselues a generall reputation without derogation to the sacred Writings of the Almighty or silence their workes least they should depraue many for a priuate reward or pedling gaine More I insist vpon this because too many haue I knowne steeped in this promiscuous Subiect well read in Scripture to wrest them otherwise Babes and Sucklings for they cannot reach to the depth of such Mysteries but onely touch them to corrupt them But their Cymerian Cloude when it shall be dispersed aud the Raies of a reasonable vnderstanding to them exhibited They will repent them I feare it not and heauens grant that repentance be not like the after-raine out of season of their prophaner mixtures O let them turne their eye of consideratioÌ„ whosoeuer they be to the miserable end of Lucian Cleand Metrodoras whose disastrous fals answered their blasphemous risings contemning the sacred Writ of Heauen and prostituting their labours to the merited censure of confusion But too much of them Times are not so easy to be wained from their habite of errour or induced to a course of more Sanctimony Lampes and Oilely Studies were made fruitlesse at Epictetus death his Lanthorne hung vp as a Monument of his vertues made a deeper impression in his Schollers then all our Moâ—…iues Precepts or Examples can â—…o in ours that Age was more apprehensiue of Good thiâ—… of Ill. Now to our Discursiue Histoâ—…ies Many discourse without matter onely descanting vpon idle Theames more obserued for their idlenesse then for any Subiect wherâ—…on they entreate Such be foolish Phantastickes that spend their Oile vpon vnnecessary Subiects I haue apprehended many of this vaine but they shall be namelesse talking of strange Horse-races such as their barraâ—…ne Muse neuer conceiued others of Fabulous Histories neuer found out by that Arch-Artist Nature whence they deriued their foundation for such I passe vntouched being such as they hardly conceiue their owne writings Discursiue Histories are either true or feygned If true they comprehend in them a certaine ground not onely fortiâ—…ied by a reasonable production but also by the authority of such whose Authentiquest labours claime to themselues a kinde of Authority without further proofe Such wee reade to be the Labours of Cornel Tâ—…c Tit Liu Trogus Pompeius and many others whose Subiect confirme their authority Being such as represâ—…nt the diuerse euents of things done by Historiâ—…all Relation and Ocular presentation For diuers of those worthy Historiographers haue bene interrested euen in such probable and generally allowed discourses by personall presence in the management of such affaires as Commineus of all Histories amongst our Moderne most approueable being an eye witnesse of what he writ But in ample tearmes to explaine what the condition of an Historian is let mee in briefe yet materiall words expresse what he meanes Not such as inueigh against States or politique Gouernments for such are rather Satyrists then Historians nor such as personate the entire acts of a Martiâ—…list by assentatiue tearmes which are such as insinuate themselues by a glossing Stile to win the affection of their Patron lesse to be borne with be these then the other subiecting the free vse of Historie to a Parasite and Oylie tongue which moued Alexander so exceedingly against Aristobulus as that on a time hearing his owne Actes deblazoned farre aboue truth he commanded his labours should be throwne ouer Boord saying Hee was almost induced to throw Aristobulus after A Caueat very neceâ—…sary for all clawing Parâ—…sites that make their Pen Merâ—…enary and therefore as may be inferred vpon their workes dare not vnrip the vitiousnesse of times least by vnbosoming Truth they should incurre the offence of some person to whom their labours are ingaged their fortunes subiected and their endeauours partially deuoted Plato banished all Poets Athens But a fauourable Glosse would restaine that Ostracisme onely to peculiar wits petulant I meane such as the Prince of Sparta prescribed his well-gouerned Citty for presenting some obscoene verses to his Queene But I wonder why Plato excluded not these Historians since their Labours were prostitute like the publique Strumpet for gaine making their Wrâ—…tings to the opinion imitation of that Scarabee of History who being demanded why he wrote not truth of such a Prince replyed Viuit quis veraliceâ—… His life kept him in aâ—…e he durst not expresse
