The next to beware of , is a rayling or a passionate Writer ( for you shall not find all Authors free from this humor ) and him suspect of flattery , by praising himselfe , his fauourites and Country men , and bitterly taunting his opposites , or enemies . But when you meet with an Authour , who giueth his enemy his due commendation , read him with trust and beleefe ; and the rather , if he bee a stranger to both parties : esteeme him as litigious persons do of Vmpiers in Abitrementes , voyd of partiality . For it is aparant that Dionisius Hallicarnasseus ( a man of no eminent place in Gouernment ) wrote the History of the Romans with better faith and more vprightnesse , then Fabius , Salust , or Cato , men aduanced to wealth and honour in their Common-weales . For Polibius a Graecian in many places doth tax Fabius & Philenus of falshood , the one a Roman the other a Carthaginian , and both writing vpon the Punicke warres ; the one giuing all the honour to the Romans , the other to the Carthaginians . These are the words of Polibius . Philenus avoucheth that the Carthaginians behaued themselues valiantly , and the Romans baselie and cowardly . But Fabius by the censure of Polibius was a man of approued honesty , & wisedom , to whom the proiects of the Romans , nor the counterplots of the enemy were hidden , or vnreuealed Yet both Orator like were very wary to say or do any thing to their own irreputations . But let not any thinke , that in an History he can discharge both the part of an Orator & Historiographer . For I cannot allow of those writings which in praises and flattery are copious , in reprehension of vices , briefe and penurious ; this maxime being most iustifiable , that euen the man of best discretion and vprightnesse , committeth manifold errors . Wherein Equinard and Acciolus haue so magnified Carolus Magnus , Eusebius Constancie , Nebrensis Ferdinand , Iouius Cosmo Medices , Phillostratus Apollonius , Procopius Bellisarius , Staphilus , and Leua , Charles the fift , that heerein they haue rather merited the sirnames of Orators , then of Historiographers . And therefore let the iudicious Censurer suspend his iudgement not by the scale of Friends and Countreymen , but by the verdict of enemies also . Against Phillip Comines , in praising of Lewes the XI . let him oppose Meir ; and not Meir onely , but Paulus Aemilius ; because the one is excessiue in commending , the other as farre gone in discommending ; the third in a meane . Meir tearmeth him periurious and fratricide , whose desire was aboue al things , without regard of the Lawes of God or man , to become sole Tyrant of the state . The same Author calleth Comines himselfe , Traitor and Fugitiue . And therefore in these alterations , I wish neither of them to be belieued , because the one was highly aduanced and inriched , by the King , the other a professed enemy , and had his p●n deeplier dipped in gall , then was seeming for an Historiographer . Aemilius was neither friende nor foe ( for he was of Verona ) and wrote grauely and modestly in these words . The Duke ( saith he ) did enuy the King , accusing him with the death of his Brother , to haue corrupted his Brothers children , and to work them to poison their Father . Hee affirmes nothing rashly , he omitted not repugnant reports . They wrote in the life of Lewes ; this man an hundred yeares after , impossible at that tim● to bee possessed with expectancy of grace , feare , or enuy . So Tacitus did avowe the actions of Tiberius , Claudius , Caius , and Nero , reported in their life times to be full of flattery through feare , and after they were dead , as full of despight , and both false . And therefore it was his first prot●station , that he would write them without Enuie or Flattery , as in a time of more securitie . For hee wrote an hundred yeares after their deaths , and peraduenture had read the saying of Aristotle , that New Histories were as fabulous and distatiue as those of deepest Antiquity .

Surely those tha● will write of the present , can hardlie write truly , but they must touch the credi● and reputation of some men . And therefore Cicero in his Catalogue of all the best Orators , remembred not one liuing , least they which by chance or negligence were forgotten or omitted ( as himselfe speaketh ) should conceiue displeasure . Who would then seeke for truth amongst Authors conuersing with such times , Wherein to write what a man would not , was accounted dishonest : to write what he would , dangerous .

The best course is therefore without all fear to dedicate our Papers to posterity , or if any think so well of his workes , that he will publish them in his life time , let his History consist of times past , collected out of the best Commentaries publicke , priuate , and Ancient ; As did Lyuy , Tranquillus , Tacitus , Arrian , and Dionisius Hallicarnasseus , all , most approued Authors : and the last of most credite , because he wrote of another state , not of his owne , and sawe all mens Commentaries , and secrets of state by publique permission .

