The scholars Medley, OR, AN INTERMIXED DISCOURSE UPON HISTORICAL AND POETICAL RELATIONS.  
A Subject of itself well meriting the approbation of the judicious, who best know how to confirm their knowledge, by this brief Survey, or general Table of mixed Discourses.  
And no less profitable to such as desire to better their immaturity of knowledge by Moral Readins.  
Distinguished into several heads for the direction of the Reader, to all such Historical Mixtures, as be comprehended in this Treatise.  
The like whereof for variety of Discourse, mixed with profit, and modest delight, hath not heretofore been published,  
By RICHARD BRATHWAYTE Oxon.  
HOR. Quod verum atque decus turo & rogo— & omnis in hoc Sum.  
LONDON,  
Printed by N. O. for George Norton, and are to be sold at his Shop near Temple-bar 1614   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, THE LORD OF SOUTHAMPTON (LEARNING'S best Favourite) RICH: B●…ATHWAYTE wisheth perpetual increase of best meriting Honours.  
RIGHT HONOURABLE,  
SO rarely is Pallas Shield borne by the Noble, or supported by such whose eminence might revive her decayed hopes: as Britain's Parnassus (on which, never were more inhabitants planted, and Homer-like, more usually expulsed) is grown despicable in herself, because protected by none but herself. Hinc ferrea Tempora surgant: wanting their Cherishers (those Heroic Patrons) whose countenance in former times made the Studies of the learned mor●… pleasant (having their Labours by such approbation, seconded.) Yet in these times (my Honourable Lord) we may find some Royal Seeds of pristine Nobility (wherein we may glory) reserved, as it were, from so great ruins for the preservation of Learning, and the continuance of all virtuous Studies; amongst which your Noble Self, as generally reputed learned, so a professed friend to such as be studious of learning: a character which ever held best correspondency with honour, being a favourite to them who can best define honour: expressing to the life (what proprieties best concord with so exquisite a masterpiece: It is ob●…erued that all the Roman Emperors were singular in some peculiar Art, Science, or Mystery: And such of the Patricijans as could not derive their native descent (with the particular relation of their Ancestors most Noble actions) were thought unworthy to arrogate any thing to themselves by their virtues. These Romans were trucly Noble, bearing their own Annals ever with them, either to caution them of what was to be done, or excite them to prosec●…te what was by them commendably done: nor knew they honour better limmed, or more exactly proportioned, then when it was beautified by the internal ornaments of the mind. Many I know (my good Lord) whose greatness is de▪ rivative from their Ancestors unto themselves, but much eclipsed by their own defects: and Plants which had a Noble Grafter, use now and then to degenerate. But so apparent is your Lustre, that it borroweth no light but from yourself; no eminence but from the lamp of your honour, which is ever ready to excite the virtuous to the undertaking of labours well meriting of their Country, and generally profitable to all estates. In Subjects of this nature (my Honourable Lord) I cannot find any more exact than these Suru●…ies of ●…istories; many we have depraved: and every jascivious Measure now becomes an Historian. No study in his own nature more deserving, yet more corrupted none is there: O then if those ancient Romans (mirrors of true Resolution) kept their Armilustra with such solemnity, feasts celebrated at the surveys of their weapons: We that enjoy thes●… halcyons days of peace and tranquillity, have reason to reserve some time for the solemnizing this peaceable Armour of Histories; where we may see in what bonds of duty and affection we are tied to the Almighty, not only in having preserved us from many hostile incursions, but in his continuing of his love towards us, we cannot well dijudicate of comforts but in relation of discomforts: Nor is peace with so general acceptance entertained by any, as by them who have sustained the extremities of war. Many precedent experiments have we had, and this I'll hath tasted of misery with the greatest, and now revived in herself, should acknowledge her miraculous preservation, as not proceeding from her own power, but derived from the supreme influence of heaven, whose power is able to erect, support, demolish, & lay waist as he pleaseth: Hinc Timor, Hinc Amor. Hence we have argument of Fear and love. Fear from us to God, Love from God to us: 'Cause we have to fear, that subject not our understandings to the direct line and square of reason, but in our flourishing estate (imitating that once renowned Sparta) who was— Nunquam minus faelix quam cum felix visa— Abuse those excellent gifts we have received, contemning the meanaces of heaven, and drawing upon ourselves the viols of God's wrath, heavier diffused, because longer delayed. We should recollect ourselves, and benefit our ungrateful minds with these considerations: that our present felicity be not buried in the ruins of a succeeding calamity. These Histories (my Noble Lord) be the best representments of these motives. And in perusing discourses of this nature (next to the Sacred Word of God) we are strangely transported above human apprehension, seeing the admirable foundations of Commonweals planted (to man's thinking) in the port of security, wonderfully ruinated: Grounding their dissolution upon some precedent crying sin, which laid their honour in the dust, and translated their Empire to some (perchance) more deserving people. Here civil wars, the original causes of the realms subversion: there ambition bred by too long success: Here Emulation in virtue, the first erectors of a flourishing Empire: there Parasites, the Scarab of Honour, the corrupters of Royally disposed affections, and the chief●…st Engineers of wrack and confusion, buzzing strange motions in a Prince's ear, occasioning his shame, and their own ruin. Here States happy, before they raised themselves to the highest type and distance of happiness. And generally observe we may in our human Compositions, nothing so firm as to promise to itself constancy, so continuate as assure itself perpetuity, or under the cope of heaven, any thing so solid as not subject to mutability. This Survey (my Lord) have I presumed to Dedicate to your Honour, not for any meriting discourse which it comprehends, but for the generality of the Subject: Your protection will raise it above itself, and make me proud to have an Issue so highly Patronised: it presents itself with fear, may it be admitted with Honour: So shall my labours be in all duty to your favour devoted, my prayers exhibited, and myself confirmed  
Your Lordships wholly, RICH: BRATHWAYTE.   

To the understanding Reader.  
SO many idle Pamphleteers write to Thee now a daeys, as thy understanding (in my judgement) seems much disparaged: I have ever resolved to have this Motto: Catoni solus dormio: But where that Cato is, there's the difficulty. He is too heavy for the Court, too wise for the City, and too precise for the Country. If my book chance to find him, I know my Subject shall be entertained, and my Petition shall be heard, for Auriculas Asini non habet— to give my labour but impartial censure. Understand thyself Reader and thou underderstands me: if thou battle at Ordinaries thou art not for me, thou hast thy wit in the platter: For ●… never knew him wise that only delighted to  
Farewell. R. B.   

THE SCHOLARS MEDLEY, OR AN INTERMIXED DISCOURSE UPON HISTORICAL AND Poetical Relations.  
IN the survey of Histories, the true Relators of things done, with a probable collection of things to come, by precedent events: I thought good compendiously to contract some especial caveats, as well for observance in Historical Discourses, as for prevention of such inconveniences 
A threefold division.  (or exorbitances rather) as happily might occur in such Narrations. First therefore I 
1. Scope of histories.  have propounded to myself this method, (by way of inferance) to describe the true scope at which all Histories ought to aim, and to which they should principally be directed. Secondly, to distinguish of 
2. Fruit of histories.  several uses and fruits of Histories. The end whereof being exactly set down, a di-iudicating power may easily collect from what Subject the choicest and selectedst fruits may be deduced. Thirdly, the profit 
3. The profit redounding to 〈◊〉 Families by Histories.  which redounds to every state, either Aristocraticke, Democraticke, or Monarchicke, by the true and understanding use of Histories. The true use and scope of all Histories ought to tend to no other purpose, than a true narration of what is done, or hath been achieved either in foreign or domestic affairs, with a modest application (for present use) to caution us in things offenfive, and excite us to the management of im●…loiments in themselves generous, and worthy i●…. So as it pleased the Orator to call History the 〈◊〉, or M●…rror of man's li●…e: charactering the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this Universe, the states of princes, eu●…nts of wa●…res, conquests of renowned Captains, even all designs, either public or p●…iuate by a succinct description, or map rather ●…xpressing e●…ery par●… affair: and what (as a worthy Historian hath obs●…rued) can be imagined more worthy admiration, then in a safe and retired port, in the harbour of secure rest, in our ptivate reposes to see there a Prince beleaguered with many hostile apponents, strait by miraculous means defeating them, and by his own policy, (the supreme purpose of the Almighty) to plant himself in tranquillity, where (as far as human apprehension could reach) nought but imminent ruin could be expected: there a Cittiy by wise and discreet government wonderfully preserved: here amidft concealing or shadowing rather of the conquerors exploits by his moderation in conquering, implies how he could bear his fortunes, if he were conquered. We may read no state in herself so secure, but may be shaken, exemplified well in Rome, the Governess of ample Territories, and now made subject to those which were her subjects: no Prince of so prosperous imploymen●…s, so successive proceedings, or general forces, but either vanquished at home or abroad: abroad by foreign powers, or at home by his own illimited affections; instanced in that great and potent prince of of Macedon, who (though Prince of the whole world) could not play prince of his little world, being slaved to distempered passions. No City but sore harased, if notrazed. Nor could that Italian Tryacala (which taking her denominate from the Greek, comprehends all beauty) stand against the injury of Time, or withstand the battery of all assaults; which makes me tax that Ci●…ty of arrogance (whereof Hyppo. speaketh in his Book of the increase of Cities) upon the gates whereof was this Impressa engraven, Intact●…manet. To see these states so well and lively decoloured, cannot but confer no less delight (being grounded on virtue, where all true and perfect delights be seated) then the relation of the Trojan affairs (being made by so excellent and experimented an Historian as Ithac●…s) delighted that chaste Greek Penelope: Theseus Travels Ariadne, or Alcides' Labours Omphale. But to the use of History. History being a mint of profit and delight, the seasoning of more serious studies, the reporter of cases adjudged by event, the interlude of our haps, the image of fortune, the compendiarie director of affairs, the representer of human success, the infallible character (by collation had with things past, and things to come) of succeeding events: should not aim at lascivious stories, amorous subjects (unless by way of disgression to smooth a serious discourse with a modest insertion of mirth) but to prosecute the argument of the History without frivolous Ambages, or impertinent circumstances. Affectation ill beseems an Historian: For he should understand what office he supports; not any thing drained from his own invention, but to perform the charge of sincere relation. I approve of his opinion that thought, Invention to be least needful to an Historian, but disposition more than to any. It is sufficient for an Historian to express what he hath read or seen, truly, without concealing any thing, in partial r●…spect to any person, making truth the period of his discourse. The Philosopher thought a poor man was not to be an historian: for necessity would enforce him temporize and observe humours: Nor a rich man, for he had his eye fixed upon his estate, and durst not un-rip great men's errors, lest he should lose by his labours. But I disaprou●… his censure, and refel it with another's opinion of the same sect: Simo dives de fortunis & infortunijs scribat, sie enim utriusque fortunae sortem aequius ferat. Si pauper de fortunis scribat, ut cum eas attigerit, melius eas regat & teneat. The error of judgement should not be appropriated either to want, or eminence of fortune: for so should we subject the inward to the outward, the intellectual power to the external varnish, preferring the eye of the body before the light of the mind. Yet to intermeddle in estates, so much as to dis-able them (by extenuating their powers) lessening their revenues, or eclipsing their pristine honour and eminence, by mentioning some insuccessive events they have had by war, or other occurrents, I wholly disallow it, proceeding either from private enmity to the state, or from a malevolent nature (unfitting for so good a professor) apt to sting all, because an enemy to himself and all. State's should not be laid too open: but when occasion serves to describe the seats of Countries, Regions, etc. or to touch the manners and conditions of inhabitants, how they live, and to what trades most inclined, with whom they have commerce or the like, will not derogate any thing from the scope of an History, or any way imply a digression. It is thought, (and that by the Authentickst Historians) that Caesar; by the description of U●…lateranus, which he made of Britain, declairing how the people were savage, and unapt for military discipline, the places of defence unprovided: and then showing how fruitful the whole Island was, replenished with all necessaries, was induced to take his expedition into Britain, and to conquer it, though prevented by a Brutus, who to rid Rome of tyranny, restored poor Britain to her liberty, for his journey was stayed by death.  
And (doubtless) there is nothing which inflames the mind of man more unto valour and resolution, than the report of the acts of their Ancestors, whose monuments remaining of record with this Impress: Non norunt h●…c monumenta mori, must needs stir up in them a desire of imitation.  
Many examples I could produce herein, as the Trophies of Mil●…iades inducements of imitation to Caesar: the acts of Achilles to Alexander, of Ulysses to T●…lamon, of the Greekish Heroes to Prymaleon, of Danaus to Lynceus, Aegeus to Theseus. Many times (we read) where a natural defect and want of courage was seated, even a retrograde from the sphere of valour, there (though a barren seed-plot to work on) by historical discourse hath magnanimity shown herself in more perfect & real colours, than if nature herself had implanted in that man a Native desire to fight, so powerful is history in herself, where Nature in herself expresseth small power. This discourse therefore should not be employed in any thing save in excitements to Glory, motives to warlike designs; since by it valour is quickened, a desire of honour inflamed, Country's fame dispersed, and Monuments of never dying glory erected: O then who should so disallow the precious treasure of a refined discourse, as to mix it with impudent and scurrilous inventions; such fictions as are not only in themselves fabulous, but to the unstaid Reader (of which sort we have too many) mortally dangerous. Which fables (in my opinion) fall among the impertinent and feagured Tables called Milesiz; only aiming at the depravation of manners, and the effeminating best resolved Spirits. The ripeness whereof (by such unseasoned discourses) become blasted before their time: O that the depravedness of these times should taint so generally approved study: making Histories mere Panygi●…icks (poems of adulation, to insinuate and wind themselves into the affection of the great, leaving the scope of an History to gain by their studious traffic. 
Office of an●… Historian.   
But let us return to the office of a good Historian. He will not write but upon singular Grounds, reasons impregnable; conferring with the best to make his Narrations confirmed of the Best: He writes the stories of Princes truly without concealing their errors (by way of silencing them) or comment upon an History, annexing to it an unnecessary gloss. He will not be so engaged to any, as that he will be restrained of his scope; or so countermanded, as that he must of necessity illustrate vice, virtue cannot pass without her character: A good Historian will always express the actions of good men with an Emphasis, to solicit the Reader to the affecting the like means, whereby he may attain the like end. This was the cause all the Noble Heroes in ancient time did live to posterity their acts to imitate: not so much for record of their own memorable lives, as for the propagating their Countries eternal honour by succeeding Worthies. As those establishers of good and wholesome Laws made themselves with their Country renowned: Mynois and Radamanth among the Cretensians; Orpheus among the Thracians, Draco and Solon in Athens, Lycurgus in Lacedaemon, Zamolx is among the Scythians: Nor be Historians (if so the Professors merit that style) of less esteem than the prudentest and most experienced Statists. For these direct every Senator in politic affairs by producing such as excelled in administration of justice, describing the very natures of such Laws, and the causes why such Laws were enacted to present times.  
These Ages have been, and are to this day, much 
〈◊〉 of Transcriptories.  indebted to Transcriptions, Inventions are oft times slow, where the application of things invented to the present State seems more facile and easy: Hereto than should the scope of Histories tend; not only to personate the acts of men upon the Theatre of this world, but likewise to cull out such Laws, Orders, and Precepts, as well Moral as Divine, which may benefiet their present estate. Sysambris skin was a good caveat for succeeding judges: justice before went on crutches, and more were troubled with Demosthenes' disease then with Phoytions' bluntness. The Historian must not sow pillows to the elbows of Magistrates, nor sooth corruption with an humour of shadowing vice: He shows what was done: and commends the one to reprehend the other. Virtue never wants her character, nor vice her reproof: For such Historical Relations as induce to virtue and deter from vice, comprehend in them the true use of such Subjects, being Apologetical and Moral to reform, not Mylesian or profane to deform or disfigure the exact simmetree of a virtuous Idiom. No marvel if Alexander laid the works of Homer under his head, being such as directed him how to be a Head, how to govern Provinces, how to sway his inordinate affections; so as Cleanthes Fable (virtues best elucidary) had her Liberal Sciences never better portrayed, than the differences twixt true fortitude, and a foolhardy boldness were by Homer deblazoned. Here a Hector's badge of true valour, there an Antenor whose gravity purchased him honour: there a Diomedes no less wise than resolved, here a Troilus stoutness but unadvised here wars well managed abroad, but less successive at home, examplefied in Agamemnon, there a subtle scouce, no less frieghted with pollocy than success in Sinon. All these are expressed by that Heriocke Historian.  

Qui quid sit pulchrum, quid turpe quid utile, quid non?  
Plenius ac melius Chrysippo & Crantore dicit.   
These acts covid not but minister sufficient matter of admiration to such judicious Readers, as apprehended each circumstance in the subject; making that apt connexion of all, that the body might seem more excellent, by the proportioning of every member. 
Several fruits of History.  Histories in themselves are diverse, producing several fruits to the perusers, according to every man's affection: Which made that modern Historian compare them to a Banquet, wherein were to be served several dishes; some to provoke appetite, others to satiate, more delightful subjects penned for relishing more serious studies, graver discourses to ripen the understanding, by applying the instructions of foreign States to our own judgements: where we may make use of the best part of man (in his reasonable power) and that is Election: approving of what is good, or may in itself be beneficial to the State: and slightly observing discourses of indifferency, as accomplements, ceremonies, circumstances, and the like, resembling fair frontespices which are made rather for ornament then use. It is necessary for a good Historian to have maturity of judgement, to apprehend what is fittest for his discourse, and to be as little complimental as may be, lest the varnish mar the work; for the words of an History in my opinion jumps with Mirandula:— Vt non sint le●…ta ita nec neglecta: the one implics a kind of dejection, the other a mind too 
Profit of History.  curious to profit any, desiring only to please himself. Caesar in his Comment, shows no less discipline in the Art of History, then in the discipline of Arms: using a style as well fitting a Soldier, as curiosity the smooth tongue of an Orator. It is true which are observed of him: Si acta eius penitus ignorasses, per linguam tamen militem esse diceres: Having neither hi●… phrases too selected, (as to show a singularity) or too neglected to express a c●…relesnesse in his writing. The records of things done commended to posterity should not be enroled, as the Chaldees did their Hieroglyphics in ciphers and intricate conclusions, but in words most significant, phrases modestly elegant, and discourse most pertinent? Here by way of disgression let me touch the ridiculous labours, and unfruitful travails of such who pass the Alps, trace uncouth places, Des●…rts, Promontories; for what end Heaven knows, s●…ue only to wrest ou●… a fantastic behaviour of superfluous wit, or to come 't on othe●…s travails by way of derision: These are such as upon their return, publish what they have seen; some more than they have seen, which I term Commenting travailers: others less than they have seen (or at least the most 〈◊〉) which I term Fantastic travailers. Such as lie on their travel, either do it for admiration, or having run upon the adverse shelves of a deplored fort●…ne, are enforced to invent strange things for the relief of their dejected estate. Such as publish less than they have seen, (omitting things of the greatest consequence, to satisfy our humours with trifles) do it to gain pregnancy, or singularity rather of conceit: they talk not of the acts of Princes, nor the sites of Regions, the temperature of such Climates, or any material discourse, but to show an exquisite strain of wit, purchased by a little fruitless travel: they insert frivolous occurrents, borrowed, or (it may be) invented by their own fantastic brains. These miss the mark a good traveler should aim at: they should observe Laws in foreign places, like a good Lycurgus to ●…ranspose so glorious a freight to their own Country. They should not (like our Fashion-inuenters, our italianated Albionacts) so much observe what is worn on the body, as what habit best beseems the nature and condition of their mind. Since flourishing Commonweals are then the highest, when in external habiliments the lowest: for Sparta never flourished more, than when she conformed her state to the imitation of the 〈◊〉. Many Realms have we known to be miraculovily protected, by means of experienced men: which experience they 
Vsc of 〈◊〉 and example.  either received by Travel or Example: yea, many Empires (and those of amplest circumference) have been reduced from a kind of servitude within themselves, by experiments derived from a far●…e. For travel, the excellent designs of Sertorius, Eumenes, Marius, ●…nd Antonius, may sufficiently confirm the profit to be reaped thereby. For example: We shall read in all the Roman Annals, a certain vehement desire in all the worthy patricians of imitating whatsoever 
Imitation in virtue.  they perceived to be worthy imitation in their predecessors, marking the events of their intendments, and collecting the goodness of the means by the prosperous success in the end. These were worthy monumental honours, that could not only imitate the vercues so transparent in others, but even exemplify their memorable actions in themselves. We are placed in the following Ages, but we scorn to follow the precedent times in their virtues, though expert enough in contriving politic designs: the fabric of our invention can dispose or transpose itself to any shape, any impression, or private gain or advantage: but public affairs may be Advocates for the●…selues; they are a Merchandise too far estranged from our affections, none will travel to purchase their Countr●…es peace: Solon and we have few that go mad for th●…ir country; but Tarp●…a's we have too many, that are mad with desire to betray their Country. Few Law-inacters, many Law-infringers: making wholesome laws, like Tarandulas web, wickets for great ones to come through, but snarls for little ones to hold.  
But to return to our former argument: by the right use of H●…story, we see virtue revived when her defender is dead: and to say the truth, I may use Thales sentence in this discourse: without History, Nihil mortem à vi●…a differre: Since the life of the dead depends upon the memory of the living: for without some memorial of actions prosecuted, what difference betwixt the valiant acts of Ithacus, and the shameful retiredness of Aeg●…schus? betwixt Aeneas' piety, and Pygmalion's cruelty? They are dead, and their poor urn can speak no more for them, than Pompey's Sepulchre spoke for him: Hic situs est mag●…us, here he lies that was once great: powerful in popular command, generally successful, before his Pharsalian discomfit: here he lies that was styled his Country's Patron, Rome's best Sentinel: yet failing in the close of his fortunes, drooping in the upshot of his victories: Time can erect no other monument in his remembrance: Uixi, & Uici: only once I lived, and was once conqueror. It is recorded, that when Alexander came to the Tomb of Achilles, and beheld the mirror of Greece, shut up in so small a scantling of earth, (a parcel of that whole which could hardly contain him living) he wept bitterly, adding: Heccine sunt Trophea? Be these all the monuments, all the Trophies this world could afford thee? Is greatness so soon extinguished, and the lamp of Honour so soon put out? A good motive for Alexander, to caution him of his mortality, and might make up this conclusion: Alexander thou art not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: not the son of jupiter, but the son of earth.  
The like we read related by Qu●…ntus Curtius: that when this great Prince of Maccdon came into Persia, an object of no less pity, than example of humanc frail●…y, represented itself unto him: to wit, the poor Sepulchre of that victorious Cyr●…s, on which he found no other Inscription than this: O man, whosoever thou be, or from what pl●…ce soever thou shal●… come (for I know thou wilt come) know, that I am Cyrus, who translated the Emp●…re from the Medes to the Persians: pray thee do not enur me for this little handful of earth that doth cover me. This Epitaph could not choose but fix an impression of remorse and commiseration (as indeed it did) in that great Conquerors heart: seeing whereto all his victories tended: So as Nero's affecting command and sovereignty was well answered by Seneca: Pulchrum est regnare (said Ne●…o:) Nihil est, si nihil quaras, replied Senec●…: certainly (if I be not blinded with the love of Historical discourse) there is no means better to deter from vice, nor more effectual inducements unto virtue, than these moral relations. By them we see the lives of Princes, and their employments (Prima sp●…cie leta) ●…n their first entrance or passage pleasant, and delightful, promising no less than success, and in success continuance: Afterwards, Tractu dura, more difficulties attending, as if the Wheel of Fortune were removed to a place subjecteth to more occurrents; yet not so dangerous, as to be attended by ruin: nor so secure, as to promise an undoubted issue. eventu tristia, a strange Catastrophe of so fair beginnings: where, in the first, there was security grounded upon more than hope: in the second, hope, though not secure: In the third, neither hope nor security, but deprival of both. Yet even in these conversions, if it please the Reader to cast his eye upon the admirable moderation of some Prince's affections, he shall see verily a Christian resolution in a Pagan. Furius Camill●…s could not be daunted, 
.  (●…ough unjustly censured:) his exile neither made him d●…ected, nor his Dictatorship proud. Photion, that honest Senator (to satisfy an unsatiate appetite of revenge) renders up his life willingly, and when he could not die without paying for his death, so indifferent was life to him, as he confirmed his resolution by this Epiphonema: Itaque nisi empta nece mo●…i mihi Athenis non licuit. What should I speak of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Publicola, whose moderation in the ebb of fortune, and surplusage of miseries, made him more admired, then hated. The equal temper of Rutilli●…s, the exceeding modesty of L. Quintius, the grave and serious respect of Fabius Maximus, the temperate deliberation of Marcellus, and the admirable government of Tiberius Gracchus; the wi●… staidness of Metellus, and the discreet patience of Ma●…cus Bibulu●…. We use to be more excited to goodness by examples than Precepts, and such instances in Histories are not a little persuasive, representing to our eyes the divers objects of Piety in C●…riolanus, of justice in Aristides, of Prudence in Cleobul●…: and to be brief of all virtues so well practised by Pagans, as they may well deserve an imitation by Christians.  