Cornelia sitting vpon the shore where her husband tooke his last farewel of her where like another Niobe she makes a Limbeck of her eyes and descants her owne calamity oft wishing his returne and when depriued of his sight yet the eye of her imagination represents a new obiect of sorrow Here in such royall compositions and funerall conclusions he describes the diuersity of nature in two contrary subiects a seruant faithfull sitting ore the headlesse trunk of his vnhappy mnister a slaue as vngratefull haling his once well-esteemed Lord and Generall to the fatall shore where without taste of remorce remembrance of former merits or regard of Countries loue he depriues him of life Such Tragicke occurrents require their Emphasis and a kinde of vn-vsuall working passion that the History may present to our eyes the very acts how they were done making her discourse as it is a Theater of humane actions I know pittifull stories haue strange effects if amply described For warriers themselues in the report of their owne mis-fortunes of all men most pittilesse haue hardly contained themselues from teares Aeneas wept to see the ruines of his Countrey so liuely depictured in Didoes Hall But when he beheld his poore father Anchises hanging on his owne shoulders hauing no other refuge in so imminent disasters Suspiria mittit hee could weepe no longer for teares mittigate griefe but with a passionate silencing of his miseries treasured his vn-vtterable woes in the balefull centre of his heart Xerxes when of a populous Army as euer passed out of Asia he had but so many left as might attend him in a poore Cocke-boat to accompany him in his distressed expedition the History mentions that he wept bitterly enstiling himselfe The ruiâ—…e of his Countrey the slaughter of many resolute Souldiers Nay Titus himselfe the flower of all the Roman Emperours in the sacke and subuersion of that once glorious Citty Ierusalem is said to weepe exceedingly beholding so many lamentable obiects of pitty dead carkasses lying in open ditches so as not able to containe himselfe hee cryed out I call Heaâ—…en to witnesse I am not the cause of this Peoples slaughter Many such representments we haue very vsuall in Histories motiue for their passion and memorable for their end proceeding from the iust iudgment of God to caution others by their miserable fals There is another propriety in a History which should be obserued and that is a Iudicious collation or comparing of Histories one with another the defect and want hereof is the principall cause why so maine discordancies meere oppositions in Histories arise and that not in circumstances alone but in materall points as original foundations of Cities succession of Princes miscited the sites of Countries an obseruance more Geographical ill-disposed with many other errors which are grounded vpon no other reason then the want of conferring such Histories together as tend to the present subiect we haue in hand Nay were it not much thinke you now to proue directly that the very Computation of yeares which they deriued from their ancient Kalender and which they obserued as Ceremonially and Religiously in their kind as wee the yeares from CHRISTS Incarnation was very defectiue amoâ—…gst themselues And yet this is easily done For their opinions about their Olimpiads in Greece for the time of their Erection are diuerse The foundation of Rome as vncertaine since the founder himselfe is not as yet generally agreed of for the diuers relations of Numitor and Amulâ—…is Romulus and Remus with their mother Rheâ—… oâ—… Ilia as some wil haue it make vp a laborinth of themselues without further confusion But to inferte the strange conueyance or Apotheosis of Romulus suddainely vanished forth of their sight and by the testimony of Iulius Proculus transplanted to some other place of more eminence hardly deserues the credite oâ—… an Historian Yet some there be which shew more fauour to this famous founder of Rome daigning to bestow a Monument of him which is erected for him in the Temple Quirinus Indeed it were little enough to memorize so renowned an Establisher with a Tombe and to consecrate the place of his Buriall As Achilles Tombe or Monument in Sygeum Theseus in Athens Aiax in the Rhetian Shore and Alcides Reliques in Oëta Reade but ouer the Romane Annals and you shall find the discordancies of Historians in these computations of times to be great As especially the destruction of Troy confounding the seuerall times of Troies Sacking missing their accompt from Laomedon to the succession of Priam. But I haue touched the errour enough let vs now descend to the preuention of it Before we take in hand any Discourse we must alwaies meditate of the meanes ere we can attaine the end Which end is soonest atchieued when we addresse our selues for such Subiects as haue bene in our â—…ime wherein we may receiue instruction by some that haue bene interrested in those affaires of farre more certainety then any Transcription But intending our Studies to any Forraine Râ—…lation whereof it may be we haue some one Record I would not depend vpon the Antiquity of the Record for we haue many antient Fables but recollect my selfe and examine the probability whether such particulars are like to be are resemblance of truth or no And herein we imitate the Antientest and best Authorized Historians that euer wrot Valerius Maximus had recoursâ—… not onely to Romane Annals which were kept with great care but he vsed to conferre with such as had any Breuiats of the Romane liues in their hands Comparing theÌ„ together that he might cull and chuse out from the best Authours as himselfe witnesseth such documents as