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CHAP. VI.
Of History.
NOw History is a Narration of Actions, either with praise or dispraise, which declares and sets forth the conduct and event of great things, the Actions of Kings and Illustrious Men, according to the order of Time and Place. Therefore most Men think this to be the Mistress of well-living, and most useful for the instruction thereof; for that by the examples of great things, it both incites the best of Men, out of a desire of Immortal Glory, to undertake great and no∣ble Actions, and also for fear of perpetual Infamy, it deters wicked Men from Vice. But it often falls out contrary; and many, as Livie relat• of Manlius Capi∣tolinus, had rather purchase great than good Fame: and when they cannot obtain their desired greatness by vertuous means, will endeavour to atchieve it by Acts of Impiety; as Justin out of Trogus relates of Pausanias the young Macedonian, famous for the Mur∣der of King Philip; and is also justifyed of Herostra∣tus, who burnt the Temple of Diana, the most famous Structure in the World, which had been two hundred years in building, at the expence of all Asia; as Gel∣lius,
Page 27
Valerius, and Solinus report. And although it was enacted under most severe Penalties, that no Man should so much as make mention of his name, either by Word or Writing; yet he attain'd the end which spurr'd him on to commit so great a Villany, his name being still remembred, and yet living to this our pre∣sent Age. But let us return to History; Which being a thing that above all things promises Order, Fideli∣ty, Coherence, and Truth, is yet defective in every one; For Historians are at such variance among them∣selves, delivering several Tales of one and the same Story, that it is impossible but that most of them must be the greatest Lyers in the World. For to omit the beginning of the World, the Universal Deluge, the Building of Rome, or of any other great City from whence they generally commence the first begin∣nings of all their huge Narratives, of which they are all altogether ignorant, of the other generally very incredulous, and of the third very uncertain what to determine: For these things being the most remote in time, more easily gain Pardon for vulgar Error. But as to what concerns later times and Ages, within the memory of our Ancestors, there is no excuse that can be admitted for their Lying. Now the causes why they so much differ among themselves, are ma∣ny. For the most of Historians, because they were not living at the same time, or were not present at the Actions, or conversant with the persons, taking their Relations upon trust at the second hand, mist the chief scope of Truth and Certainty. Of which Vice Eratost•enes, Metrodorus, Speptius, Possidonius, and Patrocles the Geographer, are accused by Stra∣bo. Others there are, who having seen by halves, as in a March, or as Mendicant Travellers to per∣form Vows, viewing many Provinces, undertake to compile Histories; such as formerly Onosicritus
Page 28
and Aristobulus set forth concerning India. Some others to please their own Fancies will feign upon true History, and sometimes for the Fables sake o∣mit the whole Truth, as Diodorus Siculus notes of Herodotus Liberianus; and Vopiscus of Trebellius, Tertullian and Orosius of Tacitus; among which you may likewise reckon Danudes and Philostratus. O∣thers convert the whole Story into Fables, as Gui∣dius, C•esias, Haecateus, and many other of the An∣cient Historiographers. Others there are, who im∣pudently arrogating to themselves the Name and Title of Historians, lest they should seem to be ignorant of any thing, or to have borrowed from others, presume to write strange and wonderful Re∣lations of unknown Places, and inaccessible Provin∣ces. Of which nature, are those Figments of the Arimaspi, Gryphons, Pigmies, Cranes, People with Dogs Heads, the Astromori, People with Horses Feet, the Phanissii and the Trogladytes; a-kin to which are those Relations that ave• the Northern Seas to be frozen all over: However, they find Fools, and Men without Wit or Judgment, who believe these things, and take 'um for Oracles. In the number of these idle Writers is Ephorus to be reckoned, who related that there was but one City in Ireland; as also Ste∣phen the Graecian, who said the Franks were a Peo∣ple of Italy, and that Vienna was a City of Galilee; together with Arianus, that affirm'd the Germans to be Borderers upon Ionia; and Dionysius, so notorious for his tales of the Pyrenaean Hills. For further confirmation, we find that what Tacitus, Marcel∣lus, Orosius, and Blondus discourse concerning many places of Germany, is for the most part ve∣ry unagreeable to Truth. Falsly doth Strabo af∣firm, that Ister, which is the Donaw, rises not far from the Adriatick Sea: Falsly doth Herodotus af∣firm
Page 29