To proceed now to the Discourse itself; I allow of a copious phrase in History: For contraction of sentences doth oftimes contract the sense, or at least makes the Subject less intelligible: Cornelius Tac: seemed to affect an intricate kind of writing, yet his Argument in itself so copious might modestly Apologize his succinctness; approving Tully's opinion, where he propounds, what errors are most subject to Taxing in such Discourses- Titio sum etiam est si nimium apparatis v●…rbis compositum, aut nimium longum est: Taxing in the one Singularity, commending in the other Brevity: Yet he seems to oppose himself in it by plain contradiction, making relation of the same Discourse. Non parum fructus habet in se copia dicendi, 
What S●…ile best seru●… an History.  & commoditas orationis: But these tend rather to Rhetorical Narrations, then Historical Descriptions: Tacitus is to be preferred before the most, 〈◊〉 a dilated compendiary of many declined States, disvnited Provinces: showing the vices of the time, where it was dangerous to be V●…rtuous, and 〈◊〉 Innocence tasted the sharpest censure: what g●…rbe best 〈◊〉 with the state of that ●…me, describing the 〈◊〉 Tongue- Facundam i●…micitijs, more partial than time-observers. Where Amici Curi●…, were Parasiti Curi●…: The Courts friends, the Courts popinjays; here he shows a great Man rising, and his fall as sudden as his erection: The immeritorious in election for greatest honours, and the virtuous depressed, because they will not mount by sinister means. There a Prince that showed great testimonies of his approved virtues, so long as he was subi●…ct, but raised to an unexpected height he seconded this Conclusion:- an ill Prince spoiled a good Subject: so was Galba: Omnium consensu capax Imperij, nisi imperasset: O what singular fruits may be gathered out of that one History, to teach men in high estates how to moderate their Greatness; and others of inferior rank, rather to live retired, then to purchase eminence in place by servile means. But of 
Diversity of affections.  all the divers affections of Princes, either well or ill disposed, minister no little delight to the judicious Reader: Here o●…e so popularly affected, as he had the trick to bind his Subjects to allegiance by a native insinuation, such was Augustus, Antonius Pius, Septimus Severus; one whereof seemed rather to affect popular satisfaction than his own, subjecting (as he himself professed) his entirest thoughts to propagate his Country's glory: Anton: Clemency, was the chain that united and combined (in a knot inviolable) the hearts of the Romans to him, publicly protesting: He had rather save one Citizen, then destroy a thousand enemi●…s. But Severus was loved (which seems no less admirable) for that which engenders, for most part, greatest occasion of offence, and that was Severity; Being no less exact in punishing his friends then enemies. But to read over the life of Scylla, we shall see an opposition in his Nature. None that ere did more good to his friends, or more harm to his enemies: Nay, even in Brothers (derived from one Stem) discrepant natures; Titus, the love and darling of Mankind, Domitian a professed foe to all Mankind; the one banishing Parasites his Palace, the other a persecutor of flies: what more delightful Subject can be imagined, then to converse (and that without peril) of the dangerous events of war? of the divers dispositions of Princes, raisings and razings of Empires: Some shaken by the vi●…iousnesse of the people which inhabit them, being so long secure, till ruin impose a period to their security: Some by (civil and intestine Factions) making their dearest Country the sad Spectator of their Funerals, their entirest friends, their prof●…ssed foes; and the argument of love and amity, the ground of civil dissensions: The cause whereof (for most part) proceeds from a continued peace, for retiredness from foreign affairs, make us bend to prosecute Managements d●…mesticke, and the overflow of success (purchased by peace) makes men more capable of injuries, even to their best friends. This was the reason moved Athens to erect places of Martial exercises (even in peace) That so the youths being daily enured to such exercises, might employ their strengths in them, and not in civil Commotions. This we have by relation of Histories, which so manageth affairs of State, as I am of that Sages opinion who averred: That no man could be an experienced 
How studious the Romans were of Histo●…ies.  Statist, that was not initiated in the reading of Histories, which he confirms with reasons no less authentic, calling them the aptest and exquisitest directions that can attend man, either in public or private affairs, at home or abroad. diverse therefore of our famous Senators in Rome, have employed th●…ir times in these Studies, as Sallust, whose wel-couched Style, succinct Sentences, and pureness of W●…iting, may a●…rogate, if not the chiefest place, yet to be inserted amongst the chiefest: Varr●… one of reputed esteem, and of ample possessions, took in ha●…d the like task, to illustrate his Native Tongue not only, with apt and accommodate phrases, but likewise to compile the memorable acts of the Romans, and to reduce them into an exact order, to excite his Countrymen, by perusing the valiant attempts of their Ancestors: Eorum gloria in●…lammare ad eandem virtutis exercitationem 〈◊〉: To be in●…lamed and prouok●…. by t●…ir 〈◊〉 and glory 〈◊〉, to imitate th●…●…n th●… lik●…: A●… there is nothing cer●…ainely that 〈◊〉 m●…re 〈◊〉 impr●…ssion in a resolved mind, th●…n th●…●…port of ●…ormer exploits; Hearing this man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and vigilant 〈◊〉, to contemn all 〈◊〉, oppose himself to ●…ll dangers, whereby he ●…ght 〈◊〉 something ●…orthy memory: Anoth●…r (sustai●…ing 〈◊〉 labours) to purc●…ase hims●…lfe but a little ●…lory. This man subjecteth to Seawrackes, exposed to the mercy of the 〈◊〉, enuiro●…ed and hemmed in by emin●…nt danger●…, y●…t moderating his passions, arms himself against th●… perils of Se●…, adverse wi●…ds, the menaces of ruin, with resolution ●…o endure the worst of fates, ever meditating of that motive to patience:  

No●…cere hoc primum 〈◊〉,  
Quid facere Victor debet, Uictus pati.   
These observations, are receipts, or cordials against the maladies of Fortune: A man thus resolved cannot be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a P●…ince, for he governs a Dominion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, an Empire more imperious, a Dia●…hy, o●… Monarchy rather: having disconsorting affections, ever laying Siege and Battery to the palace of the 〈◊〉. ●…hich moved Plutarch in his Morals defini●… to con●…lude: That he who mod●…rated his affection's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, but he that never passed the bound●… and 〈◊〉 of temp●…rate motives, nor felt the deluding enforcements o●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…im, was wholly virtuous: But the Mo●…als p●…oposition was better than his conclusion: 〈◊〉 mortal (since the stain of his Original Puri●…) co●…ld 〈◊〉 subsist so secure, or remai●…e so vnmoueabl●…, as never to be engage●… to perturbations, the 〈◊〉 attendants of 〈◊〉.  
In this first entrance to my Discourse, having spo●… something in general, of the use and fruit of History: having by an (equal diameter) determined 
Division of Histories, Divine, Discu●…siue, Moral, Physic, or mixed.  the proper place and centre at which such Historical relations ought to tend: I will descend to the division of Histories, which may properly branch themselves into— Divine, Discursive, Moral, Physic, or Mixt.  
For Divine, I will not comprehend them in my discourse, being such as depend on their own Arches, drained from the pure Spring of Celestial Wisdom, and therefore impossible to err either in Action or Relation: yet necessarily (now and then) immixed with moral Histories, because their weight may better poise in the scale of every judicious Reader, when he seeth Moral Discourse so well fortified, as by the pillar of Truth: Albeit I approve of Hesiods 
In Noct. & Di●….  words. Fabulous Relations should not, nor ought they to be authorized by Holy Writings: It was a Pagans observation, and worthy ours: So should our profane Pamphleteers, restrain their libidinous writings more, and either write that which should propagate themselves a general reputation, without derogation to the sacred Writings of the Almighty, or silence 
Not to mix●… Sacred with profane. Vid. Lypsium in prescript: in lib. de const.  their works; lest they should deprave many, for a private reward, or peddling gain: More I insist upon this, because too many have I known steeped in this promiscuous Subject, well read in Scripture, to wrest them, otherwise Babes and Sucklings, for they cannot reach to the depth of such Mysteries, but only touch them to corrupt them: But their Cimmerian 
Corrupters of Scripture.  Cloud, when it shall be dispersed, and the Rays of a reasonable understanding to them exhibited: They will repent them (I fear it not) and heavens grant that repentance, be not like the after-raine, out of season of their profaner mixtures. O let them turn their eye of consideration (whosoever they be) to the miserable end of Lucian, Cleand: Metrodoras', whose disastrous falls answered their blasphemous risings, contemning the sacred Writ of Heaven, and prostituting their labours to the merited censure of confusion: But too much of them. Times are not so easy to be waned from their habit of error, or induced to a course of more Sanctimony: Lamps and Oilely Studies were made fruitless at Epictetus' death, his Lantern hung up, (as a Monument of his virtues) made a deeper impression in his Scholars, than all our Mo●…iues, Precepts, or Examples can ●…o in ours: that Age was more apprehensive of Good, thi●… of iii.  
Now to our Discursive Histo●…ies. Many discourse 
Discu●…siue Histories.  without matter, only descanting upon idle Themes: more observed for their idleness, then for any Subject wher●…on they entreat: Such be foolish Phantastickes that spend their Oil upon unnecessary Subjects. I have apprehended many of this vain, but they shall be nameless, talking of strange Horse-races, such as their barra●…ne Muse never conceived: others of Fabulous Histories, never found out by that Arch-Artist Nature, whence they derived their foundation; for such, I pass untouched, being such as they hardly conceive their own writings.  
Discursive Histories, are either true or feigned: If 
Division of Disc●…rsiue Histories.  true, they comprehend in them a certain ground, not only forti●…ied by a reasonable production, but also by the authority of such, whose Authentiquest labours claim to themselves, a kind of Authority without further proof: Such we read to be the Labours of Cornel: T●…c: Tit: Liu: Trogus Pompeius, and many others, whose Subject confirm their authority: Being such as repres●…nt the diverse events of things done, by Histori●…all Relation, and Ocular presentation: For divers of those worthy Historiographers have been interested even in such probable, and generally allowed discourses by personal presence, in the management 
Faithful Historians.  of such affairs: as Commineus of all Histories (amongst our Modern) most approvable, being an eye witness of what he writ. But in ample terms to explain what the condition of an Historian is, let me in brief, yet material words express what he means: Not such as inveigh against 
〈◊〉 Historian, and the Sycophant Historian.  States, or politic Governments, for such are rather Satirists, than Historians; nor such as personate the entire acts of a Marti●…list, by assentative terms, which are such as insinuate themselves by a glozing Style to win the affection of their Patron; less to be borne with be these, than the other, subjecting the free use of History to a Parasite and Oily tongue: which moved Alexander so exceedingly against Aristobulus, as that on a time, hearing his own Acts deblazoned far above truth, he commanded his labours should be thrown over Board: saying; He was almost induced to throw Aristobulus after: A Caveat very nece●…sary for all clawing Par●…sites that make their Pen Mer●…enary, and therefore as may be inferred upon their works, dare not unrip the viciousness of times, least by unbosoming Truth, they should incur the offence of some person, to whom their labours are engaged, their fortunes subjecteth, and their endeavours partially devoted. Plato banished all Poets Athens: But a favourable Gloss would restaine that Ostracism, only to peculiar wits (petulant I mean) such as the Prince of Sparta prescribed his well-governed 
Hiero & L●…rna.  City, for presenting some obscene verses to his Queen: But I wonder why Plato excluded not these Historians, since their Labours were prostitute (like the public Strumpet) for gain, making their Wr●…tings to the opinion & imitation of that Scarabee of History, who being demanded why he wrote not truth of such a Prince; replied: Vivit, quis veralice●…? His life kept him in a●…e, he durst not express his vices to the quick, lest he should bite too much. Indeed I must acknowledge there should be a reverend and modest concealing of such Personages in criminal causes, so the bounds of the History can admit it. And sometimes a Native pusillanimity restrains us to 
A mod●…st caution for all Historians.  speak that which we know, because silence (as the wise Sage said) never occasioned so great offence as speech. And, Veritas odium parit, is a Motto for these days too probable, too well authorized; where sins go with impunity, adorning their growth with a fair outside, to second that Tyrant of Syracusas' proposition: Et quis corriget? quis audet prodere, si crimen audiat? Sur●… such tyraniz●…ng Subjects, or Objects rather of fear, must needs be terrible to the poor Historian: He cannot show julus Canius spirit, spit in the face of ●…anny: Hating by a modest Silence to Pamper vice, though reprehension cost him a gage, he could redeem with nothing save life: Such was that Cordus (the Roman Historian) who for speaking truth, was censured unworthily.  
But if Princes or Potentates should exactly observe 
The commendation of a sincere Historian.  the courses and revolutions of times, the subsequent degrees of ruin and deposition (vices Apologized) they would commend such an Historian (and no less desertfully) who emploieth his Time, wasteth his Oil, and macerates himself in the scrutine of true Relations, by conferring Histories together, and with a judicious approbation, or electing power, extract whatsoever may seem most probable and authentic.  
Many worthy Statists have desired, and in themselves no less deserved (though perhaps some little spark of vainglory may seem to appear in them) to have their memorable acts recorded: as Cicero his withstanding Catyline, Cato his opposing Caesar, Solon his Pysistratus, and Demosthenes his Philip: their acts recount●…d, and committed to memory, induce others to the like attempts; and like a cool Arbour to a wearied passenger, yields no less delight to themselves, which Persius seems covertly to shadow in his first Satire: Et pulchrum est digito monstrari & dicier hic est. This finger is History, which truly demonstrates the life of the person, characters his virtues, or vices; disposing every particular member, and branch of his discourse in such an exact method, that it res●…mbles a fair beautiful building, which yet deserves more commendations for the contrivement, than the outward and garish Garnishment. Edes (opera sunt) quae si culte extruantur, mi●…us restat, si minus sumptuose. True, Books Historical have no better beauty (nor indeed can they) than an apt and methodical disposition: other accomplements are superfluous, resembling some of our works now and then published, with fair and beautiful frontispieces, as if some worthy conveyances (rare buildings of A●…t and Nature) were within so comely portals. But alas! look inward, nought but rubbish, and refuse of some old building, unhandsomly repaired, or some frothy invention, not worth half so much cost: These should fear (as the Philosopher 
Fruitless labours.  told the Mindians) lest their whole labours should fly out at their gate, having their gate so promising, their labour so immeriting: But such as go odd▪ prelum tanquam ad prelium, (for so indeed they do) furnish themselves aforehand with exactest labours to stand in defiance against the spirit of detraction: for we cannot fortify our works against all Assa●…lants: some being addicted to carp, because long custom hath confirmed in them a desire of reprehension.  
Aelianus, in his Natural History, reports, how the viper's issue is the bane and death of the parent: Certainly, as Libri are our Liberi, our children, which we should be as careful and provident in bringing up, as the Father over his child: so oftentimes they play the Vipers with us, they murder us in our name & reputation, much disparraging their parents, being priselesse and therefore unfit for press: nay, they do more, they oftentimes asperse an imputation upon her that should be no less dear (if not more) unto us, than our 
Licentious 〈◊〉.  selves: our Country, making her floury bosom a nourisher of ●…ruitlesse labours, a scale to licentious Libel●…, or Brothel rather of lascivious measures. And how shall we make answer for so many motives to lust, so divers enforcements to inordinate affections, and so temporising subjects in humouring great ones, and soothing vice in her Majesty. Debemur morti nos nostraque: Where our works must abide scanning, and that by a judicious censurer, one that can unrip the secretest of imagination, and knows the Bend of our purposes.  
Thus much I have writ briefly (by way of inference) to caution such as by their labours ere●…t a Throne for impiety to sit in: these Humor-mongers, that can with Caesar the Dictator, Atros dies albos facere, make black white, and mask Vice with a vail better suiting with Virtue: Now will I descend to their opposite, and that is, the Satirical Writer, or Historiomastix.  
Some of these are very dangerous to a State, laying 
The Satirical Historian.  it open too much: and though acts should be related, as they were done: yet if the circumstances may seem any way detractive to some person, or stat●…, they are better silenced, (if it may stand wi●…h the body of the History,) than discouer●…. I have known some too precise in this vein: and one especially I remember, who speaking of the great Sultan, could not be content to describe his palace, managements, domestic and public, person, and the like; but of his piked Beard, the colour of his stockings: and in the end coming near him (said he) and indeed nearer than need was, his breath was noisome. These, and such like imperti●…ent 
〈◊〉 this hu●…or in the seditious and fact●…ous Write●…s of our time.  circumstances, are so frivolous, that they imply a defect of judgement in the Author, to insert such idle, and immaterial ambages in a History of consequence. But the●…e are far from those Historio-mastixes of our time, some whereof personate the wrongs of a Noble Ancestor to his lineal successor, moving him to r●…uenge: this is one of the Furies Brands: for you shall never see one of this kind, but a tergo Nemesis, he hath vengeance at his back, a spleenful ●…on disgorged upon the best of deserts. And thus he inserts the injuries: Such a family (well meriting of Prince and Country, and ever sound loyal to the State) was vndeser●…edly censu●…ed by the 〈◊〉 suggestions of such, and such; whose suggestions are (as yet) unrevenged, but the heavens are just. What motives more enforcing to civil commotion? Injuries 
A true Aphorism.  ripped up, have oftentimes hazarded states: and there was never any People, Nation or Government, which have not from time to time had one of these. Thersites, as deformed in mind as body▪ (for so Homer characters him) was ever kindling the ●…lame of civil combustion betwixt Achilles and Agamemnon at the siege of Troy, about the rape of Briseis, ever harping upon that string to set them together by the ears.  
Why Achilles should yru sustain so great reproach, that have engaged yourself for Agamemnon, and his brother's glory? Be all your hopeful serui●…es, your valiant exploits, y●…ur incomparable a●…chieuements, so rewarded? Hath Agamemnon no place for valour? no r●…gard to honour? Why then desist Achilles, embark yourself for Greece, and le●…ue this brave Champion to himself and his fortunes, your merits (being gone) will be better esteemed: you had but one prize, (and that prise unworthy too of your valour▪) and must that prize, got with much sweat, many difficulties, imminent dangers, multitude of occurrents, now be taken from you? But one Briseis, one dear one, and yet Achilles must lose her, Alas poor resolution! Why it is better to be Aegystus, a coward, a recreant, one that retires himself from Arms, fight close under Clytaemnestra's target. Such a Carpet-knight is better than a Martiall-knight. Then would he presently move Agam●…mnon in like sort, in no case to moderate his desires: Why should Achilles have so fair a Paramour, and the Prince of Greece want one?  
These are poisonous and virulent heads, that suggest into the ears of Princes, arguments of revenge, causes of distrust, motives of suspicion and jealousy: not to profit themselves, but to satisfy the depravedness of their own natures, intended to nothing but the subversion of states, the setting at discord united Princes: En ' pallor! etc.— It was thought, that in that glorious and Christianlike expedition of those memorable Heroes, Princes recorded in the eternal book of fame, against the Turks, whose hostility had lain waste those blessed and fruitful coasts, where the remnant of Israel was once planted: that the greatest cause of the ill success of that war, proceeded from some factious heads, setting (that unfortunate, yet never sufficiently praised Hero) the Duke of Normandy, and the King of France, at variance: an impious and 
A memorable Christian, and royal expedition.  disastrous enmity, being a main impediment for the hindering a war, no less glorious to Heaven then generally beneficial to all the world. Some have imputed the cause to certain expostulations betwixt the two Princes, which grew afterwards to words of public reproach and infamy; upbraiding each other with divers insolences offered by their Countries, one to another. What ere the motive of this dissension was (how varied soever the opinions of Writers be 
A mischicuous plot.  herein) the brain that contrived it was sure the forge of great impiety, and an irreparable detriment to the Christians, exposing them to ruin, slaughter, and desolation.  
The like we read of those two renowned Cities, Sparta and Athens: which two flourishing Commonweals 
Factious Historians amongst the Ancient.  long time lived in unity, without the least motion of war: but in fine, reading the works of a mutinous Historian: mutinous indeed; for his factions before, had been sufficient, without further inducements by writing: such bloody and cruel wars ensued, as the fire of those intestine combustions was not extinguished with less than an universal effusion of blood. Many more I could produce, even near at home, but I must not insist upon one Argument too long, since I have entered a spacious and intricate maze, that promiseth entrance enough, if I can (with Ariad●…es thread) find a passage to my precipitate adventure.  
Thus much have I spoken of State-snarling Historians, that make their works like pricks, or goads to the public state. I will now proceed with my former division of History, and find in these two extremes (Assentation, and State-inuection) a mean to direct us in the perfect and exact use of Historical Narrations: Medio tutissimus ibis; neither too depressed, 
An excellent mean for an Historian to 〈◊〉.  as if thy labours expressed their masters poverty: nor too erected, to intimate thy state's security. Thou art too depressed, when with lagging wings thou stoopest to every base lure, or object of affection, making thy invention a scale to others pleasure, writing nothing less than truth, because truth cannot teach thee how to live. Thou art too erected, when like an eminent Censor thou taxes the acts of Princes, with such an austere brow, as if thou hadst forgot the discipline of History, and w●…rt transformed to a professed Satirist; mixing thy I●…ke with far more gall than discretion: yet transported with imaginary motives of self-conceit; cares not who be galled, so thou (with Ctesiphon) kick against the moils heels. For the latter, there's no profession more easy, nor subject more frequent, nor argument more general: and as Invenal saith:  

Di●…ficile est Satyram nonscribere: nam qui●… inique, 
Lib. 1. Satyr●….   
Tam patiens urbis, tam ferreus ut teneat se?   
For the first, I never knew any Discourse worth reading, proceed from so base and ignoble Merchants: They sell their works by retail; and hope of a gainful 
A Flattering Historian.  Dedicatory, makes them contemn Method, Truth, Subject and all: Irus skrippe is open, relieve but the needy Artist, he will imitate the Bohemian Cur, fawn on a good suit: show the project of his intendments to him, and protest him, he will insert monumental Characters of honour to grace thee; only bestow thy bounty, and show not thyself unworthy of so fabulous an Attendant: His invention is tied to his Benefactors: then dries the source of his fancy, when they restrain the spring of their bounty. These two sorts (as not worthy an Historical Title) have I proscribed the bounds of my discourse: if betwixt such two dangerous shelves, I can find a retired harbour for the truly named Historian to breath himself in, I have attained my wished expectance. The mean betwixt these two, gives us observation of noting causes and effects, how produced, and how ended: counsels and successes, how intended, how administered: then he proceeds further, making resemblance betwixt nature and nature, state and state, the government of this province and of that: then differences of actions & event: some wisely carried, bearing themselves fair, and promising a complete satisfaction to the undertaker: yet what opposition betwixt the end and beginning, ruin being the period, or extreme of his hopes. Many such opposite Conversions, or Catastrophes rather, may we daily see in the managements of wars: who more happy in his Country's protection, and who more successive in his prosecution, than Pompey the great in his first entrance to martial exploits? Yea, (as Caesar acknowledged himself) he had conquered, if he had 
Vicisses, si te vicisse, cognovisses.  known when he had conquered: yet in event, whose designs more unhappy? Not only deprived of the bent of his hopes, proscribed (as it were) his native Country, and enforced to beg a poor sepulchre in a foreign Country: but even most oppressed by their cruelty, whose service, under his own Banner, had been rewarded royally. Such discourses often move 
Moving Historians.  in men a commiseration, in seeing Virtue so ill guerdoned, and Vice (under a counterfeit garb) of Innocence receive an immerited reward: And this certainly have most Historians ever observed in their writings: so lively to express the disasters of deserving men, that their relations might move a kind of sensible pity and remorse in the peruser, which is best exemplified by circumstances: for the time, place, cause, and person, with other necessary adjuncts, do (for the most part) lay a more open and smooth Tract to the enforcement of passion. Lucan, that heroic Historian, brings forth Cornelia sitting upon the shore, where her husband took his last farewell of her: where (like another Niobe) she makes a Limbeck of her eyes, and descants her own calamity, oft wishing his return; and when deprived of his sight, yet the eye of her imagination represents a new object of sorrow. Here, in such royal compositions, and funeral conclusions, he describes the diversity of nature, in two contrary subjects: a servant faithful, sitting o'er the headless trunk 
How to move passion, and by what circumstances.  of his unhappy mnister: a slave as ungrateful, haling his once well-esteemed Lord and General to the fatal shore: where (without taste of remorse, remembrance of former merits, or regard of Country's love) he deprives him of life. Such Tragic occurrents require their Emphasis, and a kind of unusual working passion: that the History may present to our eyes, the very acts how they were done; making her discourse (as it is) a Theatre of human actions. I know pitiful 
Lively impressions of remorse drawn from the son towards the father.  stories have strange effects, if amply described: For warriors themselves in the report of their own misfortunes (of all men most pitiless) have hardly contained themselves from tears: Aeneas, wept to see the ruins of his Country so lively depictured in Dido's Hall: But when he beheld his poor father Anchises hanging on his own shoulders (having no other refuge in so imminent disasters,) Suspiria mittit, he could weep no longer: for tears mitigate grief; but with a passionate silencing of his miseries, treasured his unutterable woes in the baleful centre of his heart.  
