GEntlemen , wee are all borne by nature to so much pouerty , and inuolu'd in so many miseries , as there is no worke of Man , how small soeuer , which giuing order to his meanest actions , doth not minister occasion of some Esteeme . So as whereas his diligence guided by reason , shall finde it selfe crost , I know not by what power , which commonly fortune vsurpes ouer the iudgement and consideration of Man , wee may ( as we thinke ) iustly blame it , in excusing with compassion the workeman and his misfortune . And if on the other side , to shew her great magnificence and bounty , she imparts her fauours 〈…〉 ●rder or faire course , seekes to bring some Enterprize to an end , so as that notwithstanding his ouer-weaning and folly shee makes it perfect : Then we hold her prodigall , detesting her vnreasonable and inconsiderate bounty , grieuing at her benefits so ill imployed . Behold how , ( I know not by what law receiued among men ) wee commend or blame euery one in his profession and workes , so farre forth as they see his industry and diligence imployed or defectiue . If wee haue reason then in so great Esteeme , as wee seeke it in all our actions , and in matters of the smallest consequence , blaming him that neglects it : How infamous wee hold the carelesnesse and neglect of a man in the order and conduct of affaires , wherein not onely the ruine of his estate , life and honour , but also that of his Countrey , Parents , and Friends , and finally of his Prince and Soueraigne , is many times brought into great danger ? But if there be no Enterprize among those which Men pursue , wherin such things ought to bee drawne into Consideration , as proper and ordinary vn-him , and without the danger whereof hee can reape no benefit , I am of opinion that that of warre ought in reason to bee preferred before all others : Although there bee many , which cannot alwaies be brought to a good end , without the hazard and danger of those which pursue them . In truth it is a profession , which experience hath taught in all Nations , to bee so rough and fierce , and finally so difficult to mannage , as neuer man could carry himselfe so discreetly , nor with so great fortune , nor recouered such rich spoiles , nor obtained such Triumphant victories , but they haue purchased him new causes of Care and feare , not onely of great Enuie , and of new Enemies , but also losse and ruine . I will not speake of the irreparable defeate of the brauest Men in an Armie , which a Victory worthy of renowne requires , as it were by aduance , when as the Enemies performe the Duties of good souldiers . The Carthagians thrusting an Army into Sicily , at their first entry obtained some Conquests , so soone after they prouoked hatred of the Romanes : which was but the beginning and prefage of a future ruine . But when as the fortune of the warres beganne to smile vpon Hanibal , and to giue him a full Gale , so as his exploits were so great in Spaine , as afterward hee presumed to force Nations , Mountaines , and riuers , and in the end to fight with the Extremity of the weather for the Conquest of Italy : Then , as it were , fearing her owne power , to bee in a manner vanquished , shee beganne to practize and forge meanes , not onely to ruine her so much fauoured Hanibal , but the whole Carthaginian Empire . And therefore it is credible , that ( I know not by what inconstancy , or rather extrauagant and sauage Nature ) shee makes friends of Enemies , and enemies of her owne friends ; so much shee feares ( as I imagine ) the ease and rest of those whom shee fauours . It is true that traffique by Sea is not without great terrour , amazement and hazard , for the danger of the waues , Tempests and stormes , with a thousand other accidents . But if warre once set vp her sailes , being accompanied with rage , fury , and many other disasters , which the malice of Men haue inuented to make vse of , beleeue mee that these other furies , which the winds procure at Sea and in the Aire , which many times are more fearefull than mortall , will not seeme in regard of those of warre , but a light amazement , and , as it were , a false allarum . What torment at ●●ea , or violence of the winds hath euer beene so soddaine , which the long experience of a wise Pilot , could not by a thousand signes and tokens foresee , deuising sufficient remedier to auoid it ? But when a warre is mannaged by Iudgement and discretion , as it is requisite , the shewes are commonly contrarie , to that which they pursue . Wherefore the more an Enterprize is dissembled and keept secret , the more easie it is to put in execution . Finally , if wee will confesse the truth , it is a profession which among all others , requires the greatest vigilancie ; a continuall Care , with an incredible diligence : whereof a good Iudgement must haue the conduct , that by coniecture drawne from things formerly practized , or from a probability of that which hee sees , hee may soone after iudge of the Enemies resolution , and finally attempt and hope for a victory .