not onely propogated the glory and pristine height of his Country but might moue succeding ages to emulate their vertues The like of that true Morall Historian Plutarch whose Style so modestly garnished and so sententiously concluding hath aâ—…d not without cause purchased him the name of the Father of Histories Laertius a worthy Recorder of those famous Sages of Greece describes his Countries happinesse with great modesty Whose Sentences may beseeme the grauest Vnderstanding to extract and vpon ocâ—…asion to accommodate to his owne purposâ—… Here he shewes Spirit in a Philosophers pen one opposing himselfe against a Tyrant There a Moralist making yong men fit Sociates for the maturâ—…st â—…imes Here a Cynicke contemning the glory of the woâ—…ld though offered him There a mery Greeke laughing at the vanites of men wholly besoâ—…ed and subiected to mundane slauery O what Christian-like maximes what Diuine conclusions what solide Arguments what enforcing reasons be there included onely to moue men to the embrace of vertue With Discourse plentifull enough in oppositions betwixt Ethnicke and Ethnicke out-stripping Nature if it were possible in reasoning and drawing an argument neere to Diuine approbation and ready to confirme it if the generall blindnesse of the time and their want of further Reuelation would admit of their
hopes of these men attaine sometimes ends aboue expectance Such was Hâ—…luius Pertinax his successe who neuer aiming at the Title of Emperour was crowned when he was from thoughts of Titulary honour most sequestred Râ—…pugnansque suscipiens vsing a kinde of withstanding ere he would entertaine so great a weight And in al histories if we obserue the diuers occurrents which befell men in great and eminent places we shall see euer the honestest purposes seconded with the happiest euents and the disproportion of the end euer sorting with the discordance of the minde for the intention is discussed by him that layeth the foundation and of all Empires in dust at his pleasure breathing euer vpon the sincere purposes of the good and confounding the deepe defigues vpon what pretence soeuer grounded of the euill In Mixt Histories as the scope whereat they aiâ—… is mixed part with profite and part with delight to make the Discourse mâ—…re compleat So should the seriousnesse of the subiect attract a kinde of Maiesty to it for impossible it is either with trimnesse of words propriety of aptly-annexed and duly-applied sentences or any other elegancy whatsoeuer to make a subiect of it selfe light and friuolous beare the portray of state For words if well applyed illustrâ—…te and addâ—… a beauty but not any way better the weight of the matter There be three things which be especially required in Histories of this nature to make them perfect first Truth in â—…incerely relating without hauing any thing as Tacitus obserueth â—…austum ex vanâ—… foisted in by our owne inuention to smooth the passage of our story Secondly an explanation in discouering not onely the sequels of things but also the causes and reasons drawing to the conclusions Thirdly iudgement in distinguishing things by approuing the best and disallowing the contrary For the first stories should be true or at least resemble truth because by so much they are more pleasing by how much they resemble truth the neerer and so much more gracefull by how much more probable and doubtfull we haue many Histories euen of this kinde mixed that comprehend in them nothing lesse then truth yet by their smooth carriage and their proper circumstances with such aptnesse drained and disposed they haue been taken for truth and registred amongst workes of more sâ—…rious consequence Such were those Apologae Fabulae whereof we haue in part spoken before which contained in them many pitthy and graue 〈◊〉 and worthy obseruation in the excellentest Moral these are fitly called by Tully Mirrors of Mans life Patternes of Manners and Images of truth Their neere resemblance of truth made the reader more attentiue subiecting his eare to Discourses probable more then to things surpassing the bounds and limits of beliefe as producing vnheard of miracles meere conceptions of the braine phanaticke Chymeras A Gyant immured in a rocke yet able to pierce it through win a whole Monarchy with his owne single hands lead a multitude of Kings captiues and returne home without a wound Here strange Inchaunted Castles Ladies and Knights detained in most base seruitude by an Airy Monster there admirable victories purchased vpon incredible oddes and to be belieued it pleaseth the Painter so to deliniate their vertues But of these erronious stories there be some obserue no methode planting an Arcadie in a Brittanny as if by some super-natural accident there were a transplantation of Regions or some Earth-quake in the Authors braine whence this immane Colosse of an irregular Discourse proceeded Which strange representations be not vnlike to your Lanskip where vpon the sea whatsoeuer we see by land seemes in our saile to go with vs Euen so do these vain