EDWARDE THE SIXT BY THE Grace of God , King of Ingland , France , and Irelande , Defendour of the fayth and of the church of England and Irelande in earth Supreme hedde . To all Iustices , Maiours , Shiriues , Bailliues , Constables , Custumers , Comptrollers , Sercheours , Kepars of our poortes , Crekes & passages , & to all other our Offycers , Ministres , & Subiectes , these our Letters hearyng or seynge , & to euery of them , Gretinge . WE late youe wytte , that Iudgyng it to be mete & ryghtuous , that oure Royall Maiestie , ( wherin through the prouydence , ordenaunce , and grace of the almighty & euer lyuing God , we presently do Reigne ) not onely shuld ayde those , that for publique & common vtilite do laboure , specially in learnynge , but also graciously takyng them into our protectyon , shulde not ceasse to any mate them in suche theire labours to be contynued & augmented . Being credibly informed that our faythfull & welbeloued subiect Thomas Nicolls , Cytezene & Goldesmith of our Cytie of London , hath not onely translated the hystorye , wryttone by Thucidides the Athenyan of the warres that were amonge the Grekes , chiefly betwene the Peloponesians & the Athenyans out of Frenche into Inglish , but also intendeth contynning in that his vertuous exercyse , therby to reduce & bring other profytable hystories out of Frenche & latenne into our sayd maternall language , to the generall benefyt , comodytie & profyt of all our louing Subiectes , that well shall digeste the same : We , who from oure tender yougth , haue loued & embrased Godly & vertuous learnyng , & the fauourers therof , Myndyng to relieue & helpe our sayd subiecte in hys labours & study , & beyng enclyned to his reasonable & humble petycions & requestes vnto vs in thys behalfe made : Of our especyal grace , & by the aduyse and consente of our ryght dere , ryght trusty & right welbeloued Pryuey Counsaille , woll & straytely commaunde all and singuler Stacyoners , Prynters , bookesellers , & marchauntes , wheresoeuer , & of whatsoeuer estate , degree , or condition he or they be , and al other inhabiting , reseant , or hauyng accesse in or to any our Royaulmes , territoryes , or domynions aswell in these parties , as beyonde the sea , that they nor any of them duryng the space of Seuen yeares next to come to be accompted from the fyrst settyng forth of the sayd historye , shall not without expresse lycence obteygned of the sayd Thomas Nicolls , impresse or imprynt , nor cause to be impressed or imprynted in any caracter of letter , nor selle , geue , alyen , nor distribute to any parsone or parsons , the said historye of Thucidides , nor any part therof , imprinted or to be imprinted in English by any other parsone or parsones , than by our said subiecte or his assigneis by him thereunto admitted , vpon payne of confiscatyng & forfayture not onely of all such bokes , as against the true tenour & purporte herof shal be by any meane impressed , imprinted , solde , put to sale , alyenated , geuen or dystributed : but also vpon penaltie of Twenty poundes of Currante monney of this our Royalme of England , so often to be payd by the transgressours , as any of them shal be founde & approued to do the contrary . Th● one halfe of the sayd forfayture & penaltye to be to our vse & bihoulf , and the other half to the presenter approuynge the same . Anny act , statute , graunte , lycence , or other prouisyon heretofore had & made , or hereafter to be had & made to the contrary herof , in any wyse withstandynge . Wherfore WE woll & commaunde youe and euery of youe not onelye to permyt and suffre oure sayde welbeloued subiecte , peacesably to exercyse , perceyue , and enioye the full benefyte & effecte of thys oure lycence and graunte , but also at all tymes durynge the same Seuen yeares , whan and as often as ye or any of youe shal , by hym or his assigneis , be therunto requyred , to be vnto the same oure Subiect fauourynge , helpinge , aydynge , furtheryng and supportynge in and aboutes execucion of the premysses . So as no defaulte shal be founde to be in youe nor any of youe . As for doinge the contrary , ye and euery of you woll aunswere vnto vs at youre extreme perylles , For such ys our pleasure , YOVON vnder our Signet at our Palays of Westminster the xxiiii . of February , The fourth yeare of our Reygne .