Xerxes, when of a populous Army, as ever passed out of Asia, he had but so many left as might attend him in a poor Cocke-boat, to accompany him in his distressed expedition, the History mentions, that he wept bitterly; enstiling himself, The rui●…e of his Country, the slaughter of many resolute Soldiers. Nay, Titus himself, the flower of all the Roman Emperors, in the sack and subversion of that once glorious City jerusalem, is said to weep exceedingly, beholding so many lamentable objects of pity (dead carcases lying in open ditches) so as not able to contain himself, he cried out, I call Hea●…en to witness, I am not the cause of this People's slaughter. Many such representments we have very usual in Histories, motive for their passion, and memorable for their end, proceeding from the just judgement of God, to caution others by their miserable falls. There is another propriety in a History, which should be observed: and that is a judicious collation, 
Comparing of Histories ve●…y necessary.  or comparing of Histories one with another: the defect and want hereof, is the principal cause why so main discordancies & mere 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 observance more Geographical) ill-disposed, with many other errors, which are grounded upon no other reason, than the want of conferring such Histories together, as tend to the present subject we have in hand. Nay were it not much think you, now to prove directly, that the very Computation of years which they derived from their 
A differenc●… amongst the Pagans in their Computation of yea●…es.  ancient Calendar, and which they observed as Ceremonially and Religiously (in their kind) as we the years from CHRIST'S Incarnation, was very defective amo●…gst themselves? And yet this is easily done: For their opinions about their Olympiads in Greece, for 
Vid. Aul. Gell. & Laert.  the time of their Erection are diverse: The foundation of Rome as uncertain, since the founder himself is not as yet generally agreed of, for the divers relations of Numitor and Amul●…is, Romulus and Remus, with their mother Rhe●…, o●… Ilia, (as some will have it) make up a labyrinth of themselves without further confusion: But to inferte the strange conveyance (or Apotheosis) of Romulus: suddenly vanished forth of their sight, and by the testimony of julius Proculus, transplanted to some other place of more eminence; hardly deserves the credit o●… an Historian: Yet some there be which show more favour to this famous founder of Rome, deigning to bestow a Monument of him, which is erected for him in the Temple Quirinus. Indeed it were little enough to memorise so renowned an Establisher, with a Tomb, and to consecrate the place of his Burial; As Achilles' Tomb, or Monument in Sygeum, Theseus in Athens, Ajax in the Rhetian Shore, and Alcides' Relics in Oëta: Read but over the Roman 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 several times of Troy's Sacking, missing their account from Laomedon to the succession of Priam. But I have touched the error enough, let us now descend to the prevention of it.  
Before we take in hand any Discourse we must always 
Transcriptions oft-times uncertain & defective.  meditate of the means, ere we can attain the end: Which end is soon achieved, when we address ourselves for such Subjects (as have been in our ●…ime) wherein we may receive instruction, by some that have been interested in those affairs, of far more certainty than any Transcription. But intending our Studies to any Foreign R●…lation (whereof it may be we have some one Record) I would not depend upon the Antiquity of the Record (for we have many ancient Fables) but recollect myself and examine the probability, whether such particulars are like to be are resemblance of truth or no: And herein we imitate the Ancientest and best Authorized Historians that ever wrote.  
Valerius Maximus had recours●…, not only to Roman Annals (which were kept with great care) but he used to confer with such as had any Breviates of the Roman lives in their hands: Comparing them together, that he might cull and choose out from the best Authors (as himself witnesseth) such documents, as not only propagated the glory and pristine height of his Country, but might move succeeding ages to emulate their virtues.  
The like of that true Moral Historian Plutarch, whose Style so modestly garnished, and so sententiously concluding, hath (a●…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 Country's happiness with great modesty: Whose Sentences may beseem the gravest Understanding to extract, and upon oc●…asion to accommodate to his own purpos●…: Here he shows Spirit in a Philosopher's pen, one opposing himself 
The variety of discourse in Laertius.  against a Tyrant; There a Moralist, making young men fit Sociates for the matur●…st ●…imes: Here a Cynic contemning the glory of the wo●…ld, though offered him; There a merry Greek, laughing at the vanities of men wholly beso●…ed and subjecteth to mundane slavery. O what Christianlike maxims, what Divine conclusions, what solid Arguments, what enforcing reasons be there included, only to move men to the embrace of virtue? With Discourse plentiful enough in oppositions betwixt Ethnic and Ethnic; outstripping Nature (if it were possible) in reasoning, and drawing an argument, near to Divine approbation, and ready to confirm it, if the general blindness of the time, and their want of further Revelation would admit of their Asser●…ion.  
Thus much for the former branch of my di●…ision, of Histories True and Authentic: Now I will entreat of Relations Feigned; yet such as Moralised include an excellent meaning, drained from the uncorrupted Springs of Helicon.  
All Relations feign●…d are not to be excluded: for 
Feigned Relations or Poetical Histories.  many Poetical Narrations there be which comprehend in them a wonderful sharpness of judgement, pregnancy of Invention, and a great measure of discretion; of which sort, none more excellent than the works of Homer, weaving many pretty conceits in 
Homer an Excellent & Heroic Poet; shadowed only at, because my judicious friend Master Tho: Heywood, hath taken in hand (by his great industry) to make a General (though Summary) description of all the Poet's lives.  the web of his History, to make the Subject itself more pleasant: The more I commend him to the reading of the judiciously Generous, because I could never find in his Works any scurrilous Affectation, but prosecuting his Discourse with a modest gravity, as if Nature, that had 〈◊〉 him of his Corporal sight, had done it, to make the eye of his understanding more piercing: For to read the Majesty of his Style, the wel-coucht Fables immixed in his war betwixt the greeks and Troyans', may as in a storehouse imagine the treasures of all wits to be locked up in him. Many excellent Histories have been derived from him, as well in Prose as contracted Measures, for his pleasing variety r●…lisheth more than others, because through all his Works, he useth less digression than others: And pity it is, that every impolished hand should have to do with the Transcription of his Lab●…urs: grieving the poor Blindman with their blindness, For who so blind as Buzzard? And if Stesychorus was worthily struck blind for commenting on U●…nus beauty, and discommending Helen's form: much more deserve they an exacter punishment, that dare comment on his eternised labours, who detected 
Labours disparraged by Translators.  Venus' lust, and portrayed Helen's inconstancy. To prescribe in what tongue Histories are to be read, I know their own garment is most native. But such have been the di●…parraging labours of our English Translators, that Rome's tongue, and Gr●…eces Characters, grow as vulgar and common with us, as the Italian Garb: so as we seem beholding to others, both for speech and raiment. I do know some works are necessary to be translated, being such as express the politic states of Realms, which imparted to the illiterate, oftentimes 
Many illiterate of the exactest judgement.  confer no little benefit to our Country. But other works there be, which modesty would have concealed, being Records of the viriousnesse of former times; as the obscene and sensual convents, or prostitutions rather, of those mirrors of impi●…ty, ●…he Roman Emperors, the relation whereof acquaints the depraved too well with such impudence. But because I have entered into a Catalogue of poetical Histories, I will proceed further into the m●…morable, and no less ingenious works of Hesyode: much I cannot write of Historical matter in Hesyode; yet what he writ of that subject, comprehended in it more height and true proportion, than any Poet that ever writ. With what hazarding danger doth he there delineate the rare Combat between C●…ix and Cy●…nus? now equally poizing their valours (as if nature had made them of that equal power) to the end to leave the conflict uncertain. Presently (upon occasioned advantage) he shows a better and a worse: yet so, as without the least imputation, or disparrage to either of their spirits (making them as imparalell as equal) but applies the event to some auspicious, genius, or divine power, favouring one more than another. Strait, with a new passage, he proceeds to the resolved exploits of Hercules; and 
Hercul●…s Labours.  with an admirable facility describes his labours. He it was, that by the assisting hand of jupiter, of whom he descended, slew the Cleonian Lion, the Erimanthian Boar, the Bull of Marathon, the Lernaean Hydra, and the winged Hart: He who purchased no less memorable Trophies in Hell, then on Earth; haling the three-necked C●…rberus, and rescuing Pros●…rpina, (if the supreme powers had not inhibited) from the tyrannic hands of infernal Pluto: Discomfiting the Centaurs, vanquishing Achelous (being his corrival in the love of fair Deianeira, the 〈◊〉, the Cremona Giants, the traitorous Nessus, Antheus, Augeas Stables, Apples of Hesperides, Cacus, Busyris, hurling Diomedes to his horses (to quit his own tyranny) freeing Hesyone from the Whale, sacking Troy in revenge of the perfidious Laomedon, subduing those invincible Giants, 〈◊〉 and Albion, redeeming Orcalia, and Betricia from the captivity of Geryon: and wearing the Amazon Baldric, to intimate his victories in those warlike Provinces▪  
These, and the like, doth Hesyode set down with that probable coherence, that i●… the matter itself did not imply an impossibility, one would be certainly induced to believe so concorda●…t an History. Presently he descends to the generation of the Gods, making up a Genealogy in that distinct order, as the Pagan Gods (for so one hath observed) were much indebted to him for so well deriving their pedigree, which without his invention (perhaps) had lain obscure.  
Lucian deserves his place, whose otherwise ill-deserving parts, being a professed foe to all divine adoration, purchased him an end as miserable as his profanations merited; being devoured by dogs: yet in this regard we have propounded our opinion about Historical fictions, I will give him his dueplace: one of an excellent wit, ripe understanding, and laborious withal, to find out the ancient Manuscript●…, and Records of authorized Histories: yet, foras●…uch as his ●…itings are interlarded now ●…nd then with invective sp●…ches against the Celestial powers, arguing too much of Nature's power, too little of the Sovereign of Natur●…. I would have the Generous Reader to prepare himself in the perusal of such Discourses, as Calypso instructed Ulysses against the Sirens enchantments, thus inviting him:  

Hue ades ô ingens Graecorum gloria Ulysses. 
〈◊〉. in Iliad. 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉.   
Siste Ratem, etc.— Thus Englished.   

Come hither Noble Ithacus,  
of valiant Greeks the choice,  
Take harbour here, incline thine ear  
unto the Sirens voice:  
For there near was any did pass,  
since we arrived here,  
This liquid way, but wished to stay,  
our warbling notes to hear.  
Hence pregnant wits, and ripe conceits  
much knowledge have conceived:  
As for the acts you did at Troy,  
we news long since received.  
And how the Gods pursued the greeks,  
the Troyans' Greekes pursue,  
The Grecians hate in sacking Troy,  
Heavens hate in wracking you.   
Of these enchantments did Calypso forewarn Ulysses with this preparation, that he should command his Assotiates in his Ship, to bind him, when he approached near those fatal Harmonists, and to stop their ears, lest they should be made a prey to their cr●…elty. So must every one prepare himself in such Syren-discourses The liberty of these times, persuades some too easily to Lucian●… Arguments; and those which (in fear of divine power) dare not deny the Omnipotency of the Immort●…ll Power in word, yet their profane cowersation implies an absolute Apostasi●… in them in their works. I wish these digrssions were not needful: for than I might more directly proceed in my discourse, which the depravedness of times will in no case suffer.  
But in these feigned Histories I wholly exclude all 
Feigned Histo●…ies approved tending to instruction.  ribaldry, times themselves have instruction sufficient for obscene subjects, without any further excitements: nor can I admit, that those vnprofi●…able stories of Primalion, Palmerin de Olina, The Knight of the Sun, Gerilion, with many other fictive Discourses should be entertained by youth: many of these Relations have strangely transported divers well-promising wits into strange amazements; especially such as conceive more delight in them, then more serious studies. Some we have heard, that in reading the strange adventures of Orlando Furios●…, and conveying the very impression of his amorous passion to themselves, would presently imitate his distraction, run stark naked, make lovesongs in commendation of their Angelica, put themselves ●…o intolerable torments to gain the affection of their supposed mistresses. Others, in imitation of some valiant Knights, have frequented Deserts, and inhabited Provinces, ecchoi●…g in every place their own vanities, endorsing their names in barks of trees, wholly turned Sauag●…, and untractable to personate that knight more lively.  
Such Histories I only allow of (whether in Prose, 
Such Histories only merit that name, which yield profit with delight.  or Verse, for Epickes may be writ in either) as yield profit with delight; not subjecting their discourse to observe some indiscreet humour of the time, for application, but prevention. Many read, and (in the looseness of their own lives) make application of the worst unto themselves; hoping with Herostratus, to be memorable for villainy: These are like Spiders, that turn the sweetest and most wholesome ●…lowers to rank poison; the discredit of an History, and a gr●…at strengthener of vice.  
Others there be, that transported only with the delight and present variety of the History, make History only (as our Gallants do their Tobacco) a spender of time: they apply not the fruit or use of Histories. But as in some pleasant or delightful dream, satisfied for the present time: but past, quite razed out of memory. In stories of this nature, (such I mean as be ●…eigned) I approve of those best that res●…mble Truth: the nearest according to Flaccus opinion:  Ficta volupt●…tis causa sint proxima veris. 
For the impossibility of the relation oftentimes maketh the subject more ridiculous: whereas the concordancy, or apt connexion of the History (though the main plot be false) enforceth more attention.  
And thus much of Poetical Histories: I will come to the second Branch of my Division of Histories (to wit) Moral.  
Moral Histories be such, as conduce to a civil and 
Moral 〈◊〉.  moral institution of life or manners; teaching what is to be done, and what avoided. Xenophon in his instruction of Cyrus, propounds what reasons should especially induce a moral Historian to speak more of exemplary motives to virtue, than any thing else; Because (saith he) if Cyrus had not been elected King amongst Shepherds, it may be, he had never reigned over the Persians: but the very Title, which was given him by Rural Swains, enforced him to attempt further.  
Moral Histories teach men to behave themselves in all 〈◊〉: If employed in Embassages, Commerce, or any n●…gotiation whatsoeu●…r, it directs them how to hazard fairly, bear themselves discreetly, and support the burden imposed on them stoutly. These kind of stories are the best Nurses, they wean us from a childish effeminacy, and train us in more virile and manlike actions: so as Education is called by the Philosopher, A second Nature, habituating us to the kind of our breeding: Morality likewise is called, the Sovereigness of Education, The squar●… of human Actions, the best Schoolmistress for unbridled youth, that r●…straines affections raging, erects our passions too much assuaging, tempers our spirit, and 〈◊〉 us to that perfect Symmetry, Ut expede Herculem, you may know H●…rcules by his foot, the inward habit by external appearance,  
Hence was it that Alexander glorified so much of his Stagyrian Moralist: Achilles of his Phoenix: of whom he had received so much good, as he ingeniously acknowledged; by Phoenix he could both, Bene dicere, & bene agere.  
To be brief, there is no exorbitancy in Nature, which by Moral Narrations hath not been reform: Seneca was naturally covetous: which disposition, or malady rather, he shrouds covertly in that sentence of his, inserted in his Book●…, De Tranquillitate Animae. Nec aegroto, nec valeo. Yet by daily conference with Moral Histories, and Precepts of civil institution, he could moderate his desire of having, esteeming the treasure of his mind o●…ely worth possessing. Qui cuncta habet, nec tamen habetur, as Sallust observeth.  
The like we read of Stylpho, a Roman, whom (as Cicero speaketh) was of all other most libidinous, yet by reading of Moral Pr●…cepts, amplified with grave examples, became most continent. The infirmities of this time are great, and need the hand of an expert Physician; No Medicine, nor Antidote, more sovereign to cure these contagious Ulcers, then Moral Physic, if the disease be green, (I mean the diseases of the mind:) We have here Lenitives to mitigate, if it be old, and grown to a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, a very Gangrene, griefs insensible, being most incurable? We have Corrasives to eat away all those corrupt 
The praise of Moral Hist.  tetters that hinder the cure. This is a ●…ingular Art, and far surpassing Galens, Aesculapius, or Hypocrates: their cures were but external, these internal: and so much more worthy is the cure of the Mind then the Body, by how much the one is more precious than the other. O Divine Art! O secret mystery! The greeks called this Discourse, The life of Man: for without it, he would degenerate from Man, and lose the best ornaments of human nature: The light of Reason, The Eye of Election, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, great indeed, in comparison of the small esteem this world makes of it: labouring of a great burden of impiety, an huge freight of sin, an insupportable carriage, & feeling her own strength unfit for such a weight, yet refuseth to entertain a companion that would willingly and readily lighten her burden.  
Distempered Age, that labours of minds frenzy, captivated to unworthy bondage: how long will thy intellectual eye be shut? How long hoodwinked? If thou fall with open eyes, thy misery is greater, seeing thy fall yet would not prevent it, falling with blinded eyes: No marvel, that sees thine own infirmity, and scorns the direction of others eyes to conduct thee. Alas, here be many intricate Mazes, unfrequented Labyrinths, places of imminent peril, and thou art blind: no suspect of any Strata gem or Ambush doth possess thee, thou promisest thyself most security, when most beleaguered with peril.  
It was no meruail●… if miserable Oedipus, run into Brakes and Bri●…rs, when his erring feet were guided by two bli●…d eyes? Here be many seducements: And as in the Pagan time, there were more Temples erected in honour to Bacchus and Venus, then to jupiter and Apollo: So for one example of Piety and Religion, we have ten of vice and licentiousness: here the bait o●… Ambition, hung out and swallowed, and like enough by a Gudgeon; there the painted Flag of Vainglory, leading a troop of vices in a Ring-dance: here a Silken Fool welesteemed 
A Caution for your silken Gallant. — for— Nasci a Principibus fortuitum est— He was borne rich: There a ragged Sage descanting on Moral precepts, but n●…ither guarded nor regarded. here Rosa mundi, the Rose of world's vanity, set on a splay-foot, making Art a cover for Nature's deformity: There a plump of Feathers dangling on a Head more light than Feathers, to make Plato's naked 
Plato's definition.  definition of man true— Homo est Animal Bipes, implune: No matter for reason: They would be loath to be endued with more than is needful for a fantastic head— An ordinary portion of reason will serve an Ordina●…y. O that these poiselesse Brains would but employ their time in Moral Discourses, what excellent matter might they find out worthy the judicious approbation of refined Wits.  
It is observed that in Athens, and in Rome also, young Gentlemen were to be employed in preferring some Law in behalf of the people: or Patronizing such as were poor, and destitute of succour in themselves: Patronizing such, and protecting them in public defence of their cause, or the like.  
This was the first step of preferment unto Cicero, defending Roscius against Scylla: and that with such vehemency, as generally he was approved for his seriousness in a poor Actor's cause. And sure generous minds cannot be better expressed then in actions of this nature, whereby they may not only secure themselves and their entirest affections from the frivolent assaults of irregular perturbations; but also purchase unto him, the general love and favour of such as observe their disposition, and admire it.  
By Moral reading we use to be most excited to these compassionate effects: exampled in them whom 
The fruit of Moral reading.  we deservedly think of, and earnestly covet to imitate: Not taxing them unworthily, nor commenting otherwise of their virtues, then as we receive by Transcription from others. Former Ages (in this kind) have been more charitable, but the apprehension of our own defects makes us suspectful of others. As in Rome, if the Piso's be Frugal, they are censured Parcimonius; if the Met●…lli Religious, they are taxed Superstitious; if the Appijs Popular, they are termed Ambitious; if the Manlij Austeres, they are styled Tyrannous; if the Lelij Wise, they are Curious; the Public●…le Aspiring, if Courteous. Many such Mam●…threpts we have, that censure others actions to the worst, making their own depraved judgements, censors of others virtues. But Moral Precepts would remedy this obliquity, and will us first be Masters of our own Aff●…ctions, ere we fish in the troubled waters of other men's errors: But this Age confirms the Ass●…rtion of a wise Roman Senator: Suam cu●…usque culpam Authores ad causam tranferunt: Or, which Seneca writes in his Epistle to his friend Lucil: Many (saith he) my frierd Lucilius commit faults in Rome, but will in n●… case hear that they committed them: the Aedile lays blame upon the Quaestor, the Quaestor on the Praetor, the Praetor on the Consul, the Consul on the Censor, the Censor on the 〈◊〉.  
Apollogizing and defending errors, the greatest cherisher of them: For how is it possible we should am●…nd them, that will not confess we did commit them? But acknowledgement is a precedent direct●…sse to reformation, according to the Traged: word●…: Quem paenitet fecisse pene est innocens. In Moral 
〈◊〉.  Studies much excellent matter may be chose out of that mirror of Morals Plutarch; not only to instruct youth, in the Rudiments and Precepts of Virtue: As how to bear himself in all occasions, how to conceal and smother his passions, with a wise over-maistring of ●…is affe●…tions; and how to redress the multiplicity of Injuries by taking opportunity by the foretop. But even old men likewise, such as have seen many changes and alterations in their times, and were well nigh persuaded, that all the volumes of the world could not show them more, than they in the revolution of times had seen: But seeing instructions rare to them, and unaccustomed precepts fit for the maturest head to plod on, they then confess that their old age hath been a dotage, verefying— Addiscendo 
These times, old in years, but young in hours.  se semper senescere: Reaping more profit by o●…e Moral Precept, than a whole years Experience in worldly affairs.  
Many old men we have (that can discourse of the change of Princes,) whose Gray-hairs be as so many records of what they have seen: But alas, confer with them of true Moral experience, and you shall find them as young in hours, as old in years: Their knowledge in the Infancy, though their one foot in the grave, ready to bid adieu to the world, when they are half scarcely erudiated in the preventive sleights of this world: A simple age, when we have no other testimony that we have lived long, save only our Gray-hairs, and yet the general ignorance pleads pardon: None so generous as those which know the least, none of a ranked spirit, that will cast the ●…ie of a judicious applause, upon the meriting labours of any man.  
It is recorded, that Licinius, Coleague in the Empire 
The cause why Learning is contemned.  with Constantine the Great (being uncapable of learning himself) by reason of the slowness or barrenness of his understanding, was wont to call learning the very poison and public plague that infected the Realm: The Roman Historians, have applied this vanity of his, rather to his want of judgement, than any thing else, being not able to comprehend the benefi●…e of Arts.  
The like of Maximiman, who wa●… d●…sirous to attain some extraordinary height in ●…loquence; which when he could not (by reason of his natural duln●…sse) attain 
.  unto, he envied and maligned others. Many hau●… we that second these, glorying in their own●… ignorance, and making a ridiculous spectacle of Learning: as a superficial ornament to accommodate more to the threadbare Sophister, than the Generous 〈◊〉.  
I recall to mind the a●…cient presage upon all Arts, and the pr●…iction concurs well with this time: 〈◊〉 for a Philos●…pher, and smoke for a Coun●…. It was spoken in the declining age of the Rom●…n Empire, when Vice road in his foot-cloth, and Virtue (like a poor Iris●… Lackey) ran at his stirrup. But Moral learning illumines the intellectual power with a better and clearer foresight; showing the difference between goodness and appearance: for true Morals love not to garnish their portraitures with shadows.  
The best means to distinguish betwixt the ignorant 
.  and morally instructed, is to put them into their habiliments of ●…ature, send them both forth naked into the world, and their distinct characters will appear more manifest. Alas, the Moralist cannot discourse of what the world most affecteth; he sees the ambitious man roving at v●…setlded ends, meaning to engross the whole world to himself; he smiles at his illimited desires, and wonders whereto his fond pu●…poses tend: he considers the event, ●…re he take in hand the means, and hates desire of popular praise, or ostentation, lest he should grow proud by ●…orraigne observances: he entertains death with a cheerful 
To whom death is not terrible.  brow. Terror of death is not terrible to one prepared for her ere she come; always taking her, as one of the necessities of nature, and in●…uitable, meditating of her, as one— Qui finem vitae extremum inter munera ponit naturae. These considerations ever ●…ortifie a good Moral against the violence of all assaults inward and outward; apprehending his substance, and composition, to be such, as cannot barracadoe itself against the encounter of nature.  