the same River to flow from the West, that it rises among the Celtae, the farthest people of all Eu∣rope, and disgorges it self among the Scythians. Again, falsly doth Strabo relate, that the Rivers Lapus, and Visurgus, flow as far a Hanasus; when as Lapus falls into the Rhine, and Visurgus into the Sea. So Pliny relates, that the River Mosa hastens into the Ocean, whereas it runs not into the Ocean, but into the Rhine. Errors like these, we find among Historians and Geographers of a later date. Sabellicus makes the Alani to be descended from the Alemanni, and the Hungarians from the Huns. Moreover, he asserts the Goths and Getars to be the Scythians, and confounds the Danes with the Dacians, and fixes the Mountain of D. Ottilias in Bavaria, which was not far from Argentoratum. Volaterranus also will have Austerania and Austria, the Avari and Savari, Lucerna and Naulium, to be the same; and saith that Pliny makes mention of the Switzers of the Canton of Bearn, when it is known they were placed there long after by Bar∣tholdus, Duke of the Zaringii. In like manner, Conradus Celtes believes the Dacians and Cimbrians to be the same; and places the Riphean Mountains in Samaria, saying besides that, that the Gum Amber distills out of a Tree. There are yet other Historians guilty of greater Lies than this, and de∣serving double blame, who though they were pre∣sent at the transactions themselves, or otherwise knowing the carriage and management of things, yet overcome by favour and affection, in flattery of their own Party, against the Faith of History, will con∣firm Falsity for Truth, and deliver to Posterity a wrong accompt of things. Of these there are some who undertaking to write Histories in excuse, or justification of some particular Mens Actions, and rela∣ting
Page 30
only such things as conduce to make good their Argument, while they 〈◊〉 her dissemble, pass by, or ex∣tenuate the rest, make imperfect and corrupt Histo∣ries. Of which fault Blondus taxes Orosius, for that he omits that famous overthrow in Italy, which made the Goths Masters of Ravenna, Aquilegia, Fer∣rara, and almost all Italy; lest he should injure the Argument which he had propounded to him∣self. Others there are, who out of Fear, Envy, or Hatred, detract from the Truth. Others, while they greedily desire to extol their own Acts, vili∣fie the deeds of others, so to bring them into con∣tempt; writing not what the thing is, but what they desire it should have been: not doubting they shall ever want those that will not only confirm, but Patronize their untruths. This Vice was very familiar among the Ancient Greek Authors, and at this time many of your Annalists and Chronogra∣phers are guilty of the same; as Sabellicus and Blondus, in their Venetian Stories; Paulus Emylius, and Gaguinus, in their Relations of the Franks. Men whom, as Plutarch saith, Princes cherish for no other reason, than that they by their smart wits suffocating and concealing the Merits of others, may be only free to advance their Actions, magnify'd by the addition of Fables, countenanced by the Ma∣jesty of History. Thus the Greek Historians writing of the Inventors of things, assume and arrogate all things to their own Countrimen. There is a∣nother Crew the most abominable of all, which are Flatterers, who endeavouring to deduce the pedi∣gree of their Princes from the most▪ ancient Kings, when they cannot compass their ends in the right line, extravagate into forreign Pedigrees and Fa∣bles, feigning the names both of Kings and pla∣ces, not omitting any Fraud, that may help out
Page 31
their purpose. Of this sort is that Barbarian Hu∣•ibaldus, who writing the History of the Franks, has feigned the names of Scythia, Sicambria, and Pri∣amus the younger, which never any Historian did before, or ever followed him in doing after, unless those that were like himself, as Gregorius Turonensis, Rhegino, and Sigisbert, and some few others. Of the same Chaff is Vitiscindus, who will have the Saxons, the most ancient people of Germany, to be descended from the Macedonians, especially the Race of Alexander, whom the greatest part of the rest pursue in the same Error. Many write Histories, not so much for Truths sake, as to delight the Rea∣der, and to set forth some Idea of a King which they have framed to themselves. Whom if any one convince of falshood, they cry they did not aim at the Truth of Transaction, so much as the profit of Posterity, and propagating the fame of their own Ingenuity; therefore they do not relate how things were done, but how they ought to have been done; it not being their business obstinately to defend the Truth, but to feign and falsify where it seems profi∣table, calling Fabius to witness, that a lye is not to be dispraised, which perswades to honesty: And furthermore affirming, that when they write to po∣sterity, it matters not under whose name, or in what order of time the example of a good Prince be expo∣sed to publick view. Thus Xenophon wrote the Story of Cyrus, not as he was, but what he ought to have been; propounding him as a true Pattern and example of a Just and Heroick Prince. Hence it comes to pass that many apt to feign by Nature, and using indu∣stry therewithal, have applyed themselves to write those Romances of Morgant, and Morgalona, Amadis, Floran, Tyran, Conamor, Arthur, Lancelot, Tristram; ge∣nerally unlearned, and worse than the mad Dreams of
Page 32
Poets, and more fabulous than Comedies and Fables themselves. Among the learned, Lucian and Apulcius obtain the first degree; part also of the History of Herodotus is not to be left out, which Cicero denies not be to very full of lies and ridiculous Fables. For there we read of the Medes drinking up whole Rivers at a Dinner, and how people sail'd over the Mountain Athos.