Historians make strange obiects vnto vs of places impossible transiting whole Countries to make an impolished straine of pastorall musicke one good Bell-weather would make as perfect harmony sound well in a Clownes eare To be short my opinion positiuely is this That Historian which can ioyne profite with a modest delight together in one body or frame of one vnited discourse grounding his story vpon an essentiall truth deserues the first and principall place and he who vpon a fained discourse can proportion it to a likenesse of truth merits the next As for him that like one of Duke Humphreyes Knights obserues neither meane nor measure but gorge their own insatiate appetites with full messes of vntruths without probability should be dealt withall as that wandring Italian Squire was vsed for his monstrous lying Tost in a Blanket till his erring spirit by suffumigations or some such like meanes were canuased out of him Great blemishes these be to so reputed a Profession aiming neither at profite nor modest delight but imitating your Mercenary Actors spurt out some obsoene ieast to make a prophane Rogue applaud him and sure if the strict doome and censure of banishment were to be inflicted vpon any kinde of learning rather should it be pronounced against such as these then any The Pagans haue abhorred them and much more odious should they bee in a Christian Common-wealth where vertue should be the scope of all our actions They are like some Comoedies wee reade now a daies The first Act whereof is in Asia the next in Affrica the third in Europa the fourth in America and if Ptolomeus or Marcus Paulus had found out a fiâ—…fth part of the world no question but it had beene represented on their vniuersall Stage Such as these ought to haue some distinct language Utopian or some other grunting tongue engâ—…ossed to themselues For they should profite more by being lesse vnderstood Much they speake of vallour and many imaginary Heroes are pitching their Pauillions But I will take my leaue of them with my French Prouerbe Beaucoup de bruit è peu de fruict Much bruite but little fruite Battels more fierce by report then Alcahors That was but Kings their 's Giants and one of those Giants as able to vanquish all those Kings as for Milo to carry his Bull on his shoulders For the second Their should be an explanation in discouery of the causes with a direct and graduall proceeding to the sequels As thus in description of a solemne Iust or Tournament it is necessary for the Historian to show the cause why such solemnities were instituted I do know many things there be in Discourses which may be as well implyed as inserted But in Festiuals solemne Games euents of Duellors or publicke Trials The causes forcing should and ought to be as well deciphered as the ends succeeding How should we haue knowne of the vniting of the Sabines with the Romanes or the occasion of their Marrying together but by those dissembled feasts ordained by Romulus to bring his purpose to effect The circumstances of which feast are with a certaine concordancy amongst most of the Romane Writers agreed on standing though with too nice precâ—…senesse I confesse vpon the place occasion and houre of the day with such a liuely Transcription as
to such as may yeeld the reader no little profit by consideration had to the iudgments of God modestly mixing morall instructions with a sweet variety of diuine discourse a matter which may seeme directly opposite to my first intention but is not so for these Histories which I meane to produce are so grounded vpon infallible truths as in that respect they may seeme to merite a morally diuine Title Iosephus works I espâ—…cially entertaine into my Family as best describers of the iudgments of God expressers to the life of an obdurate and stiffe-necked generation Here to behold the incomparable beauty of that glorious Temple the type of the Coelestial Temple founded by that wisest of men that peace of Princes Salomon defaced and that Citty which was once called The Citty of the great King demolished and laid leuell with the ground Then to direct our eye to the wonderfull iudgments of God in raising ciuil discords and mutinies amongst the Iewes themselues the greatest means of their subuersion the main predictioÌ„s of their ruine and vtter destruction before these warres came vpon them yet their impieties not a whit lessened their arme of sinne shortned or remorse of conscience excited no refuge to the Religious but defence to the wicked in euery place of the Citâ—…y ministred Then surueigh the pollution of that Sacred Temple where Altars were once erected Peace-offering sacrificed and the prayers of the holy consecrated to God there nought but effussion of bloud slaughters among themselues an occurrent remarkeable committing no lesse Massacres vpon themselues in the ceasing of warre thâ—…n the Romanes did in the heate of warre Being wholly exposed to tyrannicall Factions in the Citry to expose themselues to Romane seruitude more easily These examples of Gods Iustice are worthy our obseruation