God saue the Kinge and hys Maiesties most honorable Counsaille .

Hereafter followe the before mencyoned Prologues .

HERODOTVS the father of hystoryans wytnessethe , that there is a regyon , adioynynge to the Thraces , inhabyted by certayne people named Trauses : whiche in tymes past were accustomed , that whan a chylde was borne amongest them , incontinently , as it was oute of the mothers wombe , the parentes and neyghbours dyd assemble together , and there receyued hys fourthe comming with cryes , wepynges , and lamentacions , remembrynge howe manye myseryes and calamytes he shulde of necessyte suffre in thys worlde . And to the contrary , when a●ye of them departed from thys lyfe vnto death : they accompanyed him to hys graue , in greate festynge and reioysynge : in synging and ioyfully rehersynge the multytude of euyls and tourmentes , from which he was exempted by death . whiche thynge puttynge in consideration , the Ancyent Grekes vsurped in suche sorte , that Ausonus the Porte made or deuysed a prouerbe , whiche sayd , that it were right good for a man not to be borne , or yf he were borne , to dye ymmedyatly : so narowely loked they vnto the incommodities of mans life . And to saye the trouthe , yf that we would dylygently regarde it , we shulde fynde wyth Plyny : that nature hath dearely and at to hygh a pryce , solde vnto vs , the haboundaunce of thynges , which she bryngeth fourth to oure vse , and that we haue no ioye nor swetenes , that maye not be , sadnes and bytternes , which is indyuidently ioyned vnto them . For besyde the incomparable dangier , that we must passe for to come into thys lyghte , albeit that we be borne to haue lordeshyp and commaundement ouer the other beastes , yet none of them commeth vnto the worlde so vnprouided & yll appoynted , as we do , nor so frayle , weake and passyble as we be . And as the same Authour Plyny in the Prologue of the seuenth boke of hys naturall hystorye more largely and subtelly recyteth , Nature hath geuen to all beastes euen from theyr byrthe , lybertye , vesture , habytacyon and grateful nourriture . But man alone is he , that assone as he is borne , falleth bare to the grounde , begynneth hys lyfe by beyng bounden or swadled , is constrayned to borowe hys garment of an other , to trauayle hys membres and hys spyryt to buylde hys lodgynge , to get hys foode by sweate of hys bodye and contynuall laboure of hys handes : after the difficultes of hys rysynge vp , and the length of tyme , that he must haue to learne to go and to speake . But yet thys is worse , that where all other beastes , do geue themself by natural instinctyon , to that , which properly appertayneth to th offyce of theyr nature , th one to flye , thother to swymme : It is man alonly that knoweth nothing withoute teachynge , nether to go , nor speake , neyther to eate , nor fynally to do any thynge , that is in the worlde , without teachyng , excepte it be to wepe . So that thys pytyfull ignoraunce hath geuen place and auctoryte vnto the Prouerbe Italian , whiche sayeth , that a man muste be borne wyse , or els to be borne two tymes . For yf he be borne wyse , he maye escape infynyte inconuenyences , where as through faulte of experyence , he tombleth dayly duryng the cours of this short lyfe , into greate preiudice of hys wytt . Yf he be borne two tymes , in the seconde lyfe , he maye ayde hym selfe with that , that he shal haue learned in the fyrst and shall not wander in the darknes of erroure , as he is constrayned to do commynge into thys worlde without guyde or lyght of knowledge . Then as it is more necessarye for man to learne , then for any other beastes : and that the conceyuynge of knoweledge , consysteth in the spyryt : It semeth very strange to thinke from whence it maye procede , that ( seynge that Nature hath fourmed vs of membres and spyryt , and that the membres mortall and weake , make vs lyke vnto beastes , so much in this more auau●taged than we , that the more parte of them be more stronge and myghty , & lesse subiected to dyseases : and that the spyryt durable and euerlastyng , by the whiche we are parttakers wyth Angels maketh vs excellent & worthy aboue al other creatures ) yet alwayes we seke and take payne to please the body by all meanes possyble ( euery man genera●ly towarde hym selfe ) and that there be not many that passe vpon the spirit , or better to say : there be fewe found the ones woll regarde it . There is no man of so lowe estate , that he careth not to couerre hys parsone wyth some sorte of clothynge . And the nomber of them is infynyte , that for to geue it more grace & deckynge , be not contended or take it to be suffycyent to be wrappe it in golde , pourple & delicate silkes , except they trauayle straunge countres of the worlde , for to get stoanes , most rare and precyous , and employ them to the curiosite of theyr nyce trymmynge , where maye not a man see that the more parte of men lyuinge , not onely haue not theyr thought vpon true vertue and dutie double rewarded , but also that they kepe it not ones vnder shadowe or coueringe of the lyne or small threde of good conditions ? Nowe what shall we saye , that for to sa●isfy oure corporall actes , of the earthe , which within fewe yeares must retourne into duste ( to the sustenance whereof the thynges present , and that nature doth offre vs in ●uerye place , myght suffyce ) There are no feldes , no seas , nor forestes , which be not by vs with greate diligence trauersed and serched to th entent , that we maye haue delicious meates and please our sensuall appetytes . That whiche more is , albeit , that for hys commoditie and ease , to defende the sonne , snowe , rayne and iniury of the ayer , one lodgynge or Cabayne well closed myght be ynough , yet we loue better to cause strange marbles to be brought from the furthest regyons of the earthe habytable , for to make , buylde & edifye large and greate pallaces . Where as for the most part , we regarde not wherwith the heauenly part , which is in vs , is repasted and fedde , nor yf his lodgynge be conuenyently prepared : and sonner we set afore it the leues of vyce , than the moste sauoury and swete fruictes of vertue , holding it more comonly recluded and locked in the obscure and base vsage of sensualytie , then in preferring it , to haunt the clere and hygh operacions of honnestie . Furthermore yf at any tyme we fele any parte of oure body dysordered by sy●knes , we seke by all meanes & wayes possyble , for to recouer the health decayed : but we are litle carefull to prouyde recouerey , or to mynystre mete medecyns to oure mynde , beynge euil at ease . Shuld this come paraduenture for this cause ? that for so much as the body is sene more then the spryt , we thynke therfore that it hath more nede of suche prouisyons ? this argument is not suffycyent , for not onely the bodye hath not more apparance , than the spyryt , but also the body is by him greatly e●alted in it , and that it be a true spyryt , it hath as many faces , as it sheweth operacyons : and the body neuer sheweth hym selfe , but one fourme , in the which in many yeares he is scarsely seene of many men , where the operations of the spryt , may be in shorte tyme knowen throughe all the world . And this self body continueth but very fewe dayes , where the spryt , whiche is euerlastynge , abydeth euerlastingely , and may reteigne by him self through many worldes , that , wherin we accustome ourself , duryng the tyme , that he is with the body . To the which thynges and other infynitt , whiche may be alleaged for this purpose , yf men woulde haue suche consideration , as they ought to haue , it woulde cause better lyfe and more increase at this tyme than it dothe , and we hauyng care suffycient for our body ( but more garnyshing our thoughtes and myndes , and feding them better , and geuing them more honorable habitacion ) shulde be more worthy to haue them , than we be , and shulde take more greate care to conserue them in helthe . And yf peraduenture they chaunced at any tyme to be diseased : we shulde enforce our selfes with moste diligence , to remedy theyr diseases , more then we do . Which be : Arrogance , superfluite , ambition , Couetice , immesurable desyre of lyuinge , and that whiche maketh vs lyke vnto beastes , IGNORANCE , so contagyous , and pestylent in the mynde of man , that it semeth , that all other spyrytuall infyrmytes , whiche trouble him , do all procede from thys alone , for where she is , God is not duely honnored , vyce ys not exchued , nor any publique nor priuate action or offyce , is rightfully & in order admynistred . So that the sentence vsurped by ancyent men , saying : that euery ignorant personne is euyl , hath bene of good right receyued . And to this approueth that , which Terence had no doubte to cause to be spoken by an olde man of experience , that the earthe beareth nothynge worsse , than a ignorant man . For as he is in all thynges rude and vntaught , so in this , he is intollerable : that he thinketh nothing well done , but that , whiche he doth hym self . And truly ignorance is muche vnmete and vnsyttynge in al parsones . but in them of nobilitie muche more reproueable and parnycyous . Who lyke as they surmounte the