Agathocles, that tyrant of Syracuse, in all his tyranny, 
An excellent observation by a Tyrant.  had a good Moral statue to represent to him the Idiom of his mortality; having the upper part of his Image made of Marble, Gold and ivory, but the feet of Earth, to intimate of how weak and infirm ground, he and his goodly promising person stood. O if we should but read the choice variety of Divinely composed sentences, comprised in those elaborate works of the ancient Moral Historians: they would move us to no less apprehension of our own weakness, then if some expert or curious Painter, (Apelles-like) should portray to us every part and lineament of this little man we carry about us. Morality (saith a good Moral) is man's Anatomy; it shows every 
Morality man●… Anatomi●….  part of his body, how composed, how disposed: and prescribes how this excellent composure may be best preserved: It deals not by predominancy of Planets, (as our ponderous burdens of Nature calculate,) but by an even symmetry of Virtues governing the inferior Spheres, the body's lineaments. Nor deals it like your fantastic physician, that bestows more charges on the Cover of his Instrument, than the Instrument itself: but by the covers debasement, augments the excellency of the Instrument, the divine faculties of the soul.  
But I may seem to run too far in this subject, confounding Moral History with Philosophy: which though I might defend for Moral Philosophy, is nothing else then a globe of Moral precepts drawn from Historical grounds; yet to make mine own passage mo●… smooth, I will descend to the next branch of History, entitled Physical.  
Histories Physical, be especially conversant in the search of the natures of things: approving that opinion of the Philosopher: Ea Physica sunt, quae Nature as rerum explorare solent: whether things animate or inanimate; in living Creatures, as in the search of Beasts, Birds, Serpents, and the like; and of vegetive Bodies, as Plants: In ●…reatures inanimate, as in the sc●…utiny of Me●…als, the distinct natures of stones, etc. Wi●…h which discourses the greatest Emperors have been delighted. Those admiral works 
The several kinds of physical observations.  of Pliny, Aristotle, and Aelian, with many others, are sufficient to erudiate the most incapable in these relations: where they do, Abdita rerum rimari. Here describing the very intimate natures of Beasts, the rar●… and incredible virtues of Plants, and Herbs, the virulent natures of Serpents, and the attractive powers 
These two beasts, in nature & feature different, by one peculiar Nation (Egypt) equally ●…euerenced,  of Stones, Metals, and the like. The Crocodile, a most dang●…rous beast, (●…requenting the River Nyl●…s) and a professed foe to man: The Ichneumon, a little creature, yet powerful in herself, and in her power a professed foe to the Crocodile.  
To set down the several properties of all, or of most sorts of Beasts, would crave an ample Volume of itself: I will only (as in my former discourse) express the use of Natural Histories, and to what persons most accommodate.  
We read of divers most famous Princes and Monarches to have applied their minds to the search of these studies: Alexander (otherwise most potent in 
What princes best affected these studies.  Arms, and sole commander of the world) addicted his mind to the scrutiny of these rarities: as may appear most manifestly by his letter (at this day extant) to his master Aristotle, containing the strange proportions of beasts, with their natures; which during his Indian war, he had observed: describing the strange and unheard of qualities of the 〈◊〉 Aspi●…kes, Cerasts, and many other kinds of Serpents, continually infesting his Army; professing (as he himself writeth) he found more difficulty in discomfiting beasts, than subduing men: for the one sort assaulted him when his Troops were well disposed, cheerful, and full of alacrity: but the other invaded him by night. Ita ut ne in castris quidem nimium ocij detur: Always was this puissant Prince much given to see the natural qualities of beasts, so as no present could be more grateful, or acceptable to him, than some strangely natured savage, making excellent use of this Theory, appropriated to the natures of men: which upon all occasions (with singular delight) he used to apply unto his Nobles disposition, which attended him.  
Those noble and courageous Dogs, which were sent 
Couragïous Dogs.  him by the Kings of Albany, much contented him: They would not stir at small beasts, disdaining them (as it were) in the overflow of their courage, contemning any encounter but with Lions, and Elephants. This magnanimity could the valiant Emperor apply well enough to himself: He saw his own nature delineated, or charactered (as it were) in their courage, Scorning to triumph on the conquered, solacing him ever with this extreme, yet cheerful comfort: Sup●…rest sperare salutem.  
The like desire of exploring the natural properties of beasts, possessed S●…torius: one no less provident, to shelter himself in adversity, then in all his actions continent, amidst his prosperity; who after his regiment in Spain, erected many places for taming of wild beasts, delighting exceedingly to see the aptness of some joined with a certain natural flexibility, and the backwardness of others, retaining ever a certain semblance of their first Nature, so 
Natures of Beasts.  d●…epely imprinted, as difficultly removed. Nay what Stratagems used he (by his white Har●…) to support and govern the whole Fabric of his declining 
〈◊〉 Ce●…ua 〈◊〉.  Estate: Implying that by his Hind, or Hart, he received instructions from Diana, which the people (with such superstition) believed, that by his glory he conquered envy, enlarging the bounds of his jurisdiction, and making his exile the symbol of his renown, till by the bloody conspiracy of Perpenna and Antoniu●…, he was deprived both of Crown and Life.  
Demetrius a worthy Soldier, and one well meriting of his Country, was much inclined to this Study: So as at home, if at any time sequestered from his more serious Affairs, he conceived exceeding pleasure and delight in the portraying of those beasts he had seen: Excellent he was in the frame of any similitude, but more divine in his own; being of that exact form, elegant constitution, and sweetly mixed ComplexionUt â pictoribus, sculptoribusque ei similis non potuerit effugi: A rare Model of Nature, when (by Nature) he was imparrale●…d.  
Alcibyades, no less deserving, yet worse censured, was well experimented in the Natures of Beasts, but more in Plants: having an herb, even to this day 
Natures of Plants.  (amongst our Apothecaries) called after his name. Alcybiadon- or the Wild bugloss.  
And for Metals, Minerals, or the like. None more 
Nature●… of Mines. Plutarch & Suet.  accommodated to such Studies then that Sovereign of Roman hearts Augustus, hearing his Lapidary Dioscorides with especial delight: So as in time he was not only able to distinguish of any Stone, but to describe their Natures: Using likewise the Art of Alchemy, more expert in their recalcinations (saith the Roman Historian) than the best Professors of that time, and consequently I may conclude then the gro●…se Quacke-saluers of our time.  
You see it is no disparagement for the Generous, 
Expedi●…nt not necessary.  or Heroic Spirit to be Studied in these Notions: since the peerless for Valour, and true R●…solution have Dedicated themselves unto them: yet would I not have them so besotted, or bewedded, to these Studies, as to forget more important intendments: I confess these are rather to make a man complete, then exactly necessary, and a superficial knowledge is sufficient for learning of this Nature▪ and well do I approve of that Ornament of Learning (the best lustre to the School of Arts) where he would rather have a Gentleman superficially seen in all, then profoundly learned in one: Too much retiring to these Studies, accord not with gravity or State, but to discourse (by way of reason) without Sophistical Argumenting well beseems the most Generous minds.  
It is an happy thing to keep a mean in wisdom, not to strive (i●… an overflow of understanding) to outstrip Nature, in the investigation or search of Natural things: A little will serve us in indifferent things, and more it relisheth of discretion, to know when we have enough; then, with an unbounded will of affecting knowledge, superstitiously to know more than Nature hath prescribed.  
This excess in desire of knowing, hath been a contagion, that hath infected and poisoned the mature●…t Studies: especially in things so impertinent, as when the pitch of that they expected was attained; Their knowledge conduced no more to the profit of the Repub: then if with Endymion they had sl●…pt their time, and passed their life over i●… a fruitless silence. It pleaseth the Orator to term such a Study— Invitilis mentis agitatio: Sailing in the troubled stream, where a more clear and calm passage doth show herself. Thus I approve in these Natural Discourses, a superficial Discursive Knowledge, to exclude Ignorance, but no such affective height, lest in so exquisite a search of Nature, we should show ourselves Naturals. We say the Generous should be but Mediocrit●…r Doctus: I need not insist upon the persuasion, we have too many of juvenals painted blocks in the way of Learning, that never mean to come nearer. So as I may 
〈◊〉 in●…lyta no●…ine truncus exhibuit.  answer, as an Athenian reasoned, what the cause should be why there was such an ebb of good wits in Athens: because (saith he) they run into the suburbs, and dwell with Lais.  
The best and ripest wits are most subject to corrupting, concording well with the native depravation of these times, where Medea's Rule is made an Axiom, every one with Lin●…ius seeing the best, but with blind Baiard, deprived of the eye of their election.  
Too much of them: our Treatise requires a better subject, than such stains to their Country's fame, and pristine honour, making her complain, as Rome did in time of old: Eone vos produxi, etc. Is this the fruit of 
●…one materna cura se provexit  my long labour, the freight of my race, and the reward of my motherly love, to bring you up, and then (like Vipers) to sting me that hath nourished you? Well then, my blessings must be turned of necessity unto execrations: and that breast which first nourished you with the milk of comfort, must be the very sepulchre to inter you that buried my honour.  
Thus did Rome hollow out her complaint against her ill-nurtured issue, and no less cause Albion against her undisciplined race, that seem as if they were, Fruges consumere Nati.  
But to proceed in our discourse: Histories of this Nature, are very needful for professors of Physic: for how should they conceive the true Art of composition, if the simples whereof the compounds are made, & their virtues be not perfectly known unto them? Brasevalus, de examine herbarum, exemplifies this discourse more fully, I will refer th●…m to that place, not entertaining that subject which is but superficially traduced to me; and I have always made that obs●…ruance (in way of axiom) to all my readings, which silvius ●…n his book, De Simplici●…. Medicament. inioyne●…h himself: What Art soever a man knoweth, let ●…im only exercise and use it: For otherwise he shall but descry his own Ignorance, as I have noted in some: Quos cum nes●…e piguit, mentiri n●…n pig●…bat. An odious scandal to a generous-minded Scholar, to write that which he is ignorant of himself; Less ashamed to lie, then to be defective in knowledge. But especially some we have of this sort, that lie upon their knowledge: Some (as in Traian's fabling Age) write Arts of Horsem●…nship, that never road otherwise then Agesilaus with his children, on Cockhorse. Others can exactly prescribe times for planting, sowing, reaping, and the like; playing the good Husbandman (I pray you mark him) that never read Virgil's bucolics: These are usurping wits, presuming on the affable censures of these depraved times. Ignorance can Apologize herself: for what writer now a days wears not that livery?  
To our History: These natural discourses of the qualities of Beasts, Birds, Serpents, and other Crea●…ures, be likewise especially ne●…dfull for Divines: ●…hey may amply dilate upon the admirable wo●…kes of their Creator, by the s●…ruey of his Creatures. For even all 
Embleme●… o●… Birds.  Birds and Beasts (if exactly considered) show the infinite power of the Almighty; not only in creating, 
The contemplation of the Crea●… ministe●… admiration in us toward our Creator.  but infusing such 〈◊〉 natures and dispos●…tions in them. The witty Emblematist also 〈◊〉 his pretty inventions from these resemblances; portraying the creature, and annexi●…g his device to the Portray.  
Nay, they are very motive persuasions to the acknowledging of our own weakness and infirmity: spurs to thankfulness, as that excellent Emblem where a Lark was parched, with these verses:  

Cantat Al●…uda Deo laudes gratissima summo, 
Vid. Sambucum & Alciat.   
Hinc nos ingratos grata lacescit avis.   
Englished thus.  

The early Lark her grateful mind displays,  
Discanting morn by morn her Maker's praise:  
Whence she doth tax such as unthankful be,  
That have more cause, yet give less thanks than she.   
We have many such witty Embl●…mes, well befitting the most Christian understanding to contemplat●…; drawing the inscrutable wisdom of God from the excellency of his Creatures: the diverse forms whereof generally varying, their different natures in few things concurring, and their continuance so mainly discording, may minister to the greatest Atheist, no less c●…e of admiration, then c●…use of execration of his irreligious and damnable opinion.  
Here the Hyene (as Pliny relates) can imitate the 
The distinct na●…ures of beasts expressed.  voice of any man, and that so nearly, as his voice can hardly be distinguished from the voice of him he imitateth, taking his denomination from the greeks, according to his natural rapine.  
There the Fiber, or Beaver (by what instinct human wisdom could never reach to) to satisfy his covetous pursuer, bites off his own stones, being the price (he knows) for which he is pursued.  
Here see the dissembling Sphinx, able to personate any p●…ssion, either of joy or sorrow. There the wonderful Nature of the Rhynocer●…s: the Lion so naturally vali●…nt, as not to be daunted; yet behold the silly Cock can make him tremble. Then represent to your generous reading, the natural enmity betwixt the Horse and the Bear, the Wolf and the Lion, the ●…ox and the Badger; such a native disagreeing remains among these beasts, as their hatred is implacable; ever pursuing their enemy with an inveterate hate: for an enmity engrafted by nature, cannot be suppressed by less than nature.  
Many conflicts were instituted in Rome (at solemnisation of any festival, or in remembrance of some memorabl●… exploit achieved) betwixt Beasts: whence the Romans gathered great knowledge, seeing the remissness of some natures, and the eagerness of others. Some of an unquailed spirit, yet in strength unable to maintain their spirit: others (like our unwieldy Epicures) sinewy and fleshy enough, have stre●…gth at will, but defect of cour●…ge so curbs them, as the overflow of ability wanes in the rising; not daring to encounter with one of less strength, but more vivacity.  
When Fabius Maximus went in Embassage to Pyrrhus, 
Vide Lucium Flor. in 1 lib. do Sab. Be●…l. & pos●…ea de bello Tarent. cap. 18.  Prince of Epire, with whom (at that time) the Romans had war: he denounced open hostility against him and his territories, for not performing some conditions included in the league. Pyrrhus to terrify Fabius, commanded his Guard to place an Elephant behind the Arras, that at their next pa●…ly, Fabius seeing so terrible a beast, might of his own accord solicit peace. But Fabius (though one at that time unacquainted with such sights, for never were any Elephants then seen in Rome) hearing him send out his hollow voice, replied: The sound of a Roman Ram will be more terrible than the voice of an Epyrian El●…phant. But these grew afterward to public spectacles: so as in any Triumph of some victorious, or puissant Captain, there were many Elephants, Ounces, Panther●…, Tigers, and other savage beasts slain, offering them (in triumphant manner) to the Temple of the Goddess Victoria.  
Varr●…, a Roman Peer, one to whom the Roman tongue was much indebted, did illustrate the Annals of Rome with their ceremonial triumphs; showing also 
Si multo sanguine victoriam obticuissent, Gallum: si absque sanguine, Bovem Marti i●…molarent. etc.  what beasts were wont to be sacrificed to the Gods, and for what cause that institution was observed; If the victory (saith he) was purchased with the loss of blood, they used to sacrifice to Mars, a Cock●…; but if without blood, they offered an Ox.  
These natural desc●…iptions of beasts are very delightful to the generous Reader; they are very fit for illustrating any Subject; making comparison betwixt the Natures of Beasts, Birds, or Plants, and other material subjects of our discourse; comparing lust, incest, and such lasci●…ious exorbitances to the Lapwing, represented by Tereus, the ravisher of Phylomele: Inferring by the Spider, arrogancy, or p●…ide, that durst compare with Pallas for preëminency. By the C●…rmorant, grating oppression, senseless and remorc●…sse of others miseries. Progue (i●… a Swallows habit) implying the swiftness of revenge to murder.  
In the Beasts of the Forest this may likewise be observed: the Lion (a fierce beast) of an heroic nature, contemning the dejected ones, nor caring to feed on Carrion: He is of a Majestic disposition, and hates to be ungrateful for the least benefits received: If the Mouse rid him of base servitude, he will find time to requite her love one way or other. This may represent the person of a King (for indeed he is the King of beasts) who scorns to triumph over the subjecteth, but to tyrannize over the proud.  
The El●…phant resembles a man priest down with honour; 
Resemblances in beasts.  being once down, he cannot rise: he is like some great man, who puf●…ed up with the prospero●… gales of his fortunes, can find no knees of legiance, or submission to either Prince or State; his joints are inflexible, and the load of his honour insupportable: once down, impossible to rise, but by some unusual occurrent.  
The Wol●…, (a State-gormandizer) preys upon the innocent, sucks the blood of the Orphan, i●…paires others means to enlarge his own: cruelty is the habilliment he best liketh, making the state a wild Forest for every Savage to live in, but a shambles for the poor silly Lambkin to suffer in.  
The Goat, your wanton and sensual Amorist, that skips here a●…d there, in every brake of vani●…y, till so entwined, as the sale of his repu●…ation makes him beg for a good Name: but the Eyes of General Observance are not so dazzled, they have seen his Heart, and registered his follies.  
The Bear, one that portends by his Birth, what he 
●…sus tanquam Orsus.  will be: an unhandsome piece of flesh; one that needs licking before he be brought to fashion: Heeres Natures deformity, charractring by the foulness of the body, the filthiness of his disposition: Tyrants we have had of this resemblance, who came the wrong way into the world, but to intimate what wrongs they would do unto the world. But now of tamer Creatures. 
Several pro●… resem▪ bling several persons.   
The Lamb cannot drink of a troubled Spring, no more can Innocence.  
The Hare ever sleeps with open eyes: so doth good Providence.  
The Coney is fruitful and fearful: So is Nuptial Chastity.  
The Emmet is in Summer ever foreseeing a Winter: Such is good Husbandry.  
Shall we proceed in Birds likewise, and examine their Natures?  
The Turtle for Constancy: The Cran●… for Vigilancy: The Rohin expresseth his love to Man: the Nightingale to women: None more industrious than the Lark, more laborious than the Wr●…: more odious to herself, and others, than the Cuckoo: More Heroic than the Eagle, more Base than the Buzz●…rd?  
Then observe what 〈◊〉 ins●…incts gi●…en to certain Birds, to prognosticate the events of things.  
The Crow a ●…ore-teller of what weather will come to pass. The halcyon or Seamew remarkable in prediction 
Vid. Aur. Vict.  of storms, and the Swallow, Crave, and many others, exact observers of Seasons.  
Other Birds there be that have more human feeling: Pliny reports that there be certain Birds which howl exceedingly at the Eclipse of the Sun; as if naturally moved by some (by some miraculous influence or instinct from heaven) to suffer with a Divine Body. so extremely suffering: Let us descend to Worms, Serpents, and Creeping things, we shall see in them distinct Qualities also.  
The Serpent Pareas, creepeth on his Tail, and with 
Natures of Serpents, and of Pagan 〈◊〉.  the sharpness of his belly makes a ●…urrow upon the ground where he crawleth.  
Strange things be reported of the Serpent S●…raphis, adored by the Egyptians as a God: Some feeding upon 
See the discourse of Asia, and Africa, entitled: The Far●…ell of Fashions. In Aulular.  raw flesh, intimating their ravenous Natures: Others on fish (as divers Serpents) living upon the Bank of the River Nilus: Others on Plants, and the fruit of Trees, which Plautus expresseth by the Vine-fretter.  Matura Uitis folia Inuoluolus carpit. 
But other creep●…ng Creatures there be very beneficial to human Society. The silk-worm, whose labours make our Silken-Gallants. To that excess are we come, as our bravery must be maintained, by the diligence of the simplest creatures, clothing our 
S●…ll. de contempt. Mundi. Singula solatia singulis malis obuiantia preparavit deus. August.  selves with the very Bowels of Worms: Wonderful is their Generation.  
The Add●…r in herself obnoxius and hurtful, yet she casts her skin (to express ●…er good meaning to man) an excellent cure to many diseases.  
The poor Worm, of herself, neither greatly harmful nor profitable, only (by a Synonomy b●…twixt M●…n and Her) she is the best Mirror of Humany Glory, an Emblem of our Mortality: and an importunate Guest that will come to banquet on our bodies, though not invited: She is called Uermis (quasi inermis) she can but turn again, that's all the defensive, or offensive weapon she hath ready.  
These silly contemptible Creatures be especial 
The worm a Motive of Thankfulness, and the best Character of human frailty.  Motives to a good Man, of Thankfulness: the ●…xample we read in that devout Father Anselm, who walking on day in his Garden, and seeing a poor worm crawling under his feet, presently applied this Christianlike use to himself.  
O Lord, thou mightst have made me like this Worm, contemptible and base, to live in the holes and caverns of the earth; But such was thy mercy, as thou wouldst not, bestowing on me thine own Image, that thy similitude might be glorified in me: A comfortable Meditation of a zealous Father, and wo●…thy our observation.  
We will now discourse of the skaly fishes in their 
Diversities of Natures in Fishes.  kind, that the Majesty and Power of God (by giving such diversity of Natures to Fishes) may appear in the Depths, as before it was manifestly expressed upon the earth, and all dry places: Here is a tyrannic power even in the Ocean, and an absolute government without restraint of power: Here is a Musical concordancy likewise; a Diapason of Sea-inhabitants. The Dolphin playing a soft strain, resembling a 
julis vide Plinium quam ●…nacem piscem appellat, etc.  mean: the Sturgeon (swimming against the Stream) sharpens her Note, more near a Treble: the ●…ulis a smooth Counter-tenor, and the rolling Porpoise the Base.  
Here is great enmity likewise for predominancy: 
Contention amongst ●…ishes.  And that amongst the greatest, the Ork with the Whale: The Cuttell with the Thorne-backe; the Sea-horse with the Sea-urchine: Many rare ver●…ues in little Creatures: With what strangeness the R●…mora (a fish of small bigness) holds a Ship, when in her full Sail? How wonderfully the Torpedo delivers herself, being taken by the unhappy Fisher? Disgorging her own bowels, to stupefie the Taker, with an uncouth amazement.  
The Acipenser, or which Pliny calls, Sacer piscis, feeds on nothing but man's flesh, implying a caveat to man: that having so many enemies even in Earth, and not free from them in the Depths, should not spend his time in security, but prevent the enmity of all creatures by a diligent and vigilant care to himself. Long could I protract this discourse, but two material parts of this Relation with hold me from insisting longer: The first whereof first offering themselves, be Plants and Vegetative Bodies.  
The wis●…st of all Kings was much conversant in 
The Study of Kings in Plants, Herbs, a●…d Fruits, etc.  these Studies, knowing every Tree, every herb, and every flower: A Cedro Libanon usque ad Hysopum supra parietem: An excellent commendations in a King; not addicting his mind to other things than the purchase of Knowledge, even in inferior things: that a generality of knowing, might make him worthy of governing.  
Probus the Roman Emperor, who succeeded Florianus in the Empire, was much addicted to Planting, and distinguishing the natures of Flowers, the virtues of Plants, with proper observances accommodated for the knowledge of all seasons, apt for grafting, Stilling and the like: Planting the Mountain Almus scited near Syrmius, and the Mount Aureus in Maesia the Higher, with Vines.  
The like we read of Galerius Maximinus, Surnamed Armentarius, and many others of the Romans, whose diligence was much employed in such pleasant affairs.  
Resemblances in these vegeta●…iue Bodies, requires observance; To see the Vime like a fruitful mother 
To wha●… especial resemblance these 〈◊〉 be accommodate.  of many fair children, sending out her ripened ●…lusters, fair blossoming Sprigs, and infinite store of pretty Slips, imitating their Mother's fruitfulness, and bending with her own Burden, as not able to support herself without some stay or up-holder: The pitiful Elm stretcheth her arms out to bear her up, in pure compassion moved to help her, that in herself and f●…uitefull Issue, was so helpful unto others.  
The Vine seems sometime to weep (for tears indeed she sheds) as if in Throws and pain of her labour: These tears distilling from the Vine cure the 
Plinius.  Leprosy: So as she seems both Fruitful and Sovereign, yielding no less comfort in her tears, than verdure in her sprays.  
Many of these teare-shedding Trees there be, as 
Teare-shedding Trees.  the Myrrh, dropping Amber, and the Rosined Fyrrh: These by allusion may seem to commiserate our unhappy states subjecteth to miriads of anxieties, by the taste of one Tree, whose dismal fruit made us wretched.  
Some Trees we have for harbour and Shadow one●…y, resembling our dissembling Professors; whose external appearance makes great show of a fruitful inside, when nothing, save a mere naked pretence of Piety, remains in them.  
Others for fruit, without any store of blossoms, and such be they as desire rather to be good, then so accounted.  
Some Trees pine away, as if surprised with an 
Buxus amator●… languere similima visa est, pallor inest illi pall●…t & omnis amans. Alciat.  amorous passion, exemplified in the Box: Others show by their freshness, to whom they are consecrate, as the Myrtle.  
Some lose not their colour in Winter, like the patient man, who beleaguered with the worst of fortunes oppositions, never changeth countenance for the matter: but like that Venetian Motto writ in Triumph: Nec stuctu nec statu movetur.  
Others not subject to any hurt by Thunder, as the Bays: resemble the sincere Conscience, not discomfited with any assault, or dismayed with any terror.  