And whatsoever else the lying Greek
In Story dares—
And these are the reasons that there is no exact Truth to be found in Historie, though it be the thing we most seek for there. Seeing then there are no Writings of publick transactions that are able to declare the real Truth, and convince Error, but that every Man is left to his own opinion; hence it happens that there is so much discord among Historians, in so much that they write sometimes quite contrary of the same things. In how many Places, saith Josephus, doth Helianicus differ from Agesilaus in point of Genealogy! in how many places doth Agesilaus correct Herodotus! How doth Ephorus shew Hellanicus to be false in most things! how doth Timaens rebuke Ephorus! and others coming afterwards, how do they find fault with Timaeus! but every one blames Herodotus. In many things Thucydides is accused to be fallaci∣ous, though he seem to have written very ten∣derly, and with much care. This Josephus writes of others, whom notwithstanding our Aegesippus very severely corrects. Furthermore, many from the rela∣tions of Historiographers relate many things, but not upon proof; and those that go about to prove things that are not to be justify'd, generally propound the worst examples for imitation. For they who so much
Page 33
extol, and raise such lofty Pyramids to the praises of Hercules, Achilles, Hector, Theseus, Epaminondas, Ly∣sander, Themistocles, Xerxes, Cyrus, Darius, Alexander, Pyrrhus, Hannibal, Scipio, Pompey, and Caesar; what have they done, but describ'd the greatest and most fu∣rious Thieves and Robbers in the World? Say they were great Generals, yet were they the worst and wickedest of men. If any one shall say to me, That there is much wisdom to be gain'd by the reading of History; I will grant it, so he allow that there is also more impiety to be learnt: and indeed, as Martial upon another occasion saith, There are some good things made indifferent, but an infinite of Evil.
Of History.
NOw History is a Narration of Actions, either with praise or dispraise, which declares and sets forth the conduct and event of great things, the Actions of Kings and Illustrious Men, according to the order of Time and Place. Therefore most Men think this to be the Mistress of well-living, and most useful for the instruction thereof; for that by the examples of great things, it both incites the best of Men, out of a desire of Immortal Glory, to undertake great and no∣ble Actions, and also for fear of perpetual Infamy, it deters wicked Men from Vice. But it often falls out contrary; and many, as Livie relat• of Manlius Capi∣tolinus, had rather purchase great than good Fame: and when they cannot obtain their desired greatness by vertuous means, will endeavour to atchieve it by Acts of Impiety; as Justin out of Trogus relates of Pausanias the young Macedonian, famous for the Mur∣der of King Philip; and is also justifyed of Herostra∣tus, who burnt the Temple of Diana, the most famous Structure in the World, which had been two hundred years in building, at the expence of all Asia; as Gel∣lius,
Page 27
Valerius, and Solinus report. And although it was enacted under most severe Penalties, that no Man should so much as make mention of his name, either by Word or Writing; yet he attain'd the end which spurr'd him on to commit so great a Villany, his name being still remembred, and yet living to this our pre∣sent Age. But let us return to History; Which being a thing that above all things promises Order, Fideli∣ty, Coherence, and Truth, is yet defective in every one; For Historians are at such variance among them∣selves, delivering several Tales of one and the same Story, that it is impossible but that most of them must be the greatest Lyers in the World. For to omit the beginning of the World, the Universal Deluge, the Building of Rome, or of any other great City from whence they generally commence the first begin∣nings of all their huge Narratives, of which they are all altogether ignorant, of the other generally very incredulous, and of the third very uncertain what to determine: For these things being the most remote in time, more easily gain Pardon for vulgar Error. But as to what concerns later times and Ages, within the memory of our Ancestors, there is no excuse that can be admitted for their Lying. Now the causes why they so much differ among themselves, are ma∣ny. For the most of Historians, because they were not living at the same time, or were not present at the Actions, or conversant with the persons, taking their Relations upon trust at the second hand, mist the chief scope of Truth and Certainty. Of which Vice Eratost•enes, Metrodorus, Speptius, Possidonius, and Patrocles the Geographer, are accused by Stra∣bo. Others there are, who having seen by halves, as in a March, or as Mendicant Travellers to per∣form Vows, viewing many Provinces, undertake to compile Histories; such as formerly Onosicritus