to admonish vs of our pâ—…culiar duties carefull how we offend serious in the administration of Iustice For how should we think he will spare the Wilde Vine that hath thus dealt with his owne Naturall Vine When he hath delt thus with the Greene Tree what will he do with the Dry Tree That Vine was planted with his owne Hand watered with the dew of his especiallest fauours srom heauen dressed and pruned yet behold the wilde Boare hath rooted it vp Et seges est vbi Troia fuit The truth of that History is so vndoubted as besides his owne concordance in relating there is none that euer made question of the truth and verity thereof composing what he wrote not by report of others who speake for most part as they are affectâ—…d but by the approbation of his owne eyes the best outward directresses to inward knowledge To this Noble Historian for he was Nobly discended I may adde those excellent Greeke Writers worthy and memorable as Nicephorus Evagoras Socrates c. For their Diuine examples plentifull the successe of the Christians amidst the tirannies of the cruellest Emperours wonderfull the diuerse sorts of 〈◊〉 by those Tyrantâ—… inuenâ—…ed pittifull and â—…he dismall and terrible end of those Bloud suckers fearefull Heere thou shalt see an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aboue himselfe with the acclamation of his people Not the voyce of Man but of God Aâ—…d presenâ—…ly behold â—…is pompe conuerted into loathsomnesse his precedent ioy to a subsequent pensiuenesse and the â—…xcellency of admiration to a suddaine amazednesse he that seemed before a God and no man is now by God made the miserablest of man forlorne and deiected Nay if we would obserue the whole current of their Histories we shall see in them that God euer vsed to recompence the offendour with a punishment of the lâ—…e nature Nicâ—…phorus reports how Herodias daughter hauing begged the head of Iohn Baptist chanced on a time to go ouer a maine Riuer frozen ouer with Ice where the Ice presently parting receiued her and meeting againe cut off her head a true and euident testimony of Gods iudgement The like of that Blasphemous wretch Iulian a foule mouth'd detractor from the glory of God who on a time mocked a Christian for talking reuerently of the Bowels of CHISTS Coâ—…passions but what end came of this miserable Atheist His bowels fell out of his belly being thrust through with a Iaueling confessiing the power of God with a regreate saying Vicisti ô Galilee c. yet vouchsasing to bestow no better name on him then Galilean a fearefull end of a most prophane Blasphemer The like of Dioclesian that cruell Emperour and a great persecutor of the Christians who whilst he raigned seemed little or nothing to feare the Diuine Power of heauen yet the History records that Feare was the greatest occasion of his death no that he died by a voluntarry feare very iealous of the Aire least it should peirce his Braine These examples extracted from infallible grounds may seeme the iudicious vnderstanding of the Grauest and fittest for Priuate Families where order is best attained by examples We vfe most to be moued when we see the end of such a man to caution vs who hauing led his life securely concludes the period of his daies as miserably And some haue I knowne euen of the discreetest and most vertuous parents who to deter their children from Drunkennesse vsed like as the Epirotes did with their children to hang the picture of a Hog wallowing in a filthy pudle with this Inscription on it Nunc Ebrius astet Neque suem sumpsisse suam formam Drunkard if â—…hou wouldst see this forme of thine Come heere and see 't depictured in a Swine The lasciuious and sensuall worldling deciphered with this character Myrha hanging in a chaine of gold about her father Cyneras bed with this Impressa Hinc amor vt tenuit suspendet The miserable wretch that makes his gold his God best expressed by Menedemus with his Spade deluing and digging for life with this Moâ—…r Sic mihi diuitijas Famulique parti Trewest deciphering os all vices proceeding from the exemplary 〈◊〉 of delinquents committing what they like and at last feeling what they like not The best gouernment in priuate proceeds from Histories and the serious reading thereof the vertuous Maâ—…ron squaring her course by that modestest of Romanâ—… Dames Lucretia making her colum her thorum her Distaffe her best companion in her bed when her husband was absent No vitious minde can depraue her she is fighting at home with her owne passions whilst Colatine her husband fights in the field against his Countries enemy But you shall see Lentulus and Aruns their â—…iues rioting and reuelling in their husbands absence If our Historians now a daies would employ their Lampes and Oile in the deliuery of profitable History such as might rather tend to the cherishing of the vnripned blossomes of vertue then the nipping of them How happy members were they yea that I may vse Salusts words though they retired themselues from publicke affaires yet Maius commodum ex eo â—…tio quam ex aliâ—…rum