other in dignite of bloude , Riches , apparayll and auctoryte , so this is theyr greate reproche , yf they do not passe other in excellencye of knowlaige , that apperteygneth to theyr vocation , extendynge more to the charges and publique administracions , than to a heape of vnprofytable pastymes and exercyses of recreation , wherin they lose a greate parte of theyr tyme , whiche might muche better be employed to learne the rolle of the parsonage , whiche shulde become them to playe in the courte of the common welthe when theyr tourne or course shulde come . The coste shal be to deere , yf they be forced to become wyse by theyr expences , as to learne in makynge warre . For warre is a thyng to be vtterly exchued , and wysdome is right miserable , that is gotten by vse onely . And it is certaine , that they , whiche lacke prudence and knowlaige , can do no noble actes in tyme of warre nor of peace . Which regarded by Salomon Kyng of Iewry , after that he , which can geue all thynges : had geuen hym chose to demande what he would : he required nothynge , but wysedome . which chaunceth aither by a souueraine priuelege of nature , or ells is obteygned by a great knowlaige of learnyng , ioyned with a naturall wytt , whiche is the rudder of the shyppe . And of such vertue and efficacyte , that by meanes of it , as sayth Cicero , there be founde many great and vertuous personages wythoute learnyng . And the natural man without learning ys more hable to receyue prayseworthynes and vertue , then the learned wythout naturel wytt . And at all tymes , for the good that maye be , to trust in it , and to employe it , without experyence , to take part vpon the multitude of dyuers chaunces , which happenne hourely in thys worlde , is as perilleur , as to say●e a voyage withoute any calamyte . For althoughe the shyppe be good and strong , and well garnished and tacled voyth sayle and ballast , yet he , whiche is wythin , knoweth not at a chaunce what wynde bloweth , nor the Reace , that he oughte to kepe , withoute the compas , by meanes whereof it hath alwayes be sayde , that e●peryence is maystres of thynges , teachyng vs to rule and gouerne , in thinges present and to comme , by Iudgement and remembrance of thinges passed . But whan they , that vnderstande matters , speake of Experience , they arrest not them selues vpon that naturall wyt onely . Whervpon is comme the Prouerbe , which sayeth : In wasting one leeneth . Nother is it in the experience , which is gotten in the onely lyfe of one man . For that is to short , frayle & soden , for to make dewe prouysyon for all the proufes , that we haue to do with , in this worldly pilgremage . And withoute learnyng it is lesse suffycyent for to geue vs good and clere kuowlaige of antiquite . The ignorance wherof , as wryteth Paulus Emilleus , constrayneth the self same men , which arne becomme aged in studye of other artes liberall , alwayes to resemble chyldren , ignorant of parseuerance and commone lyfe , to lyue as straungers in theyr natyue countreye , and lytle worthy to be called to the gouernaunce of the common wealthe , and to the company of Counsayls . But rather they woll sygnyfye the prays , which in the Frenche tongue is geuen to an excellent man , saying : He knoweth muche , and hath sene much , thus speakynge of that same experyence , which is ioynned with lernynge . For as Mayster Philip de commines sayth wysely in hys hystory , men do see more in one only boke within thre monethes , than twenty men , lyuinge in course one after an other , can see wyth the eye . Wyth thys , the C●ule and warly learnynge , the constitucions of lawes and Royalmes , the facyons , whereby they are acquired and maygteyned , the meanes whereby they fall into decaye , and agayne whereby they arne reestablyshed and restored : all these thynges be onely conteygned in the descryption of good hystoryes and none where els . The contempte wherof , togethers with lacke of knoweledge of them , hath bene very often cause , of right greate Ruynes and totall destruccyons of many estates , and yet shal be so longe , as audacite wyth the contempte of good learnynge , shall haue more libertie , then the contemplacyon of Antiquite , the very inuentres of good thynges . Wherof , the right vertuouse , ryght myghtye and ryght Christian , Frances the furst of that name , by the grace of God the Frenche Kynge , my souerayn Lord and maistre , hauynge clere vnderstandynge , and knowynge the proffitt , that the knowlaige of hystoryes hath brought hym , both in warres , & also in counsayle , for to gouerne and conducte hym in the dyuersytes of hys