Page 28
and Aristobulus set forth concerning India. Some others to please their own Fancies will feign upon true History, and sometimes for the Fables sake o∣mit the whole Truth, as Diodorus Siculus notes of Herodotus Liberianus; and Vopiscus of Trebellius, Tertullian and Orosius of Tacitus; among which you may likewise reckon Danudes and Philostratus. O∣thers convert the whole Story into Fables, as Gui∣dius, C•esias, Haecateus, and many other of the An∣cient Historiographers. Others there are, who im∣pudently arrogating to themselves the Name and Title of Historians, lest they should seem to be ignorant of any thing, or to have borrowed from others, presume to write strange and wonderful Re∣lations of unknown Places, and inaccessible Provin∣ces. Of which nature, are those Figments of the Arimaspi, Gryphons, Pigmies, Cranes, People with Dogs Heads, the Astromori, People with Horses Feet, the Phanissii and the Trogladytes; a-kin to which are those Relations that ave• the Northern Seas to be frozen all over: However, they find Fools, and Men without Wit or Judgment, who believe these things, and take 'um for Oracles. In the number of these idle Writers is Ephorus to be reckoned, who related that there was but one City in Ireland; as also Ste∣phen the Graecian, who said the Franks were a Peo∣ple of Italy, and that Vienna was a City of Galilee; together with Arianus, that affirm'd the Germans to be Borderers upon Ionia; and Dionysius, so notorious for his tales of the Pyrenaean Hills. For further confirmation, we find that what Tacitus, Marcel∣lus, Orosius, and Blondus discourse concerning many places of Germany, is for the most part ve∣ry unagreeable to Truth. Falsly doth Strabo af∣firm, that Ister, which is the Donaw, rises not far from the Adriatick Sea: Falsly doth Herodotus af∣firm
Page 29
the same River to flow from the West, that it rises among the Celtae, the farthest people of all Eu∣rope, and disgorges it self among the Scythians. Again, falsly doth Strabo relate, that the Rivers Lapus, and Visurgus, flow as far a Hanasus; when as Lapus falls into the Rhine, and Visurgus into the Sea. So Pliny relates, that the River Mosa hastens into the Ocean, whereas it runs not into the Ocean, but into the Rhine. Errors like these, we find among Historians and Geographers of a later date. Sabellicus makes the Alani to be descended from the Alemanni, and the Hungarians from the Huns. Moreover, he asserts the Goths and Getars to be the Scythians, and confounds the Danes with the Dacians, and fixes the Mountain of D. Ottilias in Bavaria, which was not far from Argentoratum. Volaterranus also will have Austerania and Austria, the Avari and Savari, Lucerna and Naulium, to be the same; and saith that Pliny makes mention of the Switzers of the Canton of Bearn, when it is known they were placed there long after by Bar∣tholdus, Duke of the Zaringii. In like manner, Conradus Celtes believes the Dacians and Cimbrians to be the same; and places the Riphean Mountains in Samaria, saying besides that, that the Gum Amber distills out of a Tree. There are yet other Historians guilty of greater Lies than this, and de∣serving double blame, who though they were pre∣sent at the transactions themselves, or otherwise knowing the carriage and management of things, yet overcome by favour and affection, in flattery of their own Party, against the Faith of History, will con∣firm Falsity for Truth, and deliver to Posterity a wrong accompt of things. Of these there are some who undertaking to write Histories in excuse, or justification of some particular Mens Actions, and rela∣ting
Page 30
only such things as conduce to make good their Argument, while they 〈◊〉 her dissemble, pass by, or ex∣tenuate the rest, make imperfect and corrupt Histo∣ries. Of which fault Blondus taxes Orosius, for that he omits that famous overthrow in Italy, which made the Goths Masters of Ravenna, Aquilegia, Fer∣rara, and almost all Italy; lest he should injure the Argument which he had propounded to him∣self. Others there are, who out of Fear, Envy, or Hatred, detract from the Truth. Others, while they greedily desire to extol their own Acts, vili∣fie the deeds of others, so to bring them into con∣tempt; writing not what the thing is, but what they desire it should have been: not doubting they shall ever want those that will not only confirm, but Patronize their untruths. This Vice was very familiar among the Ancient Greek Authors, and at this time many of your Annalists and Chronogra∣phers are guilty of the same; as Sabellicus and Blondus, in their Venetian Stories; Paulus Emylius, and Gaguinus, in their Relations of the Franks. Men whom, as Plutarch saith, Princes cherish for no other reason, than that they by their smart wits suffocating and concealing the Merits of others, may be only free to advance their Actions, magnify'd by the addition of Fables, countenanced by the Ma∣jesty of History. Thus the Greek Historians writing of the Inventors of things, assume and arrogate all things to their own Countrimen. There is a∣nother Crew the most abominable of all, which are Flatterers, who endeavouring to deduce the pedi∣gree of their Princes from the most▪ ancient Kings, when they cannot compass their ends in the right line, extravagate into forreign Pedigrees and Fa∣bles, feigning the names both of Kings and pla∣ces, not omitting any Fraud, that may help out