And although it hath beene alwaies held , that Money is the sinewer of Warre ; yet I hold its force without Conduct ▪ like vnto that of a strong , able Man , opprest with a deepe sleepe , whose senses haue made their retreate for his rest . So there is nothing so strong , nor so quicke in this world as the sense of man : Nor any thing so powerfull and terrible , which the vnderstanding doth not master and subdue . And therefore wee say commonly in France , that wit is better than force . Yet I know that Courage is a great aduantage ; and necessary for a souldier , but especially for a Generall : But I feare that for want of Iudgement and a good consideration , it makes them not sometimes ouer-weening and carelesse of danger . So as many times it giues occasion to a weake and cowardlie Enemie , to vndertake a Victory , and to performe the Act of a valiant man . Wherefore courage without conduct , and vigilancie , is alwayes subiect to Ambushes and shamefull flights : which are inconuentenees , whereof a Coward is alwaies warie , for that feare makes a Man vigilant and carefull . But was there euer Nation more hardie , nor more warre-like , nor that more carefully obserued the ordinances of warre than the Romanes ? How then did Hannibal defeate them so often , not onely in Encounters , but in pitcht Battailes , and in the open field , by his great Iudgement , and his subtile pollicies ? In what feare , and with what admiration hath the fury of the Gaules , beene held in old time by all Natio●s , who parting from their owne Countrey and Townes , to seeke new habitations , haue conquered land in diuers Countries by Armes , building Townes not onely in Italy their Neighbour , but also in Germany , and in the end in Greece , and Asia ? Who hath defeated and quite ruinated them in a short time , but their owne Consideration , and an ouer-weaning confidence in their force and courage ? I hold for certaine , which you know well , that it is not sufficient for a Prince or Generall to haue his Armie compleate with foote and horsemen , how resolute soeuer , and with all necessary prouisions for a warre : No more than for a Souldier to haue youth , strong and actiue Members , a daring courage , and compleate furniture . Hee must haue to vanquish ( the which many times the vanquished improperly call mis-fortune ) that piece of harnesse so well steeled , which wee call Iudgement ▪ or a good conduct . Beleeue mee that like vnto a horse , when hee hath taken the ●it betwixt his teeth , forcing his Master , flies without feare thorow Woods , Rockes , and Precipices , with the danger of his life , bee hee neuer so nimble and couragious ; so a hardie and resolute souldier doth easily his owne ruine , if hee wants conduct and Iudgement . You must vnderstand that as the body requires Exercise to preserue in health , and to make it actiue , and hardened to indure labour and paine ; so the vnderstanding in like manner desires to bee exercised and imployed , either by the consideration of things past , or by those which are visible .

It is true , that those which are seene by the eye , haue a greater viuacitie , and a stronger impression , than those which are past : For that liuing things are of greater force than dead . Yet , if we shall duely consider the length of time , which the experience of a thousand kind of pollicies , which warre requires before that a wise Man will dare to aduenture himselfe in a bold and hardie Enterprize , wee shall finde that the knowledge of the antient warres , which haue beene left vs in writing , will bee of no small consequence vnto him . For besides the assurance of danger , hee may in a short time see by Historiographers , the great and wonderfull exploits of the Antient in a manner since the Creation of the world , to pleasure and contentment from them , with some Encouragement to doe aswell or better hereafter . You know well that the warre which is seene by the eye , is not alwaies made betwixt warre-like people , nor vnder resolute Commaunders , that are skilfull in their profession : so as it is a difficult thing vnder such to see any valiant exploits , nor Enterprizes attempted with good inuention , nor well executed . Wee say commonly in France , that the Combate is dangerous , when as courage fights against courage . So is it credible ▪ that when an Army consisting of warre-like men , is vnder the leading of a wise and resolute Commander , hauing in front an Enemy equall vnto him in all degrees , there must needes bee valiant exploits performed , with hardy Enterprizes wisely mannaged .