fortunes : hath wylled not onely to wytnes , but also to put in wrytynge , and to communicate by acte ( formally contrary to an other act of Alexander the great ) the frute & delectacion , that men ought to marke & perceyue therby . But after that we shal haue recyted them both , you shall iudge which of them is more worthy of prayse . Alexander then beyng passed into Asia , had newes , how Aristotell hys mayster had publyshed and made common the bokes of speculatiue sciences , for the which cause he wrote vnto hym letters of thys tenure . It is not well done of the , to publyshe the bokes of the science speculatyue : for in what thyng , shall we from hencefourth be more excellent then other , yf the doctryne which we haue learned , begynne to be common to euerye man . As for my self , I loue better to be excellent in science , than in puissance & strengthe , farewell . The scienc●s , that he calleth speculatiue , be the metaphisicals , which , as ●lutarche wytnesseth , arne of no vtilitie , neyther to belearned , nor to be taught , & yet Alexander was angry , that they were made common . But Kyng Fraunces hauyng , in hys library , Thucydides the Athenian , translated into our language by so noble a parsonage , as was the Lord Claudius of Seissel ( who solempnised it for his chief worke ) for that , that the sayd boke was not elleswhere to be found , of his proper motion is content to communicate it to princes , lordes & gentle men of hys Royaulme , though that he were anhistografier , so highly esteamed amonge hys countrey men , that they causedde an ymage to be made lyke hym , hauing a tonge of golde , for the elegancye and truthe , whiche he vsed in hys historye , and that Demosthenes Prynce of all oratours , that euer were , toke such delyte therin , that he wrott yt eyght tymes with hys owne hande . And for trouth none of them that euer meddled therwith , drew euer nere vnto him , to descriue the deliberacions , counsells and exploytes , kepynge that , which belongeth to persones , places and tymes . In suche sorte , that for to be comprysed & contaygned the examples of all mens offyces and dutyes , aswell in thys boke , as in those of Diodorus the Sicilian , of the Capitaynes and successours of Alexander , and of Appian of Alexandria , of warres , ciuile and forayne , all thre of one self translation , all thre reposying in the knigly librairy , all thre , not elleswhere to be found amonge the vulgare people , the kynge perceyuing , that the science of straunge tongues was not yet spred abroade , generally amonge the noblenes of his Roi●ulme , hath wylled thys company to be set as vpon a pyllerre , from whence they maye be sene of all partes , to th intent , that of that , whiche shal be founden to be therein Imitable and good to followe , A man maye take and vse to the teachinges to the profyt of the common welthe and edification of him selfe . And that the same , wherof men may perceyue the ende and begynnynge to be contrary vnto honestye , maye be prudently considered , for to saue hym selfe from fallynge into the lyke . From hence is it ( my ryght redoubted and ryght honorable Lordes ) that in steede of Tristrams , Girons and Lancelotes and other , which do fylle bookes wyth dreames , and wherin many haue euyll bestowed theyr good houres , ye haue , by the benefyt of the Kynge , no lesse frutefull than , pleasante passetyme , for to knowe what people were Pericles , Nycias , Antigonus , Lysimachus , Eumenes , Hanibal , Scipion , and many other sage and valyant Capitaynes . ●hose notable actes be descryued in the volumes aboue rehersed , geuynge your occasyon , to assay by your power to transforme youre selfe into the vertues , that youe shall perceyue to reluce and shyne in suche excellent parsones . And to make your proffyt , by the fautes , whiche youe shal perceyue to be therein noted , In takyng fynally for youre defence and guyde thys doctryne , historiall , whiche is ( as Cicero truly sayth ) the wytnes of tyme , the lyght of trouth , the lyfe of memory , the Maistres of the lyfe , and the messangier of Antiquite in all & euery the passages of the one and of thother fortune . Which shall geue youe the clere lyght of true experyence , for to conducte you vertuously in prosperitie , & honorably , to passe aduersite to the right great compforte & quyetnes of your spyryt . But now it is time that we harken , what the translator shall saye , and that makynge an ende of oure Prologue , we begynne to rede hys , and afterwardes , manfully to pursue and followe the principalle worke , in assurance to fynde there , Recompence of our payne .