Sweet Odours, Flowers, and all other Beauties strewed upon this Artificial Carpet garnish the earth, as the internal virtues inhabiting the mind do the 
A resemblance of Odou●…s, Flowers and other Beauties to the inward Graces & Ornaments of the mind. Of Precious Stones. julium Caesarem spe Margaritarum, Britanniam pet●…se.  Soul: This discourse more concerning the Hearbist, than Historian, makes me more brief in the handling hereof.  
For Stones, and all kinds of Minerals, it is a knowledge worthy Gentlemen: wherein I may likewise comprehend the ancient knowledge of Coins, in what emperors time, and their several inscriptions.  
We read how julius Caesar came into Bri●…tany in hope to find Pearls; though Caligula's traffic seemed less worthy, commanding his Soldiers to gather Cockleshells.  
It is a very generous quality, (and sometimes he shall be put to his judgement) to distinguish rightly and ●…xactly of sapphires, Emeralds, Diamonds, etc. This requires exact judgement, justres may be given to Glass, as well as Diamond: Adulterate Gems, pass current with our Novice: The Silversmiths of ●…phesus have instructed ●…his age sufficiently, and fraud must be incorporate to every Profession.  
If these Gems, I talk of, were ornaments of the mind, I should desire longer to insist upon them: but being (as these times use them) rather foments to ensnare and entrap, then attractive motives, according to their Native Properties, being ordained as resemblances of virtues: I will not dilate of their values, only of their power, more pertinent to my Discourse, and better according with my knowledge, who Aeschylus-like, have long time drawn water out of another's Cistern, but never filled mine own Bucket.  
Many excellent virtues of Stones, doth Pliny in 
The ver●…ues of Stones described.  his Natural History set down unto us: As some have power to frustrate the effect of poison: Others very powerful against the operations of Magic Spells, Witchcraft, and the like: But as a judicious Commentary writes of him: Mul●…a scribit, quae mehercule vera non existimanda s●…nt: Yet to stand in suspense with us (for the reverence of such a learned Author) because their effects have not been as yet tried of us.  
Many things (I confess) seem by all probability like the Amalga, to have more Moon than Sun in them: But the experiments which we have in some, makes us more credulous in others. 
The patient man like ●…he Stone Gallasia; Hard as the Diamond, cold like Ice, not to be fired. Or the Stone Amazantus, once on fire will never go out.   
The Diamond (whose Character is not to be razed) resembles the pure Impressions of virtue we have received, and which is traduced to us by the intellectual eye of the soul, which in no case should be razed or abolished in us, but to be augmented with a greater increase of virtues: It resembles also the truly Charitable man, that to do good to others, impairs his own fortunes: For the best Motto that ever was made of the Diamond was this: Dum formo, minuo.  
The stone Mithrax (saith Pliny) is of a perfect colour, till opposed to the Sun, and then it looseth 
Strange effects in Stones.  his colour: It alludeth to many of our painted sepulchres, our She-puppets: None more clear, or amiably-coloured than they, till the Sun glitter on them, and their slightly laid on varmish, presently then dissolveth: Quantum mutatur ab Illa: True Sodoms Apples, no sooner touched, then to dust and corruption turned.  
Topaz, her opposite (in Native virtue) shineth most in the thickest darkness: The very Idea of Virtue herself: The Clouds cannot interpose themselves betwixt her, and her Native lustre: The Glow-worm glisters 
Allusions of certain Stones to internal graces.  not more by night, than it doth in obscurity: A precious Stone fittest for these times, and an ornament wel-beseeming the greatest parsonage: For the Cloud of Error should not be able to obscure their thoughts, ever bending their course to the mark of honour.  
To recount the virtues of all, were a superfluous task, for so should I make a Collection merely of what hath been wri●…ten before, I only set down with myself, to extract the speciallest, and to make resemblances of them with the Native proportions of such things as are most usual objects to our outward senses. I will briefly touch the admirable devices of Minerals, and so proceed to my intended 〈◊〉.  
Mines the lower laid, the better: in them we disbowell 
Of Mine●…als.  (as it were) Nature of her hidden Treasure●…; yet the earth, like a kind and bountiful Mother, willingly unrips her own breast, to enrich her children, the divers veins, and ●…ordons which we find there, like hidden or concealed streams, having filled up their Treasure-channels (because so long time vn●…mptied) minister store of all Metals unto their Digger.  
C●…sar in his Commentaries, seems greatly to have delighted herein, ha●…ing so quickly found out with what sorts of Metals, these Britaine-coasts most abounded: Some we have of these Mineralists that by the supe●…fices of the earth, can judge, what kind of metal best agrees with that Soil; and without pier●…ing the ground (can prettily well) presage the event of their labour: Their Studies deserve cherishing, being grounded on honest foundations, and such as ha●…e much be●…efited their Country by their industry.  
The North-part in their Copp●…r-workes most laborious, merit their share of commendations; 
The northpart famous for Copper-work, by their labour and industry yielding no small benefit t●… their coun●…ry.  both profiting themselves, and yielding an amp●…e gain to the King's Revenues out of their labours. The most precious Mines have been ever found out in Regions least inhabited, and where the Inhabitants could make little or no use of so large a bounty of Nature, as to this day among the Indians, men that would exchange their preciousest things for trifles: like Aesop's Cock, preferring a Barley-corne before a pearl.  
Yet in these labours (in themselves praiseworthy) I altogether disallow such (of which our reading ministers too many examples) that have digged the Sepulchres of the dead, to find some hidden treasure buried with them. A sharp law was enacted (for this end) amongst the Egyptians, (which nation used to inter their chiefest jewels with the dead party) that whosoever should violate the sacred rites of the dead, by digging up their Treasures inchested with them, should be buried quick.  
A pretty story to this purpose is recorded of Semiramis, 
A pretty cau●…ion for a miser.  that valiant Q●…eene of Assyria, who before her death, commanded that a fair Monument should be erected over her, upon which should be engraven this Inscription: Whosoever shall dig up this stone, let him but look under it, and he shall find an infinite mass of treasure. Cyrus' having conquered that people, chanced to come where that curious monument was erected; and seeing this Inscription upon it, presently commanded the stone to be taken up, which being done accordingly, he found no treasure, but this caution of better value than all treasures: None but Fools and Mis●…rs would dig up the bones of the dead. A reward well fitting the miserable desire of an insatiate mind.  
I might annex to this Discourse, the excellent study of Antiquities, and speak in part of them, But our coast is freighted with such elaborate Antiquaries, as the digression might seem less necessary: through all the body of this discourse (including Physical Relations) I have but shadowed the chiefest, without intention to entreat of ●…uery particular, using Ualerius Maximus words: Quis omnis ●…ui gesta modico voluminum numero comprehenderit? I will descend to Mixed Hist●…ries, which was the last branch of my division.  
Mixed Histories are composed, or compounded of 
Mixed 〈◊〉  all those three, of which we have sufficiently entreated before. Variety of subjects best agree with the frame of these writings: they express to the quick, not only what was done discursively, but what should have been done morally, and deriving the event from probable causes, arising from nature, they conclude their 
Mi●…t Histories composed of all kinds.  discourse, making it universal. Some have styled these Miscellaneae, because a commixture of all affairs; they playing the Moral Philosopher as well as Historian: comprehend all which the other could any way seem to entreat of; bei●…g the abridgement of all relations, and in themselves sufficient to produce incredible effects: they require especial reading, ripe judgement, and an apt disposition withal to make their members, so diversly hanging, unite in one main body.  
I approve of Sallust's opinion: Ex iis Negotijs quae ingenio ex●…rcentur, in primis magno usu est memoria rerum gestarum. Yet of all those Records, none in themselves more eminent, because none more elaborate than mixed Histories: they contract in one leaf (as it were) what a whole volume could scarcely comprehend. There must be a general knowledge in these discourses, 
These requir●… a general knowledge, & extend furth●…r then all the rest.  making a well-composed body of many scattered limbs, gathered from the relics, or ashes of their deceased Authors. For as a good Limber will not see any blemish in his portraiture; but (ere he hang it out) will desire to make every part and proportion in a kind of correspondency, to move a more deep impression in the beholder: So should there be an equal correspondency in these kind of Histories, letting no discourse pass (if of consequence) without a mixture of both Moral and Physical reasons; lest one little blemish (one omission of either) should be a disparrage to the whole. Here Antomedon-like, he should set out virtues table, making his life a globe of precepts: There, like an excellent Naturalist, he should dilate upon the natures of things, or probable reasons (as I said before) de●…iued from Nature. The masterpiece (like the warp●… in the web) is Discourse: for these Buttresses, without a main foundation, would soon decay.  
Wits compared to Soils: some naturally fruitful, without forci●…g: others, without continual labour and ●…illage, will bring forth nothing but tars (or the Husbandman's tears) Some fit for Barley, others for Wheat, Oates, or the like: and some most apt for Missellane. 
A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of wits.  So in wits, some naturally ripe & forward; others require a more deliberate dispatch: the o●…e more pres●…nt, the other more solid. P●…egnant & ripe wits are not so good, they are like a Rasorkeene and sharp●…, but his edge is soon rebated. One compared them, & not unfitly, to soft wood, ready to receive any impression from the Limber; but for warping, is unable to keep, and therefore not fit for any worthy, or curious Portraiture. Such wits are these, which be rather fit apt ●…or invention, then judicious scanning of any Author: they can invent, better than extract; and consequently unfit for these mixed Discourses whereof we now entreat,  
Exquisite labour is the producer of these Histories; which (for the most part) is intolerable to your sharpest wits; being rather for the present, than any serious deliberation.  
Sallust in his jugurthine War, includes a pretty commixture of Histories; as if he had intended to 
Example of mixed histories.  make a precedent for relations of this kind, where he brings in Micipsa upon his deathbed, speaking to his sons: Equidem ego regnum vobis trado fi●…mum: Si boni eritis, sin mali imbecillum. Wherein he so lively characters the state of Pri●…ces, and the moral instruction of a Father dying, to his C●…ildren, with the several natures and dispositions ●…f ●…hem; that it seems he purposed to instance t●…is kind of writing in so excellent a subect. Here he shows dissimulation in a Prince, even at his end: there an unworthy plot of an adopted son, seeking to reign by indirect means. Here Micipsa exhorts them; with, colite talem hunc virum, imitamini virtutem. Yet he intimates withal, his fear of aspiring, seeing his nature so boundless. There he describes the jealous doubts, and perplexed windings of Adherball; there the drooping spirit of Hyempsall, and the royal disposition of jugurth: so as by reading their divers natures, one might conjecture for whom the government of Numidia was reserved.  
These Histories are most fruitful, they draw both 
Mixed Histories ●…ost fruitful.  attention, and they comprehend in them great plenty of instruction. Attention by their variety, instruction by their morality; including a pe●…swasiue kind of writing in the one, and a delightful proceeding, or continuance in the other.  
Some Historians in this kind, and not unfitly, lay open the causes of decays in Cities, Empires, and Governments: as Rome's fall proceeding from her Pope's pride, Babylon's from her riot, the Medes from her security, the Tyrians from their sumptuousness in apparel; the Christians (in Eastern parts) more to their shame, and our grief, from their civil dissension among themselves.  
Thus have the flourishingest Commonweals fallen to desolation, and dissolution, their highest spires ruinate, their Temples, with their places, of profane adoration, defaced; nothing remaining to boast of, 
Causes precedent directors to the events.  save that they once were happy, once victorious. Yea jugurth himself seems to express the cause of Rome's ruin; showing how subject they were (even the purple Fathers, the reverent Benchers) to take bribes, & receive ointments, which would close their mouth for speaking in the Commonweals behalf. For when he was complained of, unto the Senate, for the murder of Hyempsall: and the Senate having then government over Numidia in chief; which Realm (as others) w●…s tributary to them, commanded jugurth to appear before them upon such a day; fully resolved to punish his insolences. He so wrought by rewards, as their censure was not only mitigated, but (as the Historian records) Tanta commutatio incessit, ut ex maxima invidia in gratiam & favorem nobilitatis jugur. veniret. A strange Metamorphosis, when states were so soon changed, which portended a sudden change of their government, falling from so great glory, and ●…minence, to eternal obscurity.  
Many Histories of these natures there be, which depend 
Distinct proprieties in all Historie●….  upon apt allusions, equally mixed with Discursive, Moral, and Physical: Discursive to delight and trick on the appetite, by a sweet variety; seeing the change of great states in a few leaves; being a speech merely documentall, to better our lives, teach us what should be done, as well in private as public. Physical, in the character of several ●…atures, aptly accommodated to the subject whereof we ent●…eate. With wh●…t delight do we read the divers inclinations of Princes? Here 
Inclination●… different i●… Princes.  a Catyline, doing little, and ●…peaking much: there a jugurth, doing much, ●…nd speaking little. Here ●… Philip drunk, and in his drunkenness raging against his foes: there an Alexander, drunk too; but in his passion raging against his best friends. Here a Caesar, than whom, none ever 〈◊〉 more good to his followers: there a Nero▪ then whom, none more desertless to his followers. Here a working crafty wit, stirring up trifling rewards, to contain him in suspense; instanced in Ti●…erius: there an affable mind, set out in threadbare words, one that could never flatter; specified in Titus.  
These several natures we may see, and mark what success they had: some, the more thinking, the more not knowing what to think: yet to observe the work of Heaven, seldom, or never have these suspitio●…s heads cause to rest; but th●… more they suspect, the more motives they have to suspect: for this craft is always hateful, and procureth enemies: sub●…ill counsels being odious unto the world, and so dis-favoured of God, that they are alwaye●… waited on, and attended with most unprosperous ends. We shall see in profane 
Virtue ever ●…ttended with a prosperous end.  stories a main diversity, even in the simplest and shallowest understandings, the subtilest sconces the means of their own decay; as in Sejanus, who in the opinion of his own worth, grew in time, Ferox sceleris: Such aspiring spirits be (for the most part) used like Sponges, wet with their spoils and extortions, 
Policy her own ●…ine exemplified.  with which being a long time soaked, they are ●…t last crushed and condemned, that th●…ir long gathered wealth might return to the Prince's Coffers. trajan used ●…o call the Treasury, or Exchequer (by way of comparison) the Spleen, because it increasing, brings to all the other parts a pining.  
The simple (or Innocently imagining statist) comes ever to an expected end in his hopes; as they are not great, so not subject to so great an Eclipse: yea, the hopes of these men attain sometimes ends above expectance: Such was H●…luius Pertinax his success, who (never aiming at the Title of Emperor) was crowned when he was from thoughts of Titulary honour most sequestered: R●…pugnansque suscipiens using a kind of withstanding ere he would entertain so great a weight. And in all histories, if we observe the divers occurrents which befell men in great and eminent places, we shall see ever the honestest purposes seconded with the happiest events; and the disproportion of the end ever sorting with the discordance of the mind: for the intention is discussed by him that layeth the foundation, and (of all Empires in dust at his pleasure) breathing ever upon the sincere purposes of the good, and confounding the deep defigues (upon what pretence soever grounded) of the evil.  
In Mixed Histories (as the scope whereat they ai●…) is mixed part with profit, and part with delight, to 
What subject best concord●… with mixed Hi●….  make the Discourse m●…re complete: So should the seriousness of the subject attract a kind of Majesty to it; for impossible it is, either with trimness of words, propriety of aptly-annexed, and duly-applied sentences, or any other elegancy whatsoever, to make a subject (of itself light and frivolous) bear the portray of state: For words (if well applied) illustr●…te, and add●… a beauty, but not any way better the weight of the matter. 
Three things necessarily required in Histories of thi●… nature.   
There be three things which be especially required in Histories of this nature, to make them perfect: first Truth, in ●…incerely relating, without having any thing (as Tacitus observeth) ●…austum ex van●…, foisted in by our own invention, to smooth the passage of our story.  
Secondly, an explanation in discovering, not only the sequels of things, but also the causes and reasons drawing to the conclusions.  
Thirdly, judgement in distinguishing things by approving the best, and disallowing the contrary.  
For the first, stories should be true, or at least resemble 
Histories should be true  truth, because by so much, they are more pleasing, by how much they resemble truth the nearer; and so much more graceful, by how much more probable and doubtful: we have many Histories (even of this kind) mixed, that comprehend in them nothing less than truth: yet by their smooth carriage, and their proper▪ circumstances with such aptness drained and disposed, they have been taken for truth, and registered amongst works of more s●…rious consequence.  
Such were those Apologae Fabulae (whereof we have in part spoken before) which contained in them many pithy and grave 〈◊〉, and worthy observation in the excellentest Moral: these are fitly called by Tully, Mirrors of Man's life, Patterns of Manners, and Images of truth. Their near resemblance of truth, made the reader more attentive, subjecting his ear to Discourses probable, more than to things surpassing the bounds and limits of belief, as producing unheard of miracles (mere conceptions of the brain) phanaticke Chimeras: A Giant immured in a rock, yet able to pierce it through, win a whole Monarchy with his own single hands, lead a multitude of King's captives, and return home without a wound. Here strange Enchanted Castles, Ladies and Knights detained in most base servitude by an Airy Monster: there admirable victories purchased upon incredible, odds: and to be believed, it pleaseth the Painter so to delineate their virtues.  
But of these erroneous stories there be some observe no method, planting an Arcady in a Brittanny: 
Absurdities in Historians of our time.  as if by some supernatural accident there were a transplantation of Regions, or some Earthquake in the Author's brain, whence this immane coloss of an irregular Discourse proceeded. Which strange representations be not unlike to your Lanskip; where upon the sea, whatsoever we see, by land, seems in our sail to go with us: Even so do these vain Historians make strange objects unto us, of places impossible, transiting whole Countries to make an impolished strain of pastoral music (one good bellwether would make as perfect harmony) sound well in a Clowns ear.  
To be short, my opinion positively is this: That Historian which can join profit with a modest delight together in one body or frame of one united discourse, grounding his story upon an essential truth, deserves the first and principal place: and he who (upon a feigned discourse) can proportion it to a likeness of truth, merits the next. As for him that (like one of Duke Humphrey's Knights) observes neither mean nor measure, but gorge their own insatiate appetites with full messes of untruths (without probability) should be dealt withal, as that wandering Italian Squire was used, for his monstrous lying: Tossed in a Blanket, till his erring spirit by suffumigations, or some such like means, were canvased out of him.  
Great blemishes these be to so reputed a Profession, aiming neither at profit nor modest delight, but imitating your Mercenary Actors, spurt out some obsoene jest to make a profane Rogue applaud him: and sure if the strict doom, and censure, of banishment, were to be inflicted upon any kind of learning, rather should it be pronounced against such as these than any. The Pagans have abhorred them and much more odious should they be in a Christian Commonwealth, where virtue should be the scope of all our actions.  
They are like some Comedies we read now a days; The first Act whereof is in Asia, the next in Africa, the third in Europa, the fourth in America: and if Ptolomeus, or Marcus Paulus had found out a fi●…fth part of the world, no question but it had been represented on their universal Stage: Such as these aught to have some distinct language, Utopian, or some other grunting tongue eng●…ossed to themselves: For they should profit more, by being less understood. Much they speak of valour, and many imaginary Heroes are pitching their Pavilions; But I will take my leave of them with my French Proverb: Beaucoup de bruit, è peu de fruit: Much bruit, but little fruit: battles more fierce (by report) than 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 
Explanation in discovery of causes.  discovery of the causes, with a direct and gradual proceeding to the sequels: As thus; in description of a solemn Just, 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 implied as inserted; But in Festivals, solemn Games, events of Duellors, or public Trials: The causes forcing should and ought to be as well deciphered, as the ends succeeding: How should we have known of the uniting of the Sabines with the Romans, 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 certain concordancy) amongst most of the Roman Writers agreed on; standing (though with too nice prec●…senesse) I confess upon the place, occasion, and hour of the day, with such a lively Transcription, as if the Sabine Rape had been committed in their time.  
The like we read of the destruction and utter subversion of the Gabians, in the time of Tarquin Superbus: The general union of Historians, about the time, place, and occasion, so concordantly jumping, as if all those proceedings (as well in the Stratagems by Tarquin's youngest son, as the very Contents of 
A concord in circumstances amongst Historians.  that Letter writ by the father to his son, for the management of this exploit) had been set down by one pen.  
The like in that Combat, or bloody Banquet rather of Thomyris her eldest son, and the Persian Cyrus, with such native descriptions of every circumstance, the River Araxis, the place of their passage, the reasons which moved Thamyris to suffer their passage, and the very plot where their Tents were pitched, their dainty viands left for the Scythian surfeit, in what sort prepared, & how insatiably desired by the Scythian army, coming rather to feast then to fight: And then their defeat, being there vanquished, where they were most confident of victory.  
In these explanations, the Reader should not be delayed, or frustrated too much in his hopes, by unnecessary ambages: We should not trifle out the time in vain and impertinent repetitions, it cloys and satiates the appetite too much: not unlike to your great feasts, reserving the choicest dainties for the end, when the appetites of the Guests are satisfied before they come: It is a good frugal course, and includes an Occonomicke policy, their best dishes may be preserved for another time: He that discovers events and sequels without their precedent causes, is as one that would draw a River dry, without knowing whence the Spring is derived: applying the conclusions of things, as it pleased the Ethnics in ancient time, to reserre them to the arbitrament of Fortune; making ever this womanish argument: The event was so, because it was so; and it was so because fate would have it so: answering Titus' opinion, Potestates fato dari: But these which thus apply the course of all conclusions to fortune, be as blind as Fortune: Nay, far more; for though Fortune be blind, yet she is not invisible: But these men are not only blind in the eye of common sense, but invisible in the composure of their own Arguments; their Conclusions being as blind as themselves.  
In making likewise our judgement of Histories, and considerately applying it to our present interests, we must specially regard the dispositions of the Agents, and diligently remark how they are affected in mind, this is the least dece●…uing ground of forming opinion: By the nature of the Agent, conjectural events or reasons of events may be drawn: As if an ambitious man be employed in Embassage twixt Prince and Prince, he is to be suspected that his Treaty will be less happy, in that his illimited Passions oftimes, rather aggravate than allay causes of civil discord. Men of moderate dispositions, purchase peace with less ado, and more successful; For Princes (balancing their own wrongs, to their apprehension insupportable) cannot endure braving▪ but 
The Event gathered by foregoing causoes.  will rather try the extremest of Fortune, then be unworthy of themselves, by hearing and bearing affronts with patience.  
The like we have observed in the success of war, a wise and experienced Leader, to have accomplished great matters with a handful of men; and that Aphorism 
Tanti esse exercitum q●…nti imperato●…m Luc. Fl●…r. 2. lib.  to be very true: Better is an Army of Hearts, with a Lion to their Leader, than an Army of Lions, having an heart to their Leader: And contrary wise the unhappy events of most flourishing Empires, the miserable slaughters of most puissant Armies, by the unadvised government of their Agents, or tyranny of their Regent's, whose improvidence made much people unfortunate: To see Han●…iball once a Conqueror, because his hopes were not seated on indirect means, and by his own traculent disposition, to become a prey to the conquered, makes ●…his Assertion good.  
Many examples we have of the like, where the Nature of the Agent ill affected, crossed not only the success of hopeful designs, but buried their Names in oblivion, of such I speak, as have been interested in the like adventures. 
Contempt of Religion, the cause of realms subversion.   
As sometimes where the Agents have been neglectful of Religion; depending more upon their own proper resolutions, than the power of heaven directing all human a●…aires to their appointed ends: As we may read in that memorable disaster of the Romans at Can, where the Consul 
This even the very Heathens have observed.  V●…ro, with a populous Army of experienced Soldiers, was utterly discomfited; and that (as the Roman Historians have observed) because of juno's wrath conceived against Uarro, for erecting (in derision of jupiters' Temple) a Mimicke-boy to keep watch, as the solemn order was.  
The like of Potitius detracting from the honour of Hercules: The like revenge inflicted on Virilius by Aesculapius: By juno Lacinian Q. Fulv: By Proserpina 
In aur●…am cr●…teram Delphos perferendam curasset. Valer. Max.  on Plenimius: By jupiter, on that sacrilegious Tyrant Dionysius: By Apollo on the Pirate-prince Thymasitheus: On Alexand●…r by C●…res.  
Sometimes by the libidinous disposition of the Governor, other sometimes by his Avarice: now and then by his Impatience, and most of all by his recklesnesse, have the sequels of things proved less fortunate, because the precedent motives, or instruments directing to the end, had no better likelihoods in them.  
