SEynge , Duke Eberard , that all knowledge of letters , howe base so euer it be , doth greatly adourne and set forth your estate and dignitie , then truely that knowledge which comprehendeth in it selfe the Histories of al times and ages is most peculier and proper vnto you . The knowledge of Histories is necessarye . And amongst vs , who make profession of the name of Christe , the Bible obtaineth the firste place amongest suche kindes of writtinges , the which in deducting the originall beginning of man kynd , doth both declare vnto vs the will of god , and also giue vnto vs many examples aswell of the mercye as of the yre & wrath of God . After the Bible it consequently behoueth to know all that which is writen of other nations . Nothinge comineth to passe , whiche is not found prefigured in the histories , For nothing almost can come to passe but thereof is , & a great while agone hath bene , set out some resemblaunce . Wherin the gouernours of common weales haue great ayde and succour , prouided that they be not careles in this kind of instruction . Now the way , wherby the whole course of the world is deuided into foure Empires , is most to the purpose . As for the first Empyre , we are destitute of necessarie bookes , and sauing the holy Scriptures we haue almost nothing worthy to be credited , or wherevpon we may grounde our selues . That age no doubt was altogether heroicall , and most notable in excellent things and worthy of Memorie : but how much thereof is come to our knowledge ? Semiramis is greatly renoumed , and Babilon , and Sardanapalus : and what ? That is almost all . But who is he that maketh mention of that horrible spectacle , and so terrible and monsterous as euer happened vnto man , which Nabuchodonosor ( according as it is written in Daniel ) reciteth of himself ? Nabuchodonosor a terrible spectacle , To witte that so mightye a kinge & Monarche became madde was cast out of his kyngdome , bannished the throne of hys ancesters , driuen from and excluded the companye of men , and so to alter nature that he fedde wyth wylde beastes , and was tranfourmed into their lykenes ? The things are there but simplie mentioned : but how greatly thinke we were they astonished , that dyd sée thys so pitifull an example of the maiestie and wrathe of God ? The Empyre therefore of Assiria , or of Babilon , is briefely discribed , because it is requised to kéepe wythin the bandes of the holy scriptures . The thrée others folowing , chiefly that of Grecia and of Rome , are greatly illuminated by the writtinges of Herodotus , Greke historiographers . Thucidides , Xenophon , and Polibius . For Pherecides , Hellanicus , Accusilas , Phillistus , Agathocles , Theopompus , Ephorus , Calisthenes , Timeus , Clitarchus , Silenus , of whom Cicero maketh mention are perished . The Latins also that did wrytte the ancient Romain Historie , & who are named by Cicero , are not to be found : as are the Annales Pontificum , Fabius Pictor , M. Portius Cato , Latin Historiographers . Lucius Piso , Celius Antipater , Caius Fannius , Vennonius , Clodius , Asilo , Accius , Lucius Sisenna . These are they out of whom T. Liuius , for the most part mutilate , and Salustius more ancient , also vnperfecte , haue collected their Historye . Cicero truly did neuer write Historie , albeit that he diligently laboured therein , accordinge as hys bookes doe testifie , out of the which we maye aptely gather all that hath bene aunciently done : yea , he hath bene meruelous curious to obserue the time , so that we may orderly gather out of him , both the time of things & persons , without the which all that is writen is obscure . And for because that the said Cicero was wont to saye , that it specially appertained to an Oratour to write an History , chiefly according to the maner of the Grekes , Pomponius Atticus exhorted him thervnto , Cicero solicited to wrytte Histories . saying in maner of a complainte , that it was yet wanting vnto the Latins , & that it lay in Cicero to bring to passe that in such stile Rome should not be inferiour vnto Grecia . It is certaine that he composed in Gréeke the Historie abridged of his consulshyp , & beganne it in Latin , as he saieth . For he greatlye desired that that hys yeare should be renoumed by the writings of others : in suche sort that he said that if others wold not put to their handes , he wold not faile , & wold write of himself . C. Cesar treateth only of his owne actes , Iulius Caesar , did writte his actes . not borowing any thing of the aboue said ancient writers . Then also was Diodorus Siculus , & shortly after , Dionisius Halicarnasseus , afterwardes Plutarcus Sutonius , Cornelius Tacitus , Appianus , Herodianus , Trogus Pompeius , Alianus , Q. Cursius : but amongest them some are vtterly loste , other some are for the most part . Since these , diuers others haue written the Historie of their time , or of their nation , and reach euen vnto this our age . The vtilius of Histories These truly ought to be redde , or at the least the most parte of them , to get by them the knowledge which is requised and necessarye . It behoueth to know some for the thing it self , other some for the thing & for the style : amongest whom C. Iulius Caesar . Cesar maye almost onely