Polibius . In this ranke also , are Polibius , Plutarch , Metasthenes , Ammianus , Polidor , Ctesias , Aemilius , Aluaresius , and Lodowick Roman .

But of those which haue nothing in them but reports , ek toon aloon akroamatoon as Polibius speaketh , and haue not seene publicke Registers , let them be of no Authority . For the better Authors to induce better beleefe , avouched their authorities from publique remembrances , as Ammianus , who brought to light the Originall of the Galles from their Publicke Monuments . So likewise Arrians writeth in his preface , That he read the Commentaries of King Ptholomy , an eiewitnesse of the Acts of Alexander , neuer before set forth . Appian had the like Fortune with the papers of Augustus . Metasthenes and Ctesias with the Libraries of the Persians . Diodorus with the Arcana of the Egiptians . Onasicratus and Aristobulus the Lieutenant of Alexander avow those things which they sawe with their eyes in Egipt and India . Not that I dare avouch that the truth of History is to be sought for in the Commentaries of Kinges , for they are giuen to speake largely of their owne praises , but to make vse of those Obseruations which are little or nothing interessed in their praise or disgrace ; as the Computations of times , the largenesse and scituation of Prouinces , the Gouernment of Citties , the ages of Princes , their raignes and successions , and in especial , their Policies ; wherein the end of reading all in all consisteth . For as Metasthenes affirmeth , All men that writ of Princes are not to be beleeued , but especially the Priests , to whose fidelity and custody the publicke Annals were incredited . Such a one was Berosus , who collected the raignes of the Assyrians out of the Annals of his predecessors . This Metasthenes .

Secondly , if a History haue such and so many witnesses as cannot be contested , it hath the greater apparancie of truth , yea in seeming incredulities , especiallie if it suffer examination and triall . For who would beleeue that the Roman Senate at the motion of a Clowne , who dreamed that Iupiter called vnto him in his sleepe , and willed him to admonish the Senate that they should renew the plaies , because he that lead the dance in the former shawes had daunced falsie . The Senate assented . One man perchance in relating this triuiall accident would not be beleeued , but heerein Plutarch , Lyuy , Dionisius , Valerius and Pliny , do all agree ; who in so vniforme a consent of the Senate and people could not relate a falshood .

But methinkes I heare one say , the latter was deceiued by the error of the former ; and so each after other . Surely and so it may be , not onely in the Historie of humanitie , but also of Nature : For the olde world reported , that Swan● approching their ends , would sweetlie sing their Funerall farewels ; a tradition not onely receiued from the times of Eschilus by Poets and Painters , but likewise by the chiefest of the Phylosophers , Plato , Aristotle , Chrisippus , Philostratus , Cicero and Seneca . And yet Pliny , and after him Athenaeus report vppon proofe , that it is but a Fable , and so to this day it yet remaineth .

But as for naturall Historie the validitie thereof , whereof we meane not to discourse , it soone experimented , which in humaine ( for their infinite confusions ) can neuer be examined . As for example ; Many good Writers , and not one , or two , but almost twentie wrote that the Duke of Orliance was beheaded for Treason , and that at Paris : and yet it was apparant , that XXX . yeares after his imprisonment in England , he returned into France , and there peaceably died . For which rashnesse my Countrey-man G. Bellay doth sharpely reprehend those Historiographers , who will audaci●uslie commit to publique beliefe the flying reports of fame and the vulgar . Of this fault Strabo taxed Possidonius , Erastosthenes & Metrodorus . They deliuered for true history ( saith he ) the reports of the most inconstant people . But Possidonius vsed the Authoritie of C. Pompey , so that I thinke hee could write nothing vnaduisedly .

Therefore when Authors disagree amongst themselues , I take it the safest course to beleeue the latest , at leastwise if their reasons co-here necessarily , and their Arguments are strong ●o proue what they say . For such is the Nature and obscurity of truth , that vnlesse it be raked from auncient and fundamentall Originals , it will hardly appeare like it selfe , but best then , when the reports , the flatteries and passions of the vulgar are buried with their bodies .

As to Religion , because the Controuersies betweene the professions and professors thereof , are so irreconciable , I woulde not aduise a man to seeke out the Opinions of the Heathen among the Iewish Writers , nor of the Iewes amongst the Christians , nor that of the Christians amongst the Moores or Mahumetans , but to read the Authors of euerie sect and Religion by themselues , to weigh the credit of the writer , and the validitie of the thing written , and how they agree or disagree amongest themselues . So much ( concerning this Argument ) as hath beene set foorth by diuers Authors , I will rather blanch with the imputation of mistaking and ignorance in Antiquities , then with the foul Title of vntruth ; euen as the old Graecians dealt with the Romans and the Celts , and the Romaines with the Caldeans and Iewes , ea●h one being ignorant in the Antiquities of either Nation .