We wonder not at all, to see troubled water come from an v●…cleere Spring: Nor at tars growing in the sluggards field; but we admire successive ends, drawn from improbable causes: Many times there be (I confess) intrinsical motives, which like, as that Beauty is the best which cannot be expressed by the Painter, so arrogates it the chiefest place (that inwardly moving cause, I mean) because, the efficient cause of causes, more sure, more infallible than the evidentest demonstration: And I have (for my part) ever superstitiously 
Such things as be above us, be not to be argued of us.  feared to bring such causes in Question: since such Arguments have ministered no small occasion to the profaner wits, both of Ancient and Modern times, to bolster their insufficient opinions: As to arguethus': here we see a flourishing Commonweal supporting herself by no other mean●…s than justice; reaching to as high a perfection in every degree, of as exact government, as the blindness of the time would permit: Yet this State (so flourishing) laid waste by a people exposed to all impieties: Here the end can hardly be collected by the foregoing cause. Equity was in the conquered, Tyranny in the Conqueror: Here is a main discrepancy in the beginning, and conclusion; and the active causes ordinarily moving seem (Cardine Uerso) to oppose themselves. It is true; But tell me (whosoever thou art) that Lucian-like composest this Argument: Is he that sets up, and confounds, what Empires as b●…st pleaseth him, tied to means, or secondary causes? There is no Realm which for some abuse or other, hath no●… deserved to lose her glor●…; and herei●… doth the Majestic power of heaven show abundant mercy, to some Kingdoms in chasti●…ing them before they come to the height of sin, that their eclipse of glory, might be an increase unto them of virtue; their ●…bbe of honour, an occasion of acknowledgement of their Creator.  
For even in the best Commonweals, we read, 
Kingdom●… 〈◊〉 to acknowledgement by the taste of ●…seties.  that the experiment of some external misery or disaster, hath reduced them to more ripe consideration of themselves, and an exact search in themselves, discussing the causes of the God's indignation against them. Present extremities are of that force to human bodi●…, that the present apprehension of their woe, seems in some sort to extenuate their pride, in●…lameth Religion, ●…iteth men to undertake a labour for the benefit of their Country (with the loss of themselves) to appease the wrath of the Gods. This was the cause why the Romans used to have the gate of the Temple lanus open in war, but shut in peace: For Nec●…ssity (as well in these times as in Pagan times (useth to be the mo●…e of devotion.  
Explanation of causes, is an elucidary or examply●…g, as it were of the matter whereon we entreat: Happy (saith t●…e Poet) is he, that hath known, or doth 
Causes directo●…ies of eu●…nts.  know, the principal causes of things, as well precedent as su●…uent: Events may be known (I confess) without their causes, but so defective is that knowledge, as the Co●…ntrie Shepherds prediction is of weather: His observances are causeless because Artless, judging of the Cloud (by usual approbation) making experiment his ground, without recourse had to Natural causes: To show the destruction of Troy by Alcides, without explaining the perfidious dealing of Laomed●…n: or of Troy's second subversion, without the rape of Helen: or of Rome's translated Aristocracy, without relation made of those civil wars, planting C●…sar in his Mona●…chy; or of that ample and potent Empire of Media translated to the Persians, without the precedent causes arising from the glory, and eternal renown of Cyrus, would make a confused History, as if the former chaos were 
A disposition, yet not limited, an order yet not coacted, a means yet not enforced: Qui enim (Si voluit) omnia si●…e medijs creare potuit, ea etiam siae medijs (Si voluit) servare potuit.  reduced to her first indigestion: causes are the Springs of Events.  
If we should read the divers effects of glory, the sundry moving causes of perpetual honour, amongst the Romans, we would admire them: Some having raised themselves to an exceeding eminent pitch of greatness, and that by as unaccustomed means, Selfe-affiance, or Confidence of their own valour, instanced in Cne: Scipio, publicly proclaiming: That nothing was more generous than this Confidence, more infallible than Prediction, more powerful than celerity in dispatch, or more eminent than the digni●…y of the Person: The like of Scipio 
Many Kingdoms much renowned, by that means, which makes them most debased: Selfe●…ceit.  Aemilian●…s, Scipio N●…ca, Furius Phyl●…s, Luc. Crassus, M. Scaurus▪ and many others, whose greatest fame was purchased by that mean, which useth to be the greatest error i●… human society, 〈◊〉 of a man's own deservings: Which likewise hath been ruin to many populous and most puissant Empires. Then to divert our eye to an opposite of Conceit, and that is Modesty, or a silent shadowing of their own demerits: Excellent and memorable examples whereof may be produced out of Valeria: M●…ximus in his 4. Book, entreating of Modesty: where he observes (by way of explanation,) the meriting parts of many, whose resolutions shadowed, made the lustre of their Country more eminent.  
Likewise to describe, the strange, and unexpected, rising of some, Qui p●…steris fuere nobilitatis initium, & virtutis exemplum: Borne of nothing; yet by some private endowments, either of i●…sinuating, as the ignoble wits: or of State-obserui●…g, as those elated Natures, grieved (as it were) with the obscurity of their birth, in seeing others less (it may be) meritorious, ascend the Throne of highest honours, possess the eminentst places, in contempt & despi●…e of Fortune, & humbleness of b●…rth, crowd in the press of the honoured, 
Honour the ●…st when it i●… deriu●…d from ●…r selves.  if but sor ennobling their Country by their peculiar deserts. This wa●… objected against Cicero, which he as sufficiently answered: Satius est me meis rebus gestis storere quam maiorum opinione ni●…i. Dependence of Ancestors confer small or no glory to us, if our succ●…ding worth show not a correspondency to our Prodecessours' glory. Tullus Hostilius, Tarqvinius priscus, Tulliu●… Servius, Perpenna, and T●…rrentius 〈◊〉, & that mirror of country's love, M. Portius Cato: Their births ignoble, y●…t they made their Cradles Noble by their many d●…seruing parts; Characters of proper Nobility, not derived from their father's greatness, but from their own eminence: Nor have there wanted others who degenerated from their A●…cestors well deserved lives: Scipio Affrian, his Country's honour, leaves a Scipio the monument of his own dishonour: Fabius Maximus, ●… son, for worthless respect, deserving the name of Fabi●…s Minimus: Clodius Pulcher beautified with ornaments of mind, as well as body, makes his Country no 
〈◊〉.  less hopeless by his birth, then renowned by himself. The like of 〈◊〉 his Nephew, one lest equalling so many deserved parts of his thrice glorious Ances●…our: The one a processed prostitute to all licentious places, an arch-protector of sensuality, having no other Clients, but noted S●…rumpets: The other a supporter of Equity, a resister of indirect proceedings, a mirror of continence in his time; and one, second ●…o none, save Cicero, in promptness of speech, and a present modestly composed Eloquence.  
In the description of their natures we include the causes of ●…heir ends; virtue being (as we said before) ever seconded with event answerable to her intent, either in the beginning, middle, or end. And certai●…ly, whosoever should but read the desolations of the mightiest Empires, or their rising, shall see some appearance of causes proceeding from their government, occasions of their glory, or ruin. Nor can we (wi●…hout cause) admire the erection & establishing of the Turk●…sh Empire, 
The wonderful establishing of the Turkish Empire.  her many dilated Provinces, extended Confines; and almost sovereign command in the Eastern parts. Let us but consider their politic government (subjecting all laws of Conscience, or Religion, to the furthering of their designs; planting their seat (maugre the fury of all opponents) in those floury and spaciou●… territories, where once the sanctified feet of the sacred Apostles used to tread. Yet in their policies (because not proportionate to virtue) shall they be subu●…rted. They have erected themselves to an exceeding height, (with the Giants menacing the fabric of Heaven;) but their fall will be more miserable, by how much they be of miseries more i●…capable. For that kingdom which is not established in peace, shall be ruined by war; & where virtue had not her predominance, there shall the illimited rage of vice take her residence: and where she is an inhabitant, there is imminent desolation menaced. To make explanation of causes in this, were needless, because the seat of such a government is the occasion of her fall; For ruin and extirpation have ever followed Imp●…ous Governors at the heels. Yet in making use of this especial Branch of History: Explanation of the discovery of causes, I will limit and restrain it to an asser●…aine bound. We must must not search causes above their natures; there be 
Concealed reasons not to be searched.  many hidden and concealed reasons, which to inquire after, were unlawful; much less to wade into the secret conventions of that sacred power from whom all visible and apparent causes borrow their light. What we may gather by authentic relation, or prob●…ble im●…gination, may without pre●…udice, or error, be produced. As for supernatural causes, the more we sound them, the more we sound into the shallowness of our own judgements; never further from apprehendng them, than when we seem to apprehend them. Now to the third, that is, judgement in distinguishing things, by approving the best, and disallowing the co●…trary. 
Dijudication of Histories.   
Dijudication of Histories, or i●…dgement in distinguishing the approvedst, proceeds from a mature understanding.  
In this Historical scale we must ba●…ish all lasci●…ious and petulant wits, conversant ●…bout fro●…thy and licentious obscenities. The works of an Historian should be Monuments of Antiquity, true Heralds of acts; either prosperously, or insucc●…ssiuely achieved: and not torments to lust, inducements to sensuality. Two sorts there be which eclipse an Historians glory: from the one, we reap the harvest of shame, where characters of Myrrah, and Venus (the wantonness votarie●…) are deblazoned in their colours: yet in their descrip●…ions more pernicious to easily-inclined youth, than ever Archilochus was to the Spa●…tan dames. Poor Albion hath laboured too long of this impostume; such Historians must either be exiled, or the Commonwealth must of necessity be depraved. Vice h●…th too many supporters, without the furtherance of Authors. From the other, there redounds no other benefit, then impertinent inquisitions of strangely-sought out Antiquities; so ●…recise in description, so cur●…ous in foundation and so selfe-opiniona●…e of their own writings, as they oft-times do on●…ly (Haerere in verb●…) omit●…ing the substance to set out (with Phydias) the shadow: search of a fruitless Antiquity, occasioning a contempt in the body of the History. As in the foundation of a Cit●…y, neglecting the materiallest parts of the discourse; as upon what occasion the City was rather erected there, then in another place, by what means it was augmented, how con●…inued, and other necessary circumstances omitted: they insist upon affairs of l●…sse consequence; finding out where the first stone was laid, when the foundation of such a City was digged. This causes oftentimes great volumes, with small benefit to the Reader, and indeed rather implies an affecting-opinion in the Author, of pleasing himself, than others.  
Ancient Records are necessarily inserted in Histories; but such are to be supported by truth, including a necessary relation to the subject where of he entreats. Otherwise, such Antiquities (as for self-pleasing) are produced, express nothing. Propt●…r plebaeium & inutilem quendam opinioni●… succum. These be rather Opinionists than Historians.  
These two kinds (like Ianu●… face) stand contrary-wayes: the one sort (to wit the first) are Charon's best Factors, they traffic for a ladies bon-voyage to hell; there's not a line in all their writings, that tastes of modesty, or relish v●…rtue: If Pluto and his Angels had not one she-prophet, nor state-moppet within all his dominions, to make his Empire noble: yet these Broth●…ll-authors (●…or better I cannot name them) would by their Lime-twigs furnish his (Malasperanza) with a full sail. My Lady here sits and reads, wonders at the ingenuity of the man, (a pr●…gnant youth doubtless,) and will make her pregnant too, if she have any moving faculty in h●…r; his best character is the schoolmaster of folly, the introduccr of sensual liberty, extinguisher of pure love, experienced instructor to lust, harbourer of illimited desires; and consequently harbinger to the Devil. As the Martin will not build, but in fair houses, so this man will not live, but in the ruins of honour: he is too conuersan●… in the Court, too familiar in the City, and sometimes too willingly entertained in the Country. His pen, as it is mercenary, so his labours pernicious, his state labours of penury (and he would rais●… it) his soul of a lethargy, but seeks not to redeem it. To be brief (for such a subject is not worthy dilating on.) As Augustus' banished Naso to Naxos, and his depraved works to the darkest corner of his study: so should these petulant wits be expulsed every well-governed Commonweal, and their prostitute labours sustain Enpolis censure.  
For the other, as none yield or afford more benefit to their country, then laborious and judicious Antiquaries: so trifling and opinionately-conceited Historians may benefit themselves, but hardly can communicate the best of their knowledge unto others. Opinion is a main opponent to judgement: the one guided (or rather drawn) by a precipitant will, the other disposed by the directing eye of reason. Opinion (Lesbian-like) frame their line by their work, and not their work by their line: but judgement hath ever (Cleanthes-like) a table equally mixed or furnished with 
●…id. ●…siod. in Noct. & Di●….  services of Arete & Pomona, virtue and pleasure: the one to profit, the other to delight: Which equally-mixed judgement should be especially conversant in censurers of Histories; they must not do, as it is reported of Ualerius Maximus, inhibite many things in the evening, which he would approve of in the morning, and command that to be enacted one hour, which he would be ashamed to confirm the next hour. A settled & wel-seasoned judgement will with (circumspection) not so much censure a modest digression in a History, as the use which may be made of that digression; nor tax ●…ny thing in a faithful Historian, though he 
Sicut Bestiae in Eremo, ita Genti●…es in mundo. Greg: in Moral. 29. cap. 18.  shadow at the corruptions of the age with bitterness: for oily and temporizing tongues, are nourishers of these vicious and irregular times; where, as beasts in the desert, so men live in the world: nor be censurers to tax such things for impossibilities, because they have not heard of the like; nor such R●…lations as false, which have not occurred to their readings. For how should we give credit to those incredible attempts of former times, where victories were achieved with less ado, than May-games in these times. To s●…e Antheus renewing his strength, and doubling his force by falling: those magnanimous Romans erecting their spirits most when they were nearest declining. I have ever observed these times, as they second the first in gradation, so they stand inferior to the first in exploits and managements of resolution. Censures should b●… balances equally and evenly disposed; neither inclining to partial affectation of person or state; but ready to give approbation where the verity of discourse, and sincerity of the Author gives his pen fre●… scope to curb error, and attribute to virtue her merited Titles. Alas, that Censurers should be either so engagaged to the servile command of popular glory, or tied to great men's sleeves, that the Historian●… labours must be razed, which truth would have raised: Virtue hath in herself a sovereign end, to which all liberal Arts and Sciences (in themselves truly noble, and meriting honour) have their aim and recourse.  
This occasions learning to be neglected, and the exact scrutiny of ancient Records (than the which nothing more beneficial) to be suppressed, or at least, not a little darkened: when a Rhadamant, or Critic Censurer must have the corrections of our industrious labours, and judicious volumes: which (to feed his own indigested humour) must be subject to many frivolous inte●…lacings. But patience (which is C●…mes sapientiae, non famula concupiscenti●…) must be the poor Historians supporter, making use of times abuse, and applying this salve to his misery, which the Poet inferred, as cause of Rome's subversion, and calamity. Prim●… 
Virg. in A●…nead 30.  peregrinos obsc●…na pecu●…ia mor●…s intulit.  
But let me stay a little, that I may make an end the sooner; ●…re I proceed to the true 〈◊〉 of Histories, I must caution two so●… of men, which (in their reading) pervert the use and scope of History, by a malevolent disposition, either bred in them by nature, or engendered by custom, a second nature: the one foolishly precise, whose behaviour (as one observeth) are like a verse, wherein every syllable is measured; or like your Spaniards aspect, who will not smile beyond a point, for fear to unstarch his look.  
These cannot taste any thing well, that is not absolute; yet for their judgement a Venetian Ass may 
Superbire est supra regula ire.  outstrip them: He is (unmeasurably proud) wise in hi●… own conceit, ●…hath an orb in his brain, which ever turning round, makes his iudgem●…nt brain esicke.  
The other, far more intolerable, because more troubled with the rising of spleen: he detracteth from the best, and finds scruples in infallible truths; his own judgement, as it is defective, so it en●…ies a-against others, maturer in the height of understanding, and more exact in the ancient surveys of truth. But as fortitude of body derives her essence from the imbecility of the mind, and the ability of the mind from the d●…bility of the body: So the Author's glory is oft-times revived, and augmented by the sting of Detraction, as the Detractors in●…amy by the Author's glory: Virtue alone is crowned, Virtue in herself, is of all possessed. She it is alone by which man is eternised. 
Hae●… 〈◊〉 quae faci●… 〈◊〉 Deum, etc. S●…neca  This is she that steers the poor Historians Bark against all oppositions. In this harbour therefore may I repose, leaving the depraved Reader to the distemperature of his own humour, and betaking myself to my propounded task.  
We must walk in a more modest path for judgement 
Deliberation n●…dfull in Histories of main consequence.  in the relation of every act that is done: we ought to use a kind of deliberation, consulting with our own intimate understandings, and ask them whether such an Act is worthy memory, or no: for many things we see and read, which discretion would rather ha●…e omitted, then to writing committed; we have occasion sometimes to unrip the tyrannic lives of Princes, and their illimited affections, of dissolute governments, and to what peculiar vices most engaged; yet in the summary rehearsal of these vices, we do oft-times (as an excellent Historian hath well observed) Instruere malos, teach men to be evil, instructing them in the exercise of those impieties, with which before they were scarce acquainted.  
Thar memorable Lawgiver being demanded what punishment was to be inflicted on him, who should chance to slay his Father, or Mother: he answered them with, Haud equidem puto, etc. I do not think there can be any of so unnatural disposition.  
Acts silenced sometimes do better than if expressed: for the Curtain of vices drawn, moves imitation rather than evitation: In distinguishing also of things good and necessary from their contraries, we should not mix trivial discourses in our main Relation: they much impair and disparaged the weight of an History, distracting the reader's mind with impertinencies, where the subject might of itself be better 
Strange novelties draw attention, mo●…e approbation, if probability be mixed in the Discourse.  prosecuted; nor can any thing show more indiscretion in an Author, than these vagaries, where attention can no way be moved, the expectances of men satisfied, or a real delight with profit apprehended. Attention (as that eloquent Orator noteth) is there the quickest, where we promise to speak of things, great, new, unusual, or of such affairs as may conduce to the benefit of the Commonweal, to the establishing of Religion, piety, or the like.  
Now such serious discourses (in themselves grave and ponderous) are not to be mixed with every frivolous digression; the body of the History b●…ing solid, should not depend of weak and infi●…me members: which might seem to resemble the Roman coloss, of an huge proportion in body, but feeble feet; so as one day the frame of the whole was demolished by the debility of one part. Yet in this grave and firm composition, there must be one necessary cau●…at inserted: that whencesoever we drain the approbation of our Di●…course (as from many, and those to our judgement of the selected Authors) we reconcile their opinions, and make one united body of so many dispersed parts. This I thought to caution (as well the Histories peruser, as the generallest Collectors of) because I have observed this foul error (and that in both Ancient and Modern relations) where divers 
Opinions draw●…n from divers Authou●…s should be reconciled.  Authors were cited, and their several opinions marshaled on a row: but as in a battle, when the wings be broken, there ensueth nought but an vn●…uersall confusion; so without reconcilement in the conclusion, he leaves the Reader in suspense, whose opinion to entertain; because not directed by the Author.  
This implies a double defect; either from stupidity, 
A double d●…fect, Obstinate and ignorant.  not able to distinguish; or from a pertinacy, not willing to communicate his judgement to others. The latt●…r is more intolerable than the first; for the one includes a native defect, (which he would remedy if his apprehension could better it.) The other a malicious d●…sire of engrossing knowledge to hims●…lfe; though both unworthy of an Historical place: for Ignorance deserves small entertainment in so judicious an argument: and a perverse disposition much less, concealing his knowledge from his Country, which by his subject it seems he intended to benefit. In distinguishing likewise, we should ever observe to cull out such perspi●…uous sentences, as comprehend most, yet lest i●… affectation: for such taste ever of singularity. Hortensius was called by Pythias (for his too much gesturing) 
Vid. Aul. Gel. in Noct. A●…ic.  a professed Mimic, a Dionysian: the same Ti●…le may be given our curious Relators: th●…y bind their subject 
Words should be accommodate to the matter, not the matter to the words.  to their words, esteeming no Discourse in itself worth judicious observation, but what is replenished and full fraughted with polite sentences, making the matter indebted to the superficial Art of the Composer.  
These beseem not a History, dilated circumstances, instances too much stood upon, an ambiguous leaving of something undetermined: They leave the vnde●…standing in doubt what to resolve, the judgement what to think, the thoughts what to deliberate: So as our reading confers no other profit, save an int●…icate ●…inding, or wr●…athing, of many anxities up together: Giving the mind free scope to imagine the event, being implied by the Author.  
An Historian in his writings should have a kind of seeming security, for his Style and Order of Speech: 
Non ●…hi vanitati sestivitas proprie cedit.  yet not so, (as to omit an exact or wittily composed jest) to relish the Readers distaste: Such was Tacitus use, by interlacing the seriousness of his tale, with some judicial, (but strangely brief,) sentences: annexing some pleasant strain, either of me●…re purpose invented, or from the occasion of his Subject derived, to sweeten the heavier part of his discourse: which should not be too long insisted on, for that w●…re trifling; but shadowingly touched, ●…or that implies ple●…ty of Subject, not flying to tr●…uiall relations, to make up a greater Volume, but for the delight of the judiciously affected: Misce●…do v●…ile dulci.  
But alas, where this distinguishing of judgement of Histories requires great labour, it os●…imes obtains as little favour: The present age cannot admit of such discourses, they be too serious: So that whosoever should compile a Volume of judicial Extractions, or approved Observances, should hardly have as many Readers, as Persius conjectured for his Labours: Velure duo, v●…l nemo: O ill disposed times! when judgement goes a woolgathering. 〈◊〉 had two which he especially respected above the rest of his Nobles, and the one of them was a Maecenas, a Patron of learning, and a grace to the sacred influence of Poesy: But where should we find an Atl●…s for Parnassus in these days, where Noble (yet degenerate Spirits) esteem him that will be Pander to his Punk, above him that will be Patron to a Poem: It seems strange that in best experienced times, where knowledge should be heightened, the foggy vapours of ignorance dispelled: Nay, where these times have respite from warlike Alarms, and therefore may securely feed at Minerva's Table, should be so delighted with superficial shadows, contemning the perfect essence and lustre of man, (to wit) how to know himself. Here the Miser digs (and with the Dormouse) sleeps out his time in a fruitless scraping; There the Prodigal (careless of times expense) bastardizeth his father's Providence, leaving no more to himself, then that he could not take from himself, a poor Grave: here the Ambitious man, displaying his pie-coulored flags of vanity (in the elation of his Spirit) contemns the inferior rank of men, ever aiming at an higher sphere then popular press, till his aspiring produce his falling, and the honour which he purchased without merit, forsakes him not without shame: But which of these will take pains to see himself represented in exemplary Histories? If the picture of old Menedemus were hung up in the eye of the Miser (he would I doubt it not) gaze with his four eyes on the Picture, but make little or no use on the Pattern: The Ambitious man, if he saw the character of himself in that vast and indetermined mind of Catyline, in that ambitiously insinuating spirit of Sejan, I fear me he would rather make use of the means of his rising then caution himself by his untimely declining: The Prodigal (expressing his own Mirror, by Theotimus error) who preferred lust before his eyes, would (m●…ch I fear it) rath●…r da●…ken the eye of his soul, to satisfy the eye of his body, then moderate hi●… passions on earth, to reap the fruit of his moderation in heaven. O that these times would so distinguish of their abuses, as being discou●…red they may be censured; for where abuses are concealed they seem afresh to be renewed, and (with Authority) confirmed, but being openly ripped, they may be whipped and stripped: first displayed to the eye of the world, then summoned before the Throne of justice.  
O let Histories, as they be Records of what were done, whether good or evil; excite us to be good, and deter us from being evil: Stories are replenished with examples of both sorts, for they be Storehouses of precedent events, and consequently so to be observed and digested, as the judicious Reader may better dispose of his euen●…s. I have noted in Discourses of this kind, the observance of that Generally judicious Gentleman, 
A threefold Discourse branched into a threefold Observance.  and the best advancer of depressed Learning, where he saith: Some Books are to be tasted, some to be swallowed few to be chewed and dig●…sted. Such as are to be tasted I comprehend, in S●…ories of modest accomplishment, superficial flourishes, garnishing our Discourse modestly without vain ostentation or bravery: Such are to be swallowed, as those Amorous, and fruitless labours of brainsick Authors, freighted with continual hyperboles, comely in nothing but love, Such are to be chewed and digested, as include discourse tending both to instruction and delight, etc.,  
So then here we may come to our judicial point, we see and read Histories, some only to be tasted, others swallowed, some few chewed, as beasts were in the old Law. Histories being ruminated and chewed, yield a continual profit, and the more meditated, the more beneficial; which seemed well approved (and no less worthy our observance) by his institution▪ that wished ●…uery Reader to take these three remembrances 
Three observances worthy our considerationinreading.  in his way to read: Libenter, Dilligenter, and Intelligenter; The first yields a present delight, because it includes a willingness; the next a diligent attention, implying a seriousness; the last an use of both, enfolding 
Use of those three observances.  an understandingnesse: These three attend a judicious distinguishing of Histories, judgement in discerning what is best, and these to apprehend the best: These four commixed resemble twins at two burdens, all directors one to another: for without judgement we may choose the worst as soon as best, taking our aim only at delight, without recourse to profit, best agreeing with the outward sense; Here is a want in the Election: without willingness, our reading breeds a loathing; without diligence, our discourse is fruitless; and without understanding, our minds be erring: And thus much for dijudicating of Histories, an essential part of this book: I have but summarily set down my opinion (grounded on the collections of oth●…rs) herein, that I might prosecute the former parts of my Division in the method of this History, contracting much into a little Body.  