haue to himself the first place of the latins , yea and that rightlye . For there is nothinge more pure nor more eloquent then he : so that not onely he hath surmounted them who shortly after folowed him , in pleasantnes of speach , but also all them of his time . Besides the aboue specified , The ecclesiasticall Histories . it behoueth also to read ouer the ecclesiasticall Histories , whiche doe writte the mutation of religion , or afflictions of good men , or the lawes and decrées of counsells and Bishoppes , And because that the kingdome of the papacie is also foreshewed in the holy scripture it behoueth diligently to search out the beginning , aduancing and increasing therof , to the end to conferre the same with the markes & signes that the scripture giueth . But because thys whole argument , wherof we haue spoken is diuers and hard , and that the fielde is very great and large , so that it is not possible to compasse the same in short space : Why the authour did take in hand this worke . It is nedefull to helpe the studies of yong men by some certaine abrigement , to the end that , when they become great , they might fréely of them selues make a discourse by all sortes of Authours . This is that which moued me to take in hand this worke , to the ende that that age might haue a patron & note of those things that are to be learned , the which it may folow as a threde , whilest by litle and litle it taketh encrease in learning , This worke 〈◊〉 chiefly ●ritten for ●outh . & profiteth in suche sort , that it may lay a side and set nothing by such writing . For I haue not writen this to the entent that they should be satisfied therewith , or should kepe themselues shut within these limites , but for to giue them the taste of that , which they shall read afterwards : to the end the being allured , or enticed , by the diuersitie of things , they might be stirred vp sometimes diligently to search the Authours & the bookes , out of whom these things are gathered . But seing that this kinde of studye doth properly appertaine ( as it hath bene said in the beginning ) vnto them who ought to haue the gouernement of the people , I thought I should doe according to your age and estate , Duke Eberard , if I did make you partaker of this my litle labour : to the end that ( yf it be possible ) other yonge men mighte take some profite by your meanes , & as it were by your hands . For albeit that Iohn Sigismond , & Sebastian Coccius , your most honozable maisters , doe with all diligence employe themselues to instructe & teach you . Yet notwithstanding , as our accustomed maner is , whan a garden is to be dressed , which we desire to be exquisite and decked with sondry flowers , not to despyse the litles plantes & herbes brought vnto vs from other places : so likwise I hope that the litle present which I offer vnto you to garnishe the ground of your wytte , shal be very acceptable vn to you . And truely I present it onely vntil such time as hauing gotten more strength ( as it hath bene said ) you might rightlye walke through the wide fieldes & grene places . Which to doe you haue an example of your owne kinred , to witte the vertue of your father , a prince of most worthy praise , who hath greatly augmented and decked the noblenes of his race by an eloquent doctrine : and which is the chiefest he hath brought thys knowledge to her right ende : The trewe scope of all sciences . that is to saye , that the name of of god might be sainctified : that the Churches & scholes might be well ordered : that good teachers & scholers might be nourished and interteined . This is the duetie that god requireth chiefly of them of your estate : and as he auengeth the neglecting thereof with great plagues , so likewise he doth rewarde them with great giftes , that behaue themselues therein as faithfull stuardes . Diuers lessons might be recited of the godlines , constancie , & valiantnes , of your most noble father : but you shall hereafter read them handled more at large , and shall know the ornamentes of your noblenes . For how can it be , the he who so much fauoureth good wittes , should not finally receiue of them such fruite of their thankfulnes , as he deserueth and should not be renoumed in the time to come ? Seing then that he vnderstandeth the worthines of his estate , & the charge that god hath committed vnto him , his chiefe care hath bene the your mind shuld be instructed in godlines and in learning from your youth : neither can any thing happen more pleasant vnto him ( such is the affection & motion of his fatherly loue ) then to sée his expectation inferiour to your diligence . The office of a true father . I doubte not but you are thereto inclined of your owne accord , as muche as this age may suffer , & that your instructours do their whole indeuours . Wherefore goe forewarde in good time , Prince Eberard : and seing that you are borne to minister the publyke weale , get you suche helpe and ayde as is perpetuall , Aydes which serue vnto the gouernementes of publike weales , and as giueth certaine & sure succour : yea , such that not onely lighten the labour whiche you muste hereafter beare , when you shall come to gouerne the countries of your ancesters , but also make it pleasant and easie . fare well .