Page 31
their purpose. Of this sort is that Barbarian Hu∣•ibaldus, who writing the History of the Franks, has feigned the names of Scythia, Sicambria, and Pri∣amus the younger, which never any Historian did before, or ever followed him in doing after, unless those that were like himself, as Gregorius Turonensis, Rhegino, and Sigisbert, and some few others. Of the same Chaff is Vitiscindus, who will have the Saxons, the most ancient people of Germany, to be descended from the Macedonians, especially the Race of Alexander, whom the greatest part of the rest pursue in the same Error. Many write Histories, not so much for Truths sake, as to delight the Rea∣der, and to set forth some Idea of a King which they have framed to themselves. Whom if any one convince of falshood, they cry they did not aim at the Truth of Transaction, so much as the profit of Posterity, and propagating the fame of their own Ingenuity; therefore they do not relate how things were done, but how they ought to have been done; it not being their business obstinately to defend the Truth, but to feign and falsify where it seems profi∣table, calling Fabius to witness, that a lye is not to be dispraised, which perswades to honesty: And furthermore affirming, that when they write to po∣sterity, it matters not under whose name, or in what order of time the example of a good Prince be expo∣sed to publick view. Thus Xenophon wrote the Story of Cyrus, not as he was, but what he ought to have been; propounding him as a true Pattern and example of a Just and Heroick Prince. Hence it comes to pass that many apt to feign by Nature, and using indu∣stry therewithal, have applyed themselves to write those Romances of Morgant, and Morgalona, Amadis, Floran, Tyran, Conamor, Arthur, Lancelot, Tristram; ge∣nerally unlearned, and worse than the mad Dreams of
Page 32
Poets, and more fabulous than Comedies and Fables themselves. Among the learned, Lucian and Apulcius obtain the first degree; part also of the History of Herodotus is not to be left out, which Cicero denies not be to very full of lies and ridiculous Fables. For there we read of the Medes drinking up whole Rivers at a Dinner, and how people sail'd over the Mountain Athos.
And whatsoever else the lying Greek
In Story dares—
And these are the reasons that there is no exact Truth to be found in Historie, though it be the thing we most seek for there. Seeing then there are no Writings of publick transactions that are able to declare the real Truth, and convince Error, but that every Man is left to his own opinion; hence it happens that there is so much discord among Historians, in so much that they write sometimes quite contrary of the same things. In how many Places, saith Josephus, doth Helianicus differ from Agesilaus in point of Genealogy! in how many places doth Agesilaus correct Herodotus! How doth Ephorus shew Hellanicus to be false in most things! how doth Timaens rebuke Ephorus! and others coming afterwards, how do they find fault with Timaeus! but every one blames Herodotus. In many things Thucydides is accused to be fallaci∣ous, though he seem to have written very ten∣derly, and with much care. This Josephus writes of others, whom notwithstanding our Aegesippus very severely corrects. Furthermore, many from the rela∣tions of Historiographers relate many things, but not upon proof; and those that go about to prove things that are not to be justify'd, generally propound the worst examples for imitation. For they who so much
Page 33
extol, and raise such lofty Pyramids to the praises of Hercules, Achilles, Hector, Theseus, Epaminondas, Ly∣sander, Themistocles, Xerxes, Cyrus, Darius, Alexander, Pyrrhus, Hannibal, Scipio, Pompey, and Caesar; what have they done, but describ'd the greatest and most fu∣rious Thieves and Robbers in the World? Say they were great Generals, yet were they the worst and wickedest of men. If any one shall say to me, That there is much wisdom to be gain'd by the reading of History; I will grant it, so he allow that there is also more impiety to be learnt: and indeed, as Martial upon another occasion saith, There are some good things made indifferent, but an infinite of Evil.