If there haue beene any warres , attempted by fierce and warlike Nations , and gouerned by wise and famous Captaines , beleeue me this present Historiographer hath vsed great diligence to set them downe in writing : Labouring only to mention the deedes and valour that was most worthy of Relation , that with the pleasure and contentment which they may reape in reading them , they may draw some instructions and meanes , not to fall into the inconuiences of warre , into the danger whereof many times both Captaine and souldiers may bee ingaged , through want of experience , good aduice and councell . So as among others , you shall see Enterprizes of the Romanes against the Carthaginians for the conquest of Sicily . During the which there were many Encounters and cruell battailes , as well by Sea as land . You shall likewise reade the furious Combat of the Gaules against the Romanes : And moreouer the warre betwixt Cleomenes and Antigonus , for Morea , the which Philip the Sonne of Demetrius tooke afterwards . And besides many other notable exploites , ( which at this present I will forbeare ) you shall see the Conquests which Hannibal made in Spaine , with his incredible voiage into Italie , performed in his younger yeeres , and his victories gotten of the Romanes with such pollicie and wisedome , as it is a difficult thing ( if wee shall consider the people and number of his Armie , hauing regard to courage and power of those with whom hee had to deale ) to iudge truely , whether there were euer Captaine in the memory of man , that may with reason bee compared vnto him . Finally my Masters , I doe not promise you in this History , those miraculous Battailes , which exceed the apprehension of man , performed in the Kingdome of Logres , nor I know not what Quest of that barking Beast . Make your accompt that you shall not finde any Tract or marke of a Beast , nor finally any thing that holds of it . Beleeue mee in times past , Men did not feede their vnderstandings with dreames , nor fables inuented in barbers-shops , without any colour of Truth . It is impossible an ignorant Master should make a learned disciple . Finally they are discourses fit for old womens tongues to entertaine little children , whilest that for weakenesse of their Age , their vnderstanding hath no apprehension , nor sufficient Iudgement of reason , Wherefore wee may with reason say , that such as co●sume their yeeres , and grow old in such dreames , haue a will to continue still children . And although they commonly saie , that warre is mannaged by the eye : So as it seemes they will thereby inferre , that wee must not thinke of it , but when necessity doth force vs : And that peace should procure no benefit to a Souldier , but idlenesse ; yet he must fore-see long before , part of that which afterwards he must gouerne by the eye . And as a horse which is pampered and not ridden , growes restit ; and proues vnprofitable to his Master for trauaile : so the vnderstanding of a souldier , idle during peace , or fed with dreames and foolish inventions , will faile him at neede ; and in the end purchase him dishonour and shame ; Yet do not imagine my Masters , that I haue vsed this speech as blazoning you , and holding you for men of so poore an Enterprize , whose principall study and affections is the reading of such Bookes , rather then in some worthy recreation and exercise . My meaning was onely to aduertise you , that Histories , from whence with pleasure you may draw great profit , as these are which this Historiographer imparts vnto you ought to bee in greater recommendation than those Fables , which haue no grac● , but when they are most without reason or any shew of truth .

Finally , I hope you shall finde such sufficiencie in our Polybius , as you will make no question to preferre him as the paragon before all others , aswell Greekes as Latines , which are come to the knowledge of men . Of whom I haue presumed to translate in the best sort I could , those fiue first Bookes , which of Fourty which hee hath written , haue beene preserued halfe ruined by the negligence of time : Hoping you will receiue them as willingly , as I offer them with a good heart .

When as after the Printing of these fiue first Bookes , I had recouered some Latine Translations , of three parcels of the sixt , whereof the first and the third had not any GREEKE Coppie , And likewise afterwards another of the sixteenth , both in Latine and Greeke , I imployed my selfe to put them into French , adding thereunto the forme of the Romanes Campe , as I could coniecture it , by the discription which Polybius maker , in the parcell of the sixt Booke . And when as the Printers successor had a desire afterwards to print the whole , and intreated mee to spend some time in the Remainder of that which was newly published of Polybius his workes , which are certaine parcells , and as it were Reliques ( besides the aboue named ) of the seuenth and eighth , and of all the subsequent Bookes vnto the seauententh inclusiue , it was not in my power to deliuer him any other but those of the seuenth and eighth , being afflicted with a quartane Ague , besides his obstinacy in vsing a small Character , for the sparing of Paper distasted mee : Expecting that which afterwards followed , that few men would rest satisfied , for that all things how good and excellent soeuer , are thereby found without grace , dull and vnpleasing . For this cause desiring that so excellent a writer , should not remaine disdained and without grace for want of an honourable Impression , and that the studio●s of Histories should bee the more incouraged , I resolued to adde the remainder of that , which at this day is come to our knowledge , assuring my selfe that the Printer for his part will haue a care that for the sauing of his money hee will not doe wrong to his honour , nor loose his charges instead of gaine .

COurteous Reader , I desire your charitable censure in that there bee some litterall faults escaped , to the griefe of the Author being not able to attend the Presse , and likewise being absent at that time from London , and hauing but a yong Corrector which took too much vpon him .