In reading the disgraces of an enemy , let our assertion bee suspended vntill we haue examined the worth of the writer ; for an aduersaries report is not rashly to bee reiected , nor at first sight imbraced ; but heerein let vs imitate Caligula , who commanded the History of Caesar written by Cassius and Labienus , and condemned by the Senate , to be published ; saying , That it was profitable for the state , to haue the Actions of euery man , vnderstood by all men . Yet for my part , if the testimony of the one or the other concerning Caesar , were ●ow extant , I would not altogether admit them to beliefe ; no nor build confidence on Caesar himselfe , when he writeth , that the Pompeyans made no conscience of Diuine and humaine thinges , and le●t no Sacriligious violence vnattempted , whereas he himselfe without any feare of Religion or deity , sacked all the Temples of the Gaules , and broake vp the Treasurie of the Holy Sanctuary , which Pompey and his faction feared and refused to violate . But the reason that moued Caesar to disperse these scandals on Pompey , was to make his enemy odious , that so he might pretend a iust cause of war , when to a good man no excuse can seem reasonable to wage warre against his Countrey .

As concerning his Commentaries , most men receiue them with approoued allowance , and no maruel , when a Generall was forbidden by the Law Porcia to giue in to the Tribunes of the Treasury , a false report what number of enemies he had slaine . Wherein if he failed , he was to be depriued of his Generalship , and denied his triumphall Ceremony ; which rather then Caesar would giue ouer , hee would not sticke to account that lawfull which made best for his purpose , how vnlawfull soeuer . Which law , though he had not kept inviolably , yet the feare of infamy so awed his ambition , that hauing many enemies , hee knew they would not haue failed to indict him of falshood , especially being resolued to publish his books in his own life time . An instance whereof is to be seene in Cicero his Anti-Cato , though he wrote saith Tacitus ) as persons accused are accustomed to behaue themselues before Iudges .

This therefore that we haue spoken touching the writings of Enemies , is to be receiued , except in cases of corruption and transfugation . Such a one was Froysard , who whether he sto●d m●re beholding to the English , Note the Author 〈◊〉 was a Frenchman . or the English to him , many make question , he himselfe publickly acknoledging their bounty and munificence . Such another was Aretine , who would glorie that hee was well rewarded by th●se whom he praised ; yea , though he did it against his conscience : Yet thus much wil I say for the 〈◊〉 , that it is not to be doubted , but that hee wrote truly , being either in action , or at least s●ending the best part of his life amongst militarie men : the fault that I finde is , for that he altogether ●●●g●t the due deserts of his owne Nation , which I thinke no vncorrupted passion can do . For Polibius ( accounted a most true Author ) when he came to discourse of his Countreymen , could not so moderate his p●n , b●t needes it must breake out into most bitter invectiues against Philarchus , for extenuating the valour and fortitude of the Megalopolitans in their warre against Aristomachus . The same humour ( if I bee not deceiued ) prouoked Plutarch to write against Herodatus wherein he inu●yeth at nothing s● sharpely as at those things which hee wrote concerning the Boetians and Che●ronesians . But who can refraine laughter that readeth Sabellicus his comparisons of the Venetians wa●res with those of the Romans ? Euen Donatus Gianotus , his Fellow-Cittizen could not indure them . With this disease ( if it may be tearmed a disease , with an honest fallacy to maintaine the reputation of our Countrymen ) almost all Historiographers are troubled . And therefore had I rather read Caesar discoursing of the manners of the Galles , Tacitus of the Germans , Polibius of the Romans , and Ammianus of the Frankes , for that they were strangers , vnaduanced , vncorrupted , & were wel acquainted with the Originals of those things , whereof they presumed to write .

The next doubt that troubleth my mind , is whether an Historiographer , ought to praise , dispraise , shew his opinion ; Or leaue all to the iudgement of his Reader . For either partie I will lay downe the best allega●●ons I can , and so leaue it to discretion .

Historie ought to be nothing but a representation of truth , and as it were a Map of mens actions , sette forth in the publicke view of all commers to bee examined ; And therefore the predesca●ting opinion of the writer cannot but bring much discredite to the Action , in that hee presumeth to prepossesse the minds of Artists with imaginarie assertions , seeming to teach those , who knew better then himse●fe what belongeth to such affaires , to the wiser sort , who will not he deceiued ( for that he cometh to Counsel before he be called ) he seemeth verie suspitious .