The method which I propounded to myself in the beginning, was first to describe the scope of Histories: Secondly, the use, fruit, and eff●…ct of Histories in general: and the third ●…xtracted from the second, was the parti●…ular profit which redounded either to a Family in p●…iuate, or administration of States in public 
The Method prosecuted.  by these Histories: For the first, being the original whence the two others are dra●…ned, I have spoken sufficient: Longer (I confess) was I enforced to insist upon them, than my Volume (which I prescribed myself) would ●…dmit: But the many uses, subdivisions, and grounds naturally arising from them, enenforced me to ●…rosecute the Argum●…nt more fully: I intend now to handle the second part, to wit, The fruit & use of history, the speciall'st motive inducing reading.  
The greatest and movingst argument of persuasion 
Use of History.  to the undertaking of this or that, is the benefit we expect redounding from our enterprise: I will succinctly express the severally moving effects of profit (the worldly man's Admant) from History, Naturally and Essentially derived: which being laid open, I hope the Miser (who as Seneca noteth, is good to none, but worst to himself) will be profitable both to himself and others: My exordium shall be drawn from him, because I take him to be one of the devils chiefest factors, and more benefit should I yield my Country in bringing in such a one, then in taking an Archpirate: From him descending to every vicious professor (binding myself ever to my tackling) the fruit of History in itself able to reclaim the depravedst from their habituated enormities.  
The Miser, that is indebted to both back and belly, 
The Miser's profit by History.  so engaged to the world, as he must have his household God of the world, ever harboured in his bosom, or made his pillow to sleep on, the key of his rust: He that never fed Nature in all his days with competency; or durst recreate himself, for fear lest his recreation should play cheater, and cozen him of his providence: being the moth of the virtuous, the harbour of the vicious: carrying a conscience more infectious than ratsbane ever about him, if ever he have grace to cast his eye into an Historical discourse (next to the Sacred Writ) he shall find as Soveragne Antidotes for his malady, as in any place. I will Anatomise the Miser's corruptions, and like an artificial practitioner first open his wounds, and then infuse Balm into them; which Unction if it will not serve, I shall then apply more rough and sharp plasters.  
Now Master Miser, that is, mere wretched man, thou hast sufficient, and more than is competent for Nature, yet thou art not satisfied: A very, very little will serve thee for thy use, for thou never hadst the Grace to know what an honest expense meant: Thou cautalizest thyself, amidst of plenty, 〈◊〉; Thou hast a good mind to be rich, but that's impossi●…le: 
A Miser cannot be rich.  Semper au●…rus ●…get; There is a greedy ●…orme that is ever consuming and gnawing on thee: Thou ●…rt at liberty, yet imprisoned, and in more intolerable servitude, than the miserablest captive upon earth; yet thy chains are of Gold, thou art a gorgeous prisoner, Thou art subjecteth to more hazards then a Merchant Ven●…urer, to more rightly-oppressing, and sur-charching cares, than an Emperor; to more hourly distractions, ●…nd terrible apparitions, than a Murderer: Thou wouldst sleep if thou couldst, but thy disturbed thoughts deprive thee of that comfort: To be brief, 
A Miser his own Hangman.  as thou art in image the best, so in disposition the worst of all creatures, being thine own Timon, thine own hangman; that macerates thyself, and makes thy appetite ever insa●…iate.  
I will lead thee into a spacious field of Histories, where thou shalt see thy immerited mind deblazoned in her colours, not a memorable instruction for Liberality (thy absolute Opponent) but shall be produced for thy use: that seeing the eminence of thy Adversary, thou mayst hate thyself, and be r●…conciled a●… last to thy foe.  
The Liberall-hearted-man is as much Master to 
A 〈◊〉 i●… two differ●…t dispositions.  himself, a●… thou art thine own Slave: he surpasseth thee in use of his own, and can direct himself by an equal proportion, limited ever to a generally approu●…d end: He hates to draw in the Sails of his Bounty, in the presence of desert, and makes no more account of his own, then to distribute to others wants a share of his fortunes, nor esteems he that his own, of which he hath not power, and in his power can freely give: He verefies the Verse (approving a liberal mind: Quod nunquam dederit, non habuisse putat: He never was so far engaged, or enthralled, to any earthy substance, as to make it chiefe-tane over his intellectual part: he makes this his Position, and scorns it should be controlled by any inferior subject: To give, and to delight i●… giving: And that day 
The Liberal man's Aphorism.  wherein, (to the moiety of his fortunes) he hath not demonstrated the rare character of his bounty, he cries out with Ti●…us, Amici, perdidimus diem: This day hath been an ab●…idgement of my generous intentions, a restraint to my extended mind●…; I did n●…uer show myself, less to be myself, then in this days exigent: This is he who measures virtue for his mere peace and contentment, and not according to success; he shows not his liberality for observance, but peculiar satisfaction, for he imagines no greater infelicity, then to be miserable; his promises are ever relatives with his performances: He scorns to dissemble with the 
The Character of a Liberal man..  world, he never anointed his tongue to enrich his fortunes, the perfect Idiom and Character of his Native Properties is already depictured: I will illustrate this Mirror of Virtues with Exemplary Mirrors, Professors of this Virtue: Read but the ancient Roman Annals you shall see many renowned for Liberality, and in Syrac●…sa too, for her eminence and exquisite Government no less glorious: In Rome a Fabius 
Examples of Liberality.  Maximus: who willingly foregoes his Patrimony, to preserve his Country's reputation: Se enim P●…trimonij, quam patriam fidei inopem esse malui●…. Paula no less renowned, and in this more to be observed, because a woman, whose sex implies a parsimony, relieving the poor distressed Romans (cooped up in the walle●… of Cann●…) making herself poor, to add power (by her bounty) to the afflicted.  
Quintus Considius (of all most memorable) an Usurer 
An Usurer never found his Country's friend.  and Bountiful, a black Swan was never rarer: the Pagan Usurer (it seems) had a conscience, which our Christian Usurer wants: for in that bloody, and inhuman conspiracy of Catyline, second to none, our Modern Counterbuff, our Powder-treason, except●…: he remmi●…ed all his Debtors, laying his Bills and B●…nds upon o●…e pile, making a Bonfire with them: where I make no question, but the usurers conti●…uall Customers, the Poet Archias, and his echo the Actor Roscius had reason to swear: Quod nunquam ignem vidiss●…nt clariorem: That they never saw a cleere●…, or more comfortable fire in all their days: It may be Considiu●… did this, because he saw the disability of his Debtors (●…or those Civil Commotions had much empou●…rished all Estates) and therefore in policy, once to exp●…sse hi●… bounty, thought it fittest to forgive 
An Usurer bountiful against his will.  them that, which they were not able to give. More worthy is the memory of Quintiu●… Flaminius, who in an Isthmiam triumph, in the presence of his Countries so, the daring Philip of Macedon, redeemed such as were Phillip's Captives at his own charge: Worthy our observation it is, willing to answer so public solemnity, with an universall-concording harmony, making such free spectators, that were before in servitude.  
The modest Prince Hier●… of Syracuse, who in mere 
Examples of bounty an o●…gst the 〈◊〉.  compassion of the slaughter of the Romans, at the Lake Thrasimenus, sent to the afflicted remnant of that woeful Army, three hundred thousand Bushels of Wheat, two hundred of Barley, and two hundred and f●…urty pound weight of Gold to relieve their wants, a●…d manifest his royal bounty. I may annex the memorable example of Gillia of Agrigentum, who was 
Planted is this Cit●…y 〈◊〉, on that 〈◊〉 Moun●…ame Agrag●…s.  rich in Mines, but much more rich in mind, always rather inclined to distribute then scrape: so as his house (and that not undeservedly) was called Officina Munificentiae, a Warehouse of Bounty, erecting monuments for public use, that the ●…ies of the people mightbe delighted with so grateful spectacles. Here were prepared sumptuous feasts, yielding and ministering food, & all other necessaries for the sustaining Nature, to all wayfaring men, bestowing dowers upon Maids, and reli●…fe to the poor, ministering plenty of comfort (out of his royal Exchequer) to such as had sustained any detriment, or damage. To be brief, he kept open hospitality, 
A Memorable instance of Hospitality.  receiving five hundred Cel●…nsian Gentlemen at one time, by occasion of tempest driven upon his coast, which he fed at his own table; and at their departure royally adorned them with sumptuous Garments. To be short thou wouldst not (saith our History) have taken him for any mortal, for he was too liberal, but the very Bounties-bosome of propitious Fortune. Thou hast seen these examples of liberality, I will now unrip thy own casket, and see what worthy pictures thou hast locked up in it. I see many bags of mould, but not one rag of conscience: great Chests rammed up with inexorable bars, crammed with Avarice, Famine, and Oppression. Lucifer is thy Treasurer, and proving a faithful servant: for he will not cheat thee for a world, lest he should lose his part of thee in the world to come. Thou committest to him the Keys of thy Conscience; which opens and shuts upon all occasions: He being one of thy Family, how canst thou choose but be prosperous? Yet bele●…ue me, (thy end will be poor and miserable) not one of those many Angels thou possessest, like a good Angel, will guard, or give thee so much as the least taste of Com●…ort. I come not to instruct thee, like a Divine, but to illustrate my Assertions by Historical Examples, which I have here placed before thee, to deter thee from their life, that thou mayest avoid their death.  
Avarice, or (which is extended ●…urther) Misery▪ was best exempli●…ied in Hermon; who to deccive his own friends, and deprive them of that which he made his god, at his death, made himself his own Excecutor: This man would be loath to lose so precious a friend, death must not part him and his riches. No question but his opi●…ion was, he might purchase himself a tabernacle of rest with his rust: and translated from 
Miserable end●… of misers.  the vale of earth, might erect himself a mansion of pure gold, for he carried the stuff with him. I could here produce infinite other examples, which to avoid tediousness I omit, and return to our Discourse.  
History may yield no less profit to the Prodigal, who makes himself the last of his name; who no sooner (yea oft-times sooner) than he hath shut his father's eyes, opens his father's Chest, and wipes away the remembrance 
The young man's maze.  of his Father's death, with the evidence & broad seal of hi●… father's love: he had need of some direction. There be many mazes for the young man: I have known many exposed to all delights, and (as it were) sold under the gage of prostitution, who by Historical observations have not only reclaimed their former error, but grew singular mirrors of purity. No question, if Catyline, whose mind was ever subjecteth 
O●…r predecesso●…s virtues motives of imit●…tion  to illimited affections, had but perused the excellent relations of his noble predec●…sor, he had not been only able to extinguish that common and universal combustion, which his aspiring s●…irit raised to consume his whole Country; but had been memorable for his own atchieu●…ments: for the best of Roman Historians (that I may use the words of the best commentor 
Q●…m propri●…tatis seruantissimum, voc●…t Gelliu●….  upon Crispius Salustus) saw thus m●…ch into his disposition, that so long as he retired himself from tho●…e factious and 〈◊〉 spirits, Cethegus, Leutuli●…s, with others of that hateful consort, none showed himself a more profitable member to the Commonweal, or more ready to endanger himself for her 〈◊〉; employing his time in s●…rious discourses; which not only moderated his affections▪ but poised him to the equal balance of a virtuous discourse: which afterwards per●…erted by the depraved suggestions of those Ruffi●…s, reduced those fair beginnings to nothing, & him to a miserable death, & perpetual i●…famy.  
The very same effect we see in all other vices (which wo●…ld be w●…ll extenuated) if vitiou▪ mi●…des would 
Histories best discoverers of errors.  apply themselves to these, and the like Discourses: we should have our d●…unkards see into their own shame, deblazoned by the Epyrotes; our Epicures by the ravenous Vit ellij, spending their fortunes in pampering their worst household servant; our carnal Brothellists, by those impudent prostitutes in N●…roes time, who were never weary of their shame, till ●…heir public filthiness engendered a loathing in the professors themselves: look to th●…se me●…s ends. Oh how long might I prosecute this argument without want of copiou●… discourse! Here producing an Helliogab●…lus, generally 
Instances of famous delinquents.  hated for his i●…satiate lust, and least pitied in that ebb of his 〈◊〉 (his miserable death) when men use most to be pitied, being attended at his funerals with milit●…ry reproaches: Here go we to bury a Dog of distempered lusts: there a wanton Messalina, r●…warded with a death beseeming her. Here an aspiring Sejanus, shaken with an unexpected end, and made miserable in his best fort●…nes, interred with dry eyes: For who will pity the fall of Ambition? There an Herostratus (memorable for nothing but villainy) purchasing by his fame, an infamous end. Here a bloody Perillus, expert in the invention of cruel projects, punished with the torture of his own invention: There a fleering Parasite, who circumvents himsel●…e with his own policy.  
Such exemplary motives be frequent in Histories, and able in themselves (if duly pondered) to e●…force Nature from herself, and reduce man, prima●…ily addicted to this or that vice, to a consideration of his own estate, wisely foreseeing his own danger by others misery; wisely cautioning the young man to level his affections at an other scope, than the depraved intendments of the time wherein he liveth; making difference betwixt sense and reason: the o●…e common to Beasts with men: the other a disiunct propriety only 
History the b●…st tou●…hstone to dijudicate ●…wixt what i●… good and ill.  to man from beasts: For Reason, the directress of our understanding, the limiter of our affections wit●…in honest bounds, the Touchstone to dijudicate what is good, from what is ill, the intellectual Notion of the soul, should be ever the conductor of our fancies; which is best shown, when (Antomedon-like) we can 
How to be masters over ou●… selves.  delineate V●…rtue in no better shadow, than the Tablet of our own hearts; expressing ourselves the best by that, which makes ourselves the best, to wit, in prosecuting V●…rtue with an earnestness, that in the end we may become masters of ourselves, governors of our affections, and right Signiors over our indisposed fancies.  
But to come more near thee in this second part of my division, we must distinguish of the several fruits and effects of History, directed to peculiar ends: As first, art thou a lover, and desirest to complement with thy beloved? Thou art in a dangerous way, and if thou wisely select not such Histories, as may (like sovereigns) rather allay & moderate thy brainsick passion, then kindle the fire of thy senseless reason, belulled with nightly apparitions of thy beloved fair one, to what exorbitances shalt thou be made subject? But I know the nature of thy sickness: thou art like one who hath taken poison; and though drink be mortal to him, yet he longeth out of all measure for it. There is no subject so fitting thy humour, as amorous Sonn●…ts, Historical Relations, carolli●…g out the discontents of vns●…tisfied love.  
Leander swimming over Hellespont, to crop a blossom alrea●…y cropped. Achilles' retiring discontented for the loss of his Briseis, Agamem●…on for his Chryseis: 
Passions pro●…ding from 〈◊〉- sick lovers, etc.  these are subjects fit for thy lovesick fancy; whereas opposites to love, (Moral Relations, instructing thee in a more equal & reasonable path) wo●…ld better cure thy disease, and bring thee to an understanding of thyself. Absence (we say) from our Mistress, makes us most forgetful of her; and lest we think of her when we discourse of Arguments lest concerning her; whilst reading Idle pamphlets, the very bane and canker of Youth, and Age too: for Age is as 
A Louer●… ●…phonesis.  subject to dotage, as Youth to fancy; putting us in mind of our former distracting passions, crying: Nec m●… minor urget a●…or: with hardhearted Mistress, inconstant Dame, fickle in affection, inconstant in thy resolution, shedding as many tears as would drown our Mistress, if she were not so light, as she is able to bear herself above water. Alas poor lover! and whereto so many fruitless wishes, so discomfortabl●… laments, so discordant eccoes of redoubled sighs, Ay me unhappy? Thou knowest not how these reasonless perturbations make thee more loathed then loved, more intranced then fancied; and more beleaguered with passions anew, then to salve those passions wherewith thou wast tormented of old.  
Read the continent life of Zenocrates, dedicated wholly to chastity; not a Lais (though never so motive) can induce him to gauge his reputation to a harlot. Read me the noble disposition of Scipio African, who scorned to make himself a slave to his fancy, the 
Look upon the History of Antony and Cleopatra.  royal mind of that potent Alexander, who would not captive ●…is affection to his Captive: the undestained resolution of the Matron Antonia, wife to Drusus; that chaste Tragedian Sophocles, who being demanded, whether he ever applied his mind to sensual affections, 
Vid. Val. Max. lib. 4. cap. 30.  replied; Dij meliora: Heaven forefend a strumpet should put on a Tragic Buskin. These continent relations will reduce thy straggling motions to a more settled and retired harbour.  
But yet I must proceed further; Art thou ambitious, and hast both wings and will to fly? Thou art soaring with Icarus, and thy waxen wings (no question) must be dissolved with Icarus: he gave a sea a name: but thou hast a sea in thine own brain, tho●… art floating, and (Chameleon-like) feedest upon the air●… of thy own●… fancy: Thou art now for building a second Pyr●…mides in the air; and no doubt but thou wouldst p●…rfect thy intentions, if death prevent thee not.  
Thou 〈◊〉 a vain fool, thou seest many daily decli●…ing meri●…s vnd●…seruing, raised to height above themselves: not a Senator, or sage Purple Father, but subjecteth to an vndese●…uing censure: and what is the cause? Why, honour procureth censure; and yet thou art well, served w●…ll, safely retired, not envied, nor maligned by ●…he opposites of greatn●…sse; and yet thou desirest (like another Phoe●…s) to shine in the eye of the Court, to show thine own admiration by a vain flourish, commenting on thine own per●…ections, which need some exposition▪ ●…or they cannot demonstrate themselves. Alas●…e, how strangely art thou transported above thyself! not apprehending how the means of rising oft-times procure an unexpected fall. Consider thy own vnb●…idled desires, and seek to repr●…sse them, I pray thee do; and take this observance with thee: Neue●… look into, either Modern Histories, or An●…ient, for the proiect●…, how they grounded the foundation of their plots; but aim at the end and event of their designs, what issue they had: there thou shal●… see a Caesar reign●… long, and attain the very height of his hopes; yet his continuance ●…bridged, and his new-established Monarchy (in himself) qui●…e ruinated 
〈◊〉 fall of 〈◊〉.  in a stab. Here a Sejanus (who was 〈◊〉) a great hunter after cruelty, become the last of his aspi●…ing desires, and the sponge (●…s Taci●…us observeth) who being squished, only en●…iched his emperors fortunes, and made himself miserable by his own fall: for ambitious men, who leap to greatness, for the most part, hop without heads, and too late repent their madness.  
To run 〈◊〉 every vice pa●…ticularly, would require a 〈◊〉 ampler of themselves, than I have allot●…d 
Third Branch. Particular profit drawn from History to particular persons.  my 〈◊〉. Proceed I must to my third branch, The particular profit●… which redounds to every private stat●… or family, from discourses of this nature. I know that the natural depravation of man is such, as that he fixeth his mind upon that, which (for the most part) confers least profit, and most delight: this is lively exemplified even in Historical Discourses; where we shall see men (for the most part) rather addicted to fabulous Travels, the survey of str●…nge and never-heard of islands, prodigious sights, Monsters, chimaera's, and mere imaginary fancies, then to such narrations as might minister instruction ●…nd benefit to every particular Reader. Some we see delighted with the strange and incredible miracles of Mandeuill: others with the victorious combats of our Bevis of Southampton: others, 
What fabulous Histories more suff●…red then approu●…d  more conversant with the tragic Histories of our time (prodigies in part merely invented.) And last of all (which in my judgement is worst of all) others with the fantastic writings of some supposed Knights, (Don Quixotte transformed into a Knight with the Golden Pestle) with many other fruitless inventions, moulded only for delight without profit. These Histories I altogether exclude my economy, or private family; I have could out more beneficial Discourses for youth ●…o employ themselves withal; producing a subject from the pure cabin of Truth: not from the brain●… of every Quacksalver, that runs out his inventions by selling lies at grosse-sale.  
To express our Latin Authors I need not, so much is our Country be●…ited by Translators, as the Neat-heard in this Hovel may discourse as well of Corneliu●… Tacitus (if he ●…now his mother's tongue) as our best Latinist. In my opinion no Argument better for instruction then that Author: and if I should dwell upon one, I had rath●…r insist upon his phrases (though seemingly perplexed) then any other Roman Author, how perspicuous soever. 
Vid. in vit. Neron.   
Tranquillus writes true, but he unrips the immodesties of the time with too long discourse upon every particular vice. Nothing (saith Quintilian) can be esteemed more perfect, than the elegancy and brevity of Sallust's speech (Presertim apud vacuas & eruditas aures) 
Aul. Gel. in Noct. Attic.  and I assent to his opinion; the singularity of his phrase was (which may seem strange) without affectation: so Aulius Gellius (a very Aristarchus for the search of Antiquities) testifieth of him. Neither was ●…abius afraid to entitle him, The chief of the Roman Historians, as Thucydides the Prince of the Grecians. Yet in these Histories there is an exactness of understanding required; and more do their writings conduce to state-affairs, then private and domestic employment.  
I will retire myself to such as may yield the reader no little profit by consideration had to the judgements of God; modestly mixing moral instructions with a sweet variety of divine discourse: a matter which may seem directly opposite to my first intention, but is not so; for these Histories which I mean to produce, are so grounded upon infallible truths, as in that respect 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  they may seem to merit a morally divine Title. josephus works I esp●…cially entertain into my Family, as best describers of the judgements of God, expressers, to 
〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 wa●…re give a●… 〈◊〉 b●…uty to the Discours●…. 〈◊〉 is said to have his Tents there first pitched wh●…re our Saviour was taken.  the life, of an obdurate and stiffnecked generation. Here to behold the incomparable beauty of that glorious Temple (the type of the Celestial Temple) founded by that wisest of men, & that peace of Princes, Solomon, defaced, and that City which was once called, The City of the great King, demolished, and laid level with the ground. Then to direct our eye to the wonderful judgements of God in raising civil discords, and mutinies amongst the jews themselves, the greatest means of their subversion, the main predictions of their ruin and utter destruction, before these wars came 
In Mo●…tem Olivarum castra metans, etc.  upon them, yet their impieties not a whit lessened, their arm of sin shortened, or remorse of conscience excited: no refuge to the Religious, but defence to the wicked in every place of the Cit●…y ministered: Then survey 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 effusion of blood, slaughters among themselves (an occurrent remarkable) committing no less Massacres upon themselves, in the ceasing of war, th●…n the Romans did in the heat of war: Being wholly exposed to tyrannical Factions in the Citry; to expose themselves to Roman servitude 
The judgement of God in that History most remarkable.  more easily. These examples of God's justice, are worthy our observation, to admonish us of our p●…culiar duties, careful how we offend, serious in the administration of justice: For how should we think he will spare the Wild Vine, that hath thus dealt with his own Natural Vine? When he hath dealt thus with the Green Tree, what will he do with the Dry Tree? That Vine was planted with his own Hand, watered with the dew of his especiallest favours from heaven, dressed and pruned, yet behold the wild Boar hath rooted it up: Et seges est ubi Troia fuit: The truth of that History is so undoubted, as besides his own concordance in relating, there is none that ever made question of the truth and verity thereof, composing what he wrote, not by report of others, who speak (for most part) as they are affect●…d, but by the approbation of his own eyes, the best outward directresses to inward knowledge. To this Noble Historian (for he was Nobly descended) I may add those excellent Greek Writers, worthy and memorable: as Nicephorus, 
Divine Histories.  Evagoras, Socrates, etc. For their Divine examples plentiful, the success of the Christians amidst the tyrannies of the cruelest Emperors wonderful: the diverse sorts of 〈◊〉 by those Tyrant●… inuen●…ed, pitiful; and ●…he dismal and terrible end of those Blood▪ suckers, fearful. here thou shalt see an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above himself, with the acclamation 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  of his people: Not the voice of Man, but of God: A●…d presen●…ly behold ●…is pomp converted into loathsomeness, his precedent joy, to a subsequent pensiveness, and the ●…xcellency of admiration to a sudden amazedness; he that seemed before a God, and no man, is now by God made the miserablest of man, forlorn and dejected: Nay, if we would observe the whole current of their Histories, we shall see in them that God ever used to recompense the offender with a punishment of the l●…e nature: Nic●…phorus reports, how Herodias daughter having begged the head of 
An 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Punis●…ment alluding to the condition of the fact.  john Baptist, chanced on a time to go over a main River, frozen over with Ice, where the Ice presently parting received her, and meeting again cut off her head, a true and evident testimony of God's judgement.  