ALthough that all mens actes ( ryght Christen and right victoriouse kynge ) ought to referre them self vnto the author of Nature , who is the last ende , to the which , we ought to laboure to come by the right way of vertues , & of true good workes , in hope of the lyfe , & ●elicitie euerlastynge : & to exchue the pathe , digressing from the same , and leading to the lefte hande , to wit of vices and of synnes , which shulde brynge vs to perpetuall dampnation : yet neuertheles our humayne workes maye haue particular endes , not swaruing from the laste and principal . As in thynges worldly , he that maketh warre , althoughe he pretendeth by hys furste intente , to reuenge the contumely done vnto him , or to defende hys owne , or well to recouer it , yet alwayes the fynall intent ( as concernyng worldly thynges ) is for to haue afterwardes peace and reste . or for to obteygne glory and renomme . But he , that thinketh on the frayltye of terrestriall or earthly thynges , and of the immortalite of the soule : & that with a true fayth and godly purposes , he maketh warre : to th intent to defende and kepe the order of charite , and for by this meane to meryte euerlasting reste , and glory immortall . And albeit , that it were more merytoryous and conuenyent for our helthe , not to haue in all operatyous , but one onely ende , whiche is the last and principall : yet for so muche as that is very harde , & rather a thing Angelicall , than humayne , for to wythdrawe all oure senses of the soule , Ioyned wyth them of the body ( whiche be carnall ) and to apply them to the same , which be separated from the body , and from earthly thynges , to wyt , to the contemplatyon of thynges spyrytuall : It behoueth vs neuertheles to dyspose and determyne by all meanes to passe quickely by these furste and meane endes , which be worldely , in such sorte , that men forget not the same , which ought to be the laste & principall . As the good pylgrymme , though that he soiourneth in hys vo●age for hys necessite , or for hys commodite , to the ende to be more strong and more freshe to iourneye , yet he holdeth in his intente , the fyrst conceyuing of hys wyll , to witt to parfourme hys voyage . For yf he vtterly lette or forgot it , he shulde neuer come to th ende of it . And though that some tyme he loseth hys waye , or that he falleth into a study in the waye , ayther by curiosite or by other occasion impertinent , yf that he afterwardes come agayne to hys furst purpose , he shall neuertheles come to th ende of hys pylgrymage , though that it be not so sone , nor so easy . Also suche let may during this , happen or come vpon him , that he shall abyde in his iourney . Likewise is it , of our worldly lyfe , the which is nothyng but a pilgrymage in this worlde . For yf we do so abuse our selues in worldly thynges that we put & fully set our felicite in them : we forget the ende of the lyfe eternal , & the felicite of Paradis . But yf that we do not perseuer therin , but as inpassyng : & so farre as necessite constraineth therin , or wel vse the thinges terrestrial , principally for to atteygne the thynges celestiall , that doth not let vs to obteygne the ende of our pylgrimage , but doth assist vs therunto . These endes than set in due course , & ordeyned to the last & pryncypall , be & ought to be dyuers in mens operations according to the conditions of the personages , & the charge that they haue . For th● princes and temporall Lordes ought to do theyr indeuour and vttermost to conserue and kepe their subiectes by good iustice and polecye , in quyetnes & peace , and also by force , yf any woulde do them wronge or els dymynyshe theyr Lordeshyp or landes , through ambition or couetousnes . And likewyse the greate Prelates & other inferyours , ought to prouide for the helth of soules , which be commytted vnto them , through good examples & teachynges , and successiuely , they that haue charge of other , be they temporall or spyrituall publique or domestical , small or great ought to haue