No lesse guiltie of another sault are many Historiographers , who in the midst of their discourses , fall off from their entended Narrations , to play the Orators or Rethoritians , so deluding the expectations , & confounding the memories of their readers . Such a one was Timaeus , condemned for both ; and for his digradation from History to Satyrisme , vulgarly termed Istitimaios and slanderer . For sithence there is nothing more difficile , then to Iudge truely , who would not be aggreeued to heare an Historiographer , hauing nothing to do in Counsell or matter of state , to breath out his assertion of the chiefest commanders in the Republicke ? Or what can be more foolish then to listen to a fellow who neuer saw f●●ld , reasoning of the victories and ouersights of Generals and their Armies . Such a malepart part plaid he ( I silence his name ) that wrote the wars betweene Henry and Charles the Emperour , by playing the iudge on both sides . He loded the King ( or rather ouer-loded with such grosse flatterie and praises , that his Maiestie could not endure to heare them but with loathing ; Charles hee condemned as a most wicked and Cowardlie Captaine , omitting no words of reproach which his wit could imagine . Alas good man ! little considered he , that his reproaches redounded to the discredit of his owne partaking , to whome it could not be imputed a dishonour to contend with such a Prince ; more dishonourable to bee by him ouerthrowne : but most dishonourable to contract affinity . Well , by this his ouersight he lost the credite of an Historiographer , and was by the consent of all good men condemned for an vniust iudge . No l●sse onerseene was Iouius in his rash and odious comparisons of the liues of Selimus and Ismael the Sophi ; of Charles the fift , Pope Paule , and diuers other great Princes .

Against these I oppose Xenophon , Thucidides , Tranquillus , Caesar , Guicciardin , and Sleydan , who seldome , and that wisely , and vpon occasions intermix their Opinions . Truly Caesar for military discipline , being all praise-woorthie , and a profound Artist in state-gouernement , though without reprehension he might speake his mind in warlike Controuersies , and that withou● imputation of ignorance , yet when hee did it , it was done with discretion and modestie . For when some about him affirmed , that P. Scilla might haue perfected his victory , if hee had pursued the troopes of Pompey , Caesar made answere , That he allowed of his proceedings : For ( saith he ) the Office of a Generall and Lieutenant are different ; the one is to manage according to Commission , the other as occasions shall importune . Again , in the battel of Pharsalia when Pompey commanded his souldiers to standfast , and not to remoue ; to receiue the enemy , & not to charge : To do the like ( saith Caesar ) I see not by any reason how it should stand to our aduantage , because Nature hath infused into euery man a certaine alacrity & courage of minde ready to quarrell : Thus a good General ought to cherrish , not to pull backward . Heere Caesar contended with Pompey not in armes onely , but in counsell also .

Many are the examples which may iustifie this policy of Caesars , as the victory of Epaminondas against the Lacedemonians , and therefore what can bee more distastiue then to heare another Phormio , who neuer saw field , to giue a peremptorie censure of such Personages , and their Fortunes ; or a Schoole-man to talke of the amendment of the Lawes of Lycurgus and Solon , being the wisest magistrats that euer bore office ; which when Aristotle had done , he ran into the dislike of many men for it ; of Polibius sparingly , of Plutarch more f●eely ; how iudiciously I say not ; but generally affirme , that to speak● of things we assuredly know not , is an argument of Leuity ; Peremptori●y to iudge , app●rantly dangerou● . Viues the Schoolemaister of Charles blameth Comines for the same fault of leui●y , because he often digresseth from his History ; then from the liues and fortunes of Princes , and lastly f●lleth into discourse of an happy life , after , the fashion of Phylosophers .