The like of that Blasphemous wretch julian, a foul mouthed detractor from the glory of God: who on a time mocked a Christian for talking reverently of the Bowels of CHISTS Co●…passions: but what end came of this miserable Atheist: His bowels fell out of 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  his belly being thrust through with a javelin, confessing the power of God with a regreate, saying: Vicisti o Galilee, etc. yet vouchsafing to bestow no better name on him, than Galilean, a fearful end of a most profane Blasphemer.  
The like of Dioclesian that cruel Emperor (and a great persecutor of the Christians) who, whilst he reigned seemed little or nothing to fear the Divine Power of heaven, yet the History records, that Fear was the greatest occasion of his death, no, that he died by a voluntarry fear, very jealous of the Air, lest it should pierce his Brain.  
These examples extracted from infallible grounds, may seem the judicious understanding of the Gravest, and fittest for Private Families, where order is best attained by examples: We ufe most to be moved, when we see the end of such a man, to caution us; who having led his life securely, concludes the period 
V●…d. Lud. vinem de educ. virgin. 1. lib.  of his days as miserably: And some have I known even of the discreetest and most virtuous parents, who to deter their children from Drunkenness, used (like as the Epirotes did with their children) to hang the picture 
An usual means o●… reclaiming drunkards from their bestial filthiness●….  of a Hog wallowing in a filthy puddle, with this Inscription on it:  

Nunc Ebrius astet—  
Neque suem sumpsisse suam formam:   

Drunkard, if ●…hou wouldst see this form of thine,  
Come here and see't depictured in a Swine.   
The lascivious and sensual worldling, deciphered with this character: Myrha hanging in a chain of 
Every vice briefly deciphered.  gold about her father Cyneras' bed, with this Impressa.  Hinc amor ut tenuit suspendet. 
The miserable wretch that makes his gold his God, best expressed by Menedemus, with his Spade, delving and digging for life, with this Mo●…r:  Sic mihi divitijas Famulique parti. 
truest deciphering os all vices, proceeding from the exemplary 〈◊〉 of delinquents, committing what they like, and at last feeling what they like not: 
Economical 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 private families how to be dispos●…d.  The best government in private, proceeds from Histories, and the serious reading thereof: the virtuous Ma●…ron squaring her course, by that modestest of Roman●… Dames Lucretia, making her (colum her thorum) her Distaff, her best companion in her bed, when her husband was absent: No vicious mind can deprave her, she is fight at home with her own passions, whilst Collatine her husband, fights in the field against his Country's enemy: But you shall see Lentulus and Aruns, their ●…iues rioting, and reveling, in their husband's absence.  
If our Historians, now a days, would employ their Lamps and Oil in the delivery of profitable History, such as might rather tend to the cherishing of the unripned blossoms of virtue, than the nipping of them: How happy members were they, yea: that I may use 
Historian●… most p●…ositable to th●… Common●….  Salusts words, though they retired themselves from public affairs, yet; Maius commodum ex eo ●…tio, quam ex ali●…rum n●…gotijs Reipub: venturum: Yet such have been the depraved humours of former times, that the best observers and Relators, have purchased little, save envy, for their Labours: No, the very chiefest Historians have opposed themselves one against another.  
Titus Livius was so violent against poor Sallust (as 
Enmity amongst Historians themselves.  Seneca observeth) as he objected that certain things, Transcribed by Sallust out of Thucydides, though elegantly applied, yet by him depraved and corrupted; which Aurelius Fuscus also, noteth to be done, as it were, of set purpose by Sallust, to derogate from the excellency of Thucydides Writings: A mere detraction to such a worthy Author: But what works meriting emulation, have not ever had envy for their attendants. I conc●…iue the reason to proceed from that of Hesiod, who inferreth in Professions, none to be more apt to en●…y one another, than such as be of one Trade: Figulus figulum odit: True, for where either singularity 
Hesiod 1. lib.  is required, or hope of gain, there envy is ever shooting her empoisoned Arrows: And (for the most pa●…t) ●…nuy reigneth there most, where our labours deserve most: The low Mushroom is seldom touch●…d by the violence of any Tempest, but the peering Cedar is ever exposed to all vehemencies. For the particular use of Histories, and their f●…uite, I have gathered these Observances, extracted from a judicious Writer: Expert he was in all Historical Rela●…ions, as his apt similitudes more fully demonstrate: what they are I have here set down, and as contractedly (as I could imagine) for the benefit of every understanding Reader.  
If History comprehend in it any ceertaine documents 
A compendious discourse of the gene●…all profit of H●…story.  for the instruction of man's life, I suppose it expedient for all men; as well to select and make use of it, as to rush violently into such most plentiful and fruitful fields of History, where all exemplary grounds are in ample sort propounded. For what can be more pleasant, or more profitable, then in the Theatre of man's life; so, to be made wary and wise by other men's harms (and that without harm) as to sit in safety, and yet to be instructed in all parts without jeopardy: choosing out examples of all kind, which thou mayst apply unto thy own peculiar use, upon all occasions: And whereas History, is conversant oftimes in the secretest counsels, importing the weightiest affairs of the greatest Persons: we that are men do with greatest appetite covet them, as likewise to be interressed in their events, because it is impossible (through the shortness of man's life) otherwise to abridge the successions of times, by the limit of our forgetful memory: or to see the prosperous fortunes, successes, and ends of Empires, or manifestly to conceive the causes of evils, either private or public; or in every hard and difficult assay, to have a precedent before our eyes, of such things as were t●…yed before us, or which were in hazard before they were attempted by us: And that I may speak all in one word; to judge of things present, by things past, which is the property of a wise man, and discreetly to foresee of what is to come by all succeeding events. But it becometh us, to come so much the better furnished, by how much our History is with all fruits better fraught a●…d replenished: And whereas there is the very same difficulty in judging rightly, as well of our own, as another's life; there is none that can duly (how piercing-eied soever) judge of another's life, that hath not measured his own: of both sides it is to be implied, that not only a main difficulty is here placed, but also before we be to this History addressed, it is required necessarily, that we be not only endued with a certain Civil Wisdom and Moderation, but also to have our lives grounded on a settled inten●…ion vnle●…se we will be miserably, and that perpetually, deluded with the vain illusions of this life.  
For even as it fares in a most sumptuous and royal 
An apt similit●…de.  Banquet, replenished with all sorts of dainties, one thing seems delightful to one which is distasteful to another, sew things are liked of all, every one being best pleas●…d with his own, though all dishes be alike to the Glutton: And as every one's appetite is, so is he affected; yet there is a mean (which Nature hath ordain●…d) and a certain kind of nourishment, which in itself is merely simple and uncorrupted, and best agreeing with our bodies: From which, whosoeu●…r departeth so, as he crammeth himself above the bounds or determination of Nature, will find more in conveniency then profit in it: So in this diversity of man's life, though the●…e be a thousand forms, and a thousand purposes, and as every one is resolved in mind and judgement, so he judgeth of his own and another's life: yet there is one only path of virtue, which whosoever keepeth and obs●…rueth wisely, he only maketh use of his life really. Others, as in a doubtful supper, when they invite themselves to all pleasures, can neither find out in themselves or others what might deserve imitation, or whereto they might make recourse: But if there be any thing given to man by Nature, which is in his power to use well or ill, it behoveth him to use great circumspection in the use thereof: But what is he I pray thee, that will use more exact consideration in all his words and works (by the direct line of virtue) then in the use of such meats as are set before him? And who thinks not himself sufficiently instructed herein? In which how wonderfully are men deceived? Supposing that Discourse to be History, which teacheth the Reader, ministering to him matter of learning (yet so) as a Banquet ministereth use and appetite to every one as he is affected.  
This is the reason that we see some so delighted with the sweetness of reading, as obeying their own pleasure, they lose the inestimable fruits thereof. Such have no other scope in all Histories, then with which our Generous Musicians, vs●… to pass time away, upon their Instruments, employed in reading only, to spend their weary hours, which be presently encountered with more wearisomeness: For there is no 
Nulla volupta●… est quae non respicit virtutem.  pleasure in it, which hath no reference to Uert●…e, the glitt●…ring object of glory and ambition exciteth others, and that which shows a flexibility of mind in all other things, vainly transports them to every brave and eminent image, forgetful how glorious and remarkable examples are produced by Writers; not only to follow virtue, and contemn honour offered us; but if a Competitor were admitted us to countermand the authority of our honour, to endure him with patience; yet, though none but fools will purpose to aspire to such merited excellence, without the like meriting virtue: We see many men, by the very reading of excellent things, to taste in themselves a certain kind of excellency, arrogating much to themselves, and resembling those Tragedians, who imitate the State of such persons they represented, after they have put off their Habits.  
There be also (but of these there be but a few) ●…hom new, and unaccustomed things do delight (men ●…f vulgar apprehension) who hearing the State of Emperors, for the most part, more esteem the Purple than the Man, the Picture the●… the Work: So effectual 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in tit●…lis & imagini●…s.  a force, doth History exercise, and imprint in the mind of the Reader.  
Now it is the scope, and draft of all Histories to excite man's sloth, and to arm him against all dangers; a●…d whereas the force of examples (than which nothing can be imagined more powerful to persuade) tend especially to that end; it cometh to pass that by the security of men (who think other men's harms little or nothing to concern them) such things (as in themselves are memorable and worthy obseruatio●…) be read and heard with a deaf and careless ●…are.  
To brief, there be some also (which on●… would hardly think) offend in a more severe, and critic kind of reading: As if things should not be writ as they were done, but as they ought to have been done. Where●…ore, partly by this curio●…ity, partly by that secu●…ity (the very surfeit of confused and rash reading) it cometh to pass (as in a body pestered with corrupt humours) that a certain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or ill disposion of judgement and opinion, which ought especially to be sound and sincere in the course of our life, and a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or bad temperature, converting all food into ill humours, useth to be contracted in us: And as meat availeth such as be distempered nothing, so no profit at all by these means is ministered to our reading.  
I suppose thou s●… est how the very same reason is in reading History, & disposing the course of thy life: but this is certainly the greatest difficulty (to wit) the per●…ersenes of our judgement, which is the speciali'st cause; that we are not moved with examples as we ought, ●…ut what way as our minds is inclined and affected most: and this difficulty is no less than the other: forasmuch as writers so desc●…ibe things done, as they do 
Artificium benevolentiae colligendae habe●…tes.  not only ●…arry favour, but follow their own appetites (like some Builders) ever interposing their own peculiar judgements, (of their own accord) praising some things, (though not praiseworthy;) and whatsoever liketh them, they imagine it worthy approbation: which (surely) if they did simply, it were easy to consent or dissent unto them. But even as Cooks (for the most part) do more respect their masters 
Gulam s●…pius quam commodum Heri spectant.  palate then his profit: Even so an Historian (I could wish the most did not so) applies himself to the appetite of the Reader. We are oft-times therefore deluded by these two means, our own judgement, and the prejudice of the Author, not laying things open and naked, as they were done.  
An Historian is the best interpreter of Acts achieved; whose judgement, i●… it chance to be corrupt, it cometh to pass, as when Wine (of itself neat and generous) taketh either some wa●…t of the Cask, or is corrupted by some other distaste, which either proceeds from an imposture, or folly great & intolerable. We may see in one only example, the judgement of the writer: The profane Historian ascribeth the ●…uents of serious and weighty affairs, to the council and industry of men; albeit he hath sufficiently tried how foully those men were deceived in the events. Hence it is that men be drawn to great ●…olly; that they, whose knowledge was scarce sufficient for the consideration of things subjecteth before their eyes; and whose force and strength not much 〈◊〉 little Worm●…s, should by one small success arrogate the government of the whole world unto them. But a good Historian teacheth thus: Things (saith he) are purposed by Man, but 〈◊〉, and moderated by God; whereby he riddeth the scrupulous reader both of folly and superstition (a mischi●…fe no less●… then the other:) and in all other pro●… good Historians (whose studies are only consecrated to holiness) ought not to be ignorant of the Agent and Instrument wherein they differ, and what be their several effects: the one moving, and the other moved. But especially I admonish thee to this end; that whereas I observe many Authors of that kind, who for their exceeding force of innumerable examples, deserve to be read; I could wish that the No●…ice-reader discuss with himself as circumspectly and seriously as he can by proposing to himself both the fruits which might redound, & the dangers which might occur him in his reading: For to one that runnneth over all Histories cursorily, or who rashly and unadvisedly spends his time without any exact observance, of private or public duties, it cometh to pass as to Country Clowns, who in sacking of a neighbour City, take spoil of some Apothecary's shop well furnished with all receipts; where, provoked with the sweetness of some junkets or spices, being the first that came to their hands, and imagining the rest to be of the same sort, they swallow, sup up, devour, and gormandize all before them; whereby presently some are taken with a strange disease, others with a frenzy, most are bereft of life; none but strangely distempered, which occasions laughter through all the Army: For as Man's life (so History the Image of Man's life) hath her commodities and discommodities: for the Government of Man's life consisteth only in the use of his life.  
In these Collections, as in a most clear mirror, may our young Ga●…lant see into his errors: he shall be of necessity forced to distaste himself, till he have relinquished his midnight revels, surceased from his licentious meetings, and reduced his disconsorting passions unto a calm & retired harbour; here the public Magistrate shall be able to dispose of himself, and Office deputed unto him; seeing matters worthy imitation, and precepts worthy the Gravest and Ripest Consideration: one to Instruct, others to Correct, and all to make per●…ct this whole module of man..  
The Philosopher's Axiom is: Om●…e quod non ens est, malum est. And worse than no being, (hau●… they) who measure out their lives without a due proportion drawn from others, and applied to themselves Instruction 
Instruction the light of understanding  is the light of Being, the directress of Living, and the best Schoolmistress that disciplines us dying: States public are managed by her, Offices private admistred by her, and the wisest men have desired to possess her. No Beauty more permanent, Gem more eminent, or Treasure more excellent; It beautifies itself, and no Phydias could ever portray any picture so well as i●… portrayes itself. And what instruction better than that which comes from History, where the true Image of our life is delineated, Virtue in her best colours expressed, and Vice (without either shadow or pretence) laid open and naked. 
Histories mirrors for all states.  The Prodigal reads, and sees himself r●…presented in another person, he sees the miserable end of others, which (unless he will fall with open eyes) must needs caution himself: he sees hare-brained courses, leave both patrimony and reputation behind them: Penelope's Wooers, ever wooing, never winning. The miserable wretch, that pincheth himself to enrich his unthankful posterity, may see the fruit of gathering perdi●…ion to himself, and oft-times occasion of ruin and speedy desolation to his surfeitting heir. Here the brave Soldier seeth his own fame; acts duly and fully expressed: not a famous exploit (deserving memory) must be silenced, but the very name of the Agent, (●…o excite others the more) must be r●…corded. Here the effeminate Milksop, that fights best under his Lady's flag, first man that will come to a lascivious Banquet, but last that will come to a pitched field: he (I say) must show himself, though smally to his credit: 
Histori●… must n●…t 〈◊〉.  yea, Alcybiades (though otherwise well deserving of his Country) must be set out in his ignominious death, as well as his memorable life; giving up the Ghost in the lap of his Concubine Tymandra.  
Absolute Histories will not admit of the least concealment; but representing every Act, Person, and Event, use to illustrate what is worth insisting upon, omitting (or at least cursorily passing over) more fruitless subjects: and how delightful may it seem to every judicious man, when in reading of Ancient Records, he confers the stratagems of war then used, with the present observance of this time: sees (and seeing) notes the sundry dispositions of men, how noble in themselves, and how generally esteemed invincible, by a sudden conversion laid low, beneath the stirrup of Fortune, and made a spectacle of Fate. Then to observe states, better governed in their decline then in their height; and far more able in power, when in the eye of the world least powerful. The Romans, when they had attained the very height of felicity, that all governments were their Tributaries, than they began to stoop most under their burden; and pressed with their own grandeur, seemed to imitate the Phoenix, who weary of herself, desired to have 
Rome in her decay compared 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉.  her ashes renewed, but herself extinguished. What ambitious Tyrants proud of their own strength, and secure of divine power, are laid flat in the height of their expectancies: so as where they pla●…ted the foundation of their hopes, there they were most defeated, to express the providence, & all-working Majesty of God, who disposeth of all governments, pulling down 
A Christian consideration of the power and 〈◊〉▪ of God.  the tyrannical Empires, and setting wise and discreet Princes in their place; and no motive (of profane writings) more effectual than Histories, to draw us to a consideration of ou●… selves, and the Majesty of God, whose excellency beautifies this universe, teaching us to admire, and (in our admiration) to tremble and fear, having recourse to the incomprehensible judgements, and secret counsels of the Almighty.  
Every private Family may drain hence unspeakable 
Profit derived from Histories to private Families.  profit, observing the divers casualties, and mutabilities subject to every one that is interessed especially in matters of state; preferring their own private, and free life, before popular admiration, so entangled with continual incertainties. Here may the poor Husbandman, at his leisure, receive tidings from foreign Courts: here may he learn what difference there is betwixt the Coulter and the Sceptre, the Share and the Shield. Here may the merchants Wife, 
Merces domestica in coniugio longinqua in navigio ●…ita est.  pity her poor Husband, tossed with so many adverse winds, environed with so sundry dangers, and exposed to so miserable adventures, she cannot choose but play true at home, that hath a husband so faithful abroad, who endangers himself to make her secure: Why should any come into his hazard, that like a Tennis-ball casts himself into every hazard. Here the wife of the valiant Soldier may see what difficulties her distressed husband is exposed unto, heat, cold, watching, hunger, thirst, all inconveniences, to propagate the glory of his Country, & purchase himself a name eternally memorable. His poor family hath reason to pour out their prayers for his deliverance, and thankfully ascribe all glory to the power of heaven for his safe return. To be brief, what particular estate not engaged to Relations 
The description of a Mariner's danger.  of this nature? The Mariner seeth his dangers; & seeing them, observeth the influence of the stars, and planets, the Orion and the Pleyades; yet in all these observances, he gathers there is a Power above, whom the sea and winds obey: to him therefore, as (the expertest 
The soldiers discipline by Histories.  Pilot) he flies for succour, finding no harbour more secure, no repose more safe. The Soldier sees into the Discipline of Arms; and (by History) apprehends how a small handful of men have oft-times conquered an Army, to the judgement of man invincible: he sees into it, and admires the wonderful power of God, who worketh oft-times directly against all means, to teach us thus much: That his power is not limited to means; but can effect (without the least instruments) what in his sacred Synod he hath ordained. Here the Merchant seeth into the riches of the whole Earth, how it pleaseth God to subject all things to the service of man, to the end man might only reserve himself for the service of God: he observes the exceeding favours of Heaven shown upon Earth, and he collects hence, that those joys, those comforts & exceeding treasures which he keepeth for the Elect in Heaven, must needs be great above all comparison. Si ●…anta solatia in die lachrymarum, quanta conferet in die nuptiarum? These considerations must of necessity move him to play the good Merchant, who finding one gem of price, will sell all and b●…y it. Every private household is a little kingdom within itself, and needs instructions (though not so consequently serious) as the greatest palace, and royalest Empire: order must be observed in the one, as well as in the other, a Principality in both, and a subjection to both. What fitter for the householder to train his children, servants, and attendants in (next Divine writ) than the 
All Arts may be reduced to noble attempts and condign fortunes by their own professions.  reading of profit●…ble Sto●…ies, such as excite to virtue, and stir up their minds to the undertaking of some thing worthy a resolved spirit. I know the base minded Groom hearing the prosperous success of Lucius Quintius, who was chosen one of the Patricij from his plough stilt, and afterwards by his valour and magnanimity, reserveth the name to this day, of Triumphalis Agricola: a poor Husbandman sitting in his Chair of Triumph, will desire by all means to imitate so notable a precedent; scorning to rip up the bosom of the earth, when he may purchase himself more fame by the deblazing his honour upon earth. The homespun Shepherd hearing the renowned Acts of Romul●…, fed and brought up among Shepherds: and of Cyrus, who bore himself a Prince among Shepherds, will cast away sk●…ippe and sheepe-crooke, and behave himself a worthy successor in their profession. The Gardener hath an Emperor of his profession to imitate, and an honest one too, as his name implies, to wit, Probus. The Woodman, or Forester, a Pompilius. The Diviner, a Zoroastres, and the Philosopher, an Anto●…ius. But many have we, that we may better imitate then Princes: as their state was eminent, so were their nature's depraved. We shall read that many of them were as good Law-breakers, 
Royal Errors.  as Lawmakers; and the greatest vices appeared least, (though most approved) in greatest men. They had ever virtuous pretences to shadow vice: sin became clothed in Tissue. We shall see impunity of offence to be a great supportress of them, presuming still on the king's mercy, & squaring their course to his discipline: for subjects love to imitate their Prince, either in vice or virtue: But more are there inclined to the worst than the best, making this conclusion, through long & inveterate custom of sin: which Medea with that cunning & acquaint discourse seemed to compass, with this subtle preparation, laying this grand-hold of proceeding: Fructus est scelerum tibi nullum sceleris putare: A Position of Machiavelli: Wherein every judicious 
machivel's Position.  Reader may gather the admirable and inscrutable wisdom of God, frustrating their devices, anhilating their purposes, never bringing their designs to effect: yea, which is more worthy our observation, making there the most fools, where they thought themselves to be most wise: For their policies either in governing, or establishing Empires, How far short have their purposes ever come to effects. Examples I could produce many of this nature, as well Divine as Moral.  
How safe thought Cyrus himself established in his new Translated Monarchy, when behold his security ends as miserably, as his beginnings had a flourish of seeming happiness: Unfortunate he was to be deprived of his hoped-for Greatness, by a Sex so weakly effeminate: Sousing that head (which was Head to a powerful Government) in a tunnel of blood, with this bitter invection: Satia te sanguine quem diu sitij●…ti, cuiusque insatiabilis semp●…r fuisti. 
just. 1. lib.   
The like of his successor Cambyses, who hoping to plant himself in a royal Throne by blood, miserably ended his own life by his own blood. An excellent 
Ipse enim gladio sponte sua euagin●…to in femore graviter vuln●…ratus, 〈◊〉, Ibid.  and notable example of a sacrilegious and bloudthirsty-Prince, who sought to establish himself by indirect means, (to wit) by the murder of his own natural brother Mergis. I insist lo●…ger upon examples because I have oft-times found that sentence of Demosthenes to be most true: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
These examples being best motives unto piety, and 
Examples best motives to piety, confirmed by the O●…ator Demosth.  indeed more forcible, in that we have two occasions in exemplary precedents of imitation; the one to caution us not to do this or that, lest we fall into the like punishment, being attended on by the like means: The other (like a sweet lenitive) inducing us by reasons drawn from profit, which we conceive may redound any way by the like examples, which the Poet seems to illustrate when he saith: Exemplo alterius qui sapit ille sapit.  
The greatest benefit in private, I imagine to be drawn likewise, from the right and exact use of History: which particular good I have ranked in the second place, and that is this: In private to behold the sundry dispositio●…s of Princes and people: Reasons whereof cannot be given, but only from the temperature of the Region wherein they live: Which reasons drawn from conjectural grounds are oftimes deceived in themse●…ues; as in disposing or ordering of States to the square of wisdom.  
This benefit I have gathered, and placed in the rearward: Last observances (I know) take greatest impression, and none more needful than this: when we shall have commerce with any people, then to call to mind their disposition, lest we incur a greater mischief through our ignorance. Strangely jealous are some Nations, they have Actaeon's eyes, perchance his ears: We must show ourselves modestly bashful toward such; every lascivious look is as good as a comment for such men, taking our eye to be the directress of our heart: Others more prodigal of their wives reputation, seem respectless of their shame, or the hostage of honour, so they may increase their estate, and raise their fortunes out of honour's ruins. Other people we know to be of a surly, proud, and intractable nature, living more by their own will (making it their Law) than the square of Reason. Others seemingly humble, more dangerous far than the other; under pretences religiously honest, masking Treacherous and Disloyal Projects: Never less your friend, then when seeming most so: He hath a fleering 
Noli obscurare faciem, qualis es talis appare. Basilius.  look, smooth face, sleek tongue; can observe times, and for private advantage (like a second Sinon) unbosom himself unto you: There be no windows in his heart, therefore believe him not; if by the transparancy of thy eye thou couldst see into that rotten sepulchre of his sugred-poisoned hea●…t, thou wouldst admit so fair and beautiful an outside, to have so loathsome & hideous an inside: Better charactered thou canst not have him then by History, it is the best image of thy life, and can best set out in their own 
Historical rela●…ions, occasions of public experiments.  native colours such deformed Images. Thy whole life wrap●… up in experiments either at home or abroad, cannot tea●…h thee so much, as one years serious discourse in History will teach thee in one year.  
LUCID. Scriptis aspiret meis, qui fa●…et voti●…▪  
FINIS.