thys same regarde , euery one according to his said charge , And neuertheles in other thinges , not concerning theyr charges , to procede in their particuler workes by the self way , to th intent that in instructynge other , they lose not them selues , as saynt Paul saith , for in so muche as no man liuing is excused for charge that he hath , but after the order of charyte , he is bounde furst and principally , to haue regarde to his particular helthe , rather then vnto others . I reherse all these thynges ( right souerain Lorde ) for so much as hauing of a long tyme knowen in you an ardent desyre to vnderstande & knowe all maner of hystoryes , and chiefly treatynge of the life of great Princes passed , & also of commone & politique gouernementes of great cities & common weales , which haue had domination & empire , as of Grekes and of Romaynes : I persuaded my self , that chiefly & immediatly you do it , to th intent to vnderstande the better , howe that you shall behaue your selfe , in rulyng & gouernaunce of your Realme , & of other prouynces , countreys , landes , & lordeshyppes , that God hath committed vnto your charge and gouernaunce , aswell in tyme of peace , as in tyme of warre , and trustyng for your ende principall , in this doing accordynge to your capacite and weakenes ( the helpe and grace of God assisting you ) to meryte the glory & felicite euerlastynge . For thoughe that sometyme I haue perceyued in youe some pricque of mans glory , specyally in your victoryes and prosperites ( which haue bene suche and so greate , that skarcely it were possyble for a humayne creature , howe iuste and holy that he were , not to haue at the furst mouyng , some sparke of vayne glorye and delectacyon ) yet alwayes I haue afterwardes seene manye actes and operations in you , which gaue to vnderstand , & haue made me to beleue , that commynge agayne to the secrete of your conscience , & bringyng agayne the naturall appetite to raysonne , you confessed al to come of God , and wolde not vse your said victoryes after mans couetousnes and desyre , but accordynge to reasone , and so , as appered that you myght do wythout offending God or your neyghbour . For yf you had not had this consideration . It is clerely notoryous , that you might right easely & at many tymes , poursuyng your said victories , haue be hable to establish your estate & empyre in suche sorte , that it had not bene in the power of man to geue you afterwardes therin empeschement & disturbance : but yf they had ymagyned any thyng agaynst you : it shulde haue bene to theyr great losse & dommaige without hauing power to hurt you . But you haue better loued to conteigne & arreste the course of your said prosperites and victoryes by the hongre of reason , ledde & conduicted by the feare of God , for the daunger of that , which might chaunce : then for to suffre the sensuall appetite to ronne on the bridelle , ouerthrowen by the lefte waye and displea●ante to God , as I do take it . For this cause , and hauing good opinion of your Royall maiestie , I haue heretofore bene parforced to cause to comme to your knowlaige many prophane histories , which ye had not sene nor knowen before , for that they were not translated into the frenche tongue , for some of them were in Greke , as the same of zenophone of the voiage of Cyrus , and the same of Diodorus of the successours of Alexandre , the other had bene furst writtone in Greke , and afterwardes translated into Latyne , as the same of Appyan of Alexandria . And thother wryttone furste in latyne , but neuer were translated into Frenche , as the same of Iustine . All the whiche , besydes the pleasure that maye be taken in readynge of them , be full of teachynges and documentes , to hym that woll taste , dygeste and reduce them vnto a morall sense . For there maye be perceyued many passages , which maye greatly serue to the conducte of publique affayres , aswell in the tyme of peace , as in the tyme of warre , And yet neuertheles , consyderynge my Ecclesiasticall