This notwithstanding ; Comines was a man that spent his whole time eith●r in place of gouernment , or in th● wars , or in famous Embassies , and so did not Viues . So that in my fancy , if any man might censure , su●ely he might . But admit his reprehension iustifiable , then would I aduise an Historiograph●r to resolue either to determine modestly , or for altogether to h●lde his peace , but that the authority of Polibius doth draw me to a contrary opinion For , the reason wherfore he blameth Philarchus , was for that he Silenced due desarts : yea , and affirmeth the chiefest vse of Annals to be , to inflame the good to progression by the example of their likes , and to de●●r the wicked by d●slike of former courses . Which reason both Tacitus and Procopius allow of , besides that many graue Authors at end of their discourses haue vsed the president ; & amongst the number , Agathias ( a wonder to me ) doth compare a bare Relation , to an old-wiues tale ; but his authority doth not so weigh with me , that therby I can be induced to consent ; especially , since by the most graue censis of Cicero Caesar who went beyond al other Historiographers in this kind of commendation , That his history was naked , simple , & true , & without all Ornament of Art laid open to euery mans censure . Of like nature is the history of Xenophon , which he annexed to Thucidides , wherein he interlaceth no Opinion of his owne maketh no digression , neither vseth any Ornaments of Oration . And to th●ir opinions , that suppose the praises of ve●tue , & the display of vices to be the fruit of History , I answere , that it may more truely and properly bee handled by Philosophers ( to whose element it pertaineth ) then by Historiographers . He disgraced Nero sufficiently , that penned his butchering of most honest persons , His schoolemaister , his two wiues , his Brother Britannicus , & finally his mother . Al these , without further addit on of words , Tranquillius writeth purely and plainly : But Appian after he hath shewed howe Methridates slew his Mother , his brother , his three young sons , and so many daughters ; addeth , A man bloody and mercilesse against al sorts of people . He rein he no lesse detracted from the credite of his former discourse , then Iouius , who for his long Oration , bitter and full of despight , against the Tyranies of Selimus Prince of the Turkes , seem●th vnto me to haue laid vpon his credit a pe●petuall disg●ace , for that it had b●n sufficient to haue simply related the murder of three Bassaes , of great integri●y and neare alliance , two Brethren , fiue Nephewes , and his aged Father ; & not aft●r the maner of Orators ( verie imp●oper for an Historiographer ) to run out into impertinent discourses , which peraduenture the Reader may conster to be false or suspicious . And this vnder correction of those , who think nothing more vnprofitable , then a bare R●lation : for my part I dislike not censures vpon great Potentates and thei● fortunes , so the censur●rs be men of iudgment & sufficiency . For discoursing of City gouernment Dionisius Halicarnasseus , Plutarch , Liuy , Zonaras , Dio and Appian are commended . For the Art mil●tary , Caesar , Paterculus , Ammianus , Frossard , Hiricius , Bellay : For both , Xenophon , Polibius , Thucidides , Tacitus , Comines , & Guicciardin : For policies and Cour●ship , Tranquillus , Lampridius , Spartianus , Sleydan & Machiauel . For maners of people & description of Countries , Diodorus , Mela , Strabo , Leo Afer , Boemus Aluaresius : For religion , Philo , Iosippus , Eusebius , Theodoret , Socrates , Sozomen , Nicephorus , Calistus , Orosius , Sidonius , Gregorius Turonensis , Abasurspergensis , Gulielmus Bish. of Turi , Antonius Florentinus , and the writers of the Magdeburg Historie .

But wisely spake the Ancients , Ne sutor vltra crepidam , in which sence I would not haue a Polibius to discourse of Religion , Nor a Eusebius of the Art military . Thus much in general of the duty of Historiographers , now of the choise of the best of these : for to hope for better were madnesse ; to wish it , vanity . And as for those who Poetize vnto themselues the Idea of an absolute Historiograph●r : such a one as neuer hath bin , nor euer wil be , I say they might haue spent their times and studies to better purpose . For who maketh question , but that an Historiographer ought to bee a man of grauity , integritie , seuerity , of good intelligence , eloquent , and fully insighted into the offices of publique and priuat Gouernment ; I thinke none but fooles will fall in love with an Hi●●ory , which hath nothing in it saue eloquent words , fained Orations , & merry digres●ions ; verily supposing , that he that writeth but to please the care , cannot but neglect the truth , wherof Thucidides , Plutarch and Diodorus accuse Herodotus ; and yet Cicero ( to me ● wonder ) tearmeth him the Parent of History , whom all Antiquity accuseth of falsity . And therefore let him be as we find him , whom al Authors so vniuersally condemne , but not vtterly reiect . For besides his eloquent sale , and the sweet dialect of the Ionique phrase , we shall find in him many remembrances of Antiquity : and to speake freelie , in his latter bookes diuers things most truly reported .

Therefore wit to be deceiued in our choise , let those be imbraced , who are by all allowed , especially in those times wherein they liued , and were Actors in the affaires . Of which ranke in my iudgement , are Thucidides , Thucidides Salust , Xenophon , Comines , Guicciardin , Caesar , and Sleydan . Neither is it materiall that the Athenians accused Thucidides , of affectionate partiality towards the Lacedemonians : for heereby being an Athenian and not a Lacedemonian , they added to his credit . And besides , the man had bin imployed in diuers Imbassies & commands in the Peloponesian war ; was rich , nobly discended , had to do in all affaires of state , maintained Intelligenc●rs , and lastly wrote of their actions , who then liued , and that in n● free state : who would call such an Author , or such an , Historie , into suspition . Neither did his fauour towards the Lacedemonians so drowne the remembrance of his owne Countreymen , but that he gaue them their due praises . And although he were by them cast into banishment , when he wrote his History , yet he not onely cleared his onely aduersarie and exile worker Pericles from publicke obloquy , but being dead thought him so praise-worthy for his politicke , gouernment , that he doubted not to prophesie , but that with his death the state would fall into a present declination : yet Diodorus sticketh not secretly to carpe at the method of his Orations , as doth Trogus Pompeius ( witnes Iustine ) against Lyuy & Salust : saying , That they exceeded the bounds of History , by inserting their direct and indirect Orations . For ( as Cicero saith ) nothing can be more pleasing in History then simple and significant breuity .

But if we should go about to extract from Liuy al his Orations , we should leaue him but smal fragments ; which reason , Caligula pretended for defacing his portraiture , and remouing his writings out of all Libraries ; which in truth to me seemeth in some sort tollerable , for that he himselfe protesteth in his o●e and fortifieth booke , that hee determined to write nothing but the Romaine Historie .

Salust . Of Salust we can define nothing , because all his workes are almsot lost : by those which remaine , wee cann●t denie , but that he was a most sincere Author , and deepe Statist . For he tooke paines to trauaile into Affricke to be truelie informed of his Bellum Iugurthinum . And surelie he wrote freelie : for what could be more freche spoken , then to c●rsine the man●fold sufficiencie of the whole Roman people then liuing , to consist in one onely Caesar and Cato ? So Thucidides attributed to Pericles his true and most deserued commendations : So did Sleydan his , to King Francis ; to the Duke of Saxony , his ; to Belay , and Alasco , theirs , reiecting all odious comparisons . But if an Authour will needs discend into a bitter straine , then let him proue his assertions with pertinent Argumentes ; for otherwise the world will grow into suspition that he hat● written but vpon heare-say . Which course Guicciardin , Plutarch , Machiauel , and Tacitus , haue followed , whereby they haue most clearelie laid open the secre●est proiects and policies of diuers Princes . As for Sleydan hee was King Francis his interpreter , Sleydan and often imployed in Embassies by his Commonwealth● and being a D●uine his chiefe scope was to write of Religion , the controuersies wherof as likewise the Orations ( direct and indirect ) hee included in as briefe a method as possi●●y he coul● : which to manie men seeme tedious ; but to a spirit desirous to read antiquities , and 〈…〉 of importance , nothing should be so taken . For in our Authors 〈…〉 sard , & Carter you shal find a masse of leuitie , but withall many 〈…〉 case to be reiected ; which you shall not find in Emilius , who freely confesseth that he hath witting he ouerpassed those things , which other men haue written . Of the same mold are the histories of Leo Afer , Aluarasius . M. Gazus , which speake to all accidents , weighty , indifferent , triuiall ; therewith to satiate the itching eares of the curious . But this shall you seldome finde amongst the Greeke or Latine writers , who onely proposed to discourse of the actions of warre or peace , vnlesse some memorable accident intervened ; as with Liuie , The burning of the Capitoll in the sociall warre ; with Tacitus , That furious fire which consumed twelue wards of the Citty .

As for Prodegies , not the basest , but euen the most famous writers haue noted them , though flatlie incredible ; as Caesar himselfe ; That in the ciuill warre , the statue did sweat at Traley : a man otherwise neither fearing God , nor much regarding honesty . Herein Liuie most religiously ( I had rather say superstitiouslie ) exceeded all others . For ye shal read of nothing so frequent , as how Oxen spoke , Vines burnt , Statues sweated , Stars fell from heauen ; how God appeared to Hanniball : that a childe of six moneths olde , proclaimed a Triumph , and such like . These writers , Polibius tearmed Tragoedos , & not improperly : because they could not fetch Anniball out of Purgatory , they woulde bring downe the Gods on the stage by deuises . But Polibius was an Atheist , and wrote verie vnreuerently of religion ; the others are more charitably to be censured . For it were better to be superstitious , then irreligious , and more tollerable to adore some God , then to acknowledge no deitie .