estate , and also the seruytude that I beare towardes youe , whiche is suche , that I holde and repute my selfe bounden to desyre and procure youre soule helthe , chiefly : and also the prosperytie and felycyte of youre temporall estate , as muche , as any subiecte or seruaunte that youe haue , for many greate goodnes , which of youre grace and mere motion , you haue done vnto me wythoute anye myne merytes , in all poyntes vndeserued , and for the affectyon and confydence , whiche youe haue shewed , and shewe to haue in me , muche more greate , than my small seruyces maye haue deserued , I thought it not conuenable , that I had laboured so farre in translatynge for youe humayne hystoryes , excepte that I employed my tyme and laboure in some spyrytuall thyng . And therby was moued to translate the Ecclesiasticall hystorye of Ruffinus Acquilesian , which is all full of good doctryne , and of good examples , seruynge for oure faythe and for the edification of our consciences . And albeit that I addressed the sayd translatyon to the ryght happy remembred the late quene youre wyfe , for the singularitie & excellencye of her vertues , and of her deuotyon , and towardnes to thynges spyrytuall , whereby she hath lefte to them nowe lyuinge a memoryall and renome perpetuall , and an example of goodnes and vertue to all ladyes and women of all estates : yet I well percey●ed , that suche thynges were common betwene youe two , as all other were . And that for pleasure , whiche youe shewe of youre grace to take in my translatyons , and also vnderstandynge the dignitie and excellencye of the matter , youe woulde see , and cause it to be redde , and therin wolde take asmuche or more delectation than at other . And notwythstandynge afterwardes hauynge no other matter in hande , whiche semed vnto me worthy of translation for to presente vnto youe , wherof youe haue not had knowlayge , and that I haue not founde in your librairy in olde bookes , which haue benhertofore translated into Frenche by many & diuers excellent authours , I haue fynally chosen the hstory of Thucydides the Athenyan , which he hath wrytton in .viii. bokes of the warre of Peloponese and of the Lacedemoniens , whiche semeth ryghte singulier vnto me . not so muche for the declaratyon of the hystory ( althoughe that it be very fayre & rare ynough to Frenche men , which haue not had many of the bokes of the hystoryes of Grekes at large in theyr language ) as for the profundytie and excellencye of the orations and propositions ( which be called concions ) conteygned in the same . Whiche comprehende generall teachynge of all wayghty thynges , and the hole arte & efficacite of Eloquence , as all authours , aswell Grekes as Latyns do shewe vs . Specyally Cicero , who is the Prynce of Eloquence amongest the Latins . Thinking that I haue done nothyng by the translations aforesaid , yf I had not translated thys hystorye , which so greatly is celebrated by all them , whiche haue had knowlayge of the sayd orations & concions . And yet for all that , after I had ouerrunne the sayde hystorye , I therin founde so many difficulties , specially in the vnderstandyng of the said orations & concions ( whiche haue alwayes seamed right harde to all them that haue redde them , albeit that they were excellent in lernyng , as Cicero him self acknowlaigeth ) that I purposed to repent & to withdrawe me from my enterpryse , & so much the more that the translatyon , which was made out of Greke by Laurencius Ualle , seamed to me very obscure & hard , & truly so had I done , had not bene M. Iohn lascarf , Deuising with whome of this matter , by meanes of communicatyon , whiche I had had with him in translation of the other Greke hystoryes , purifyed or translated out of Greke into Latin , wherof I haue made mention afore , & shewyng him the difficultie , that I founde in the sayde matter , he gaue me courage to intende vnto it , magnifying greatly vnto me the excellencye of the sayd hystorye , & further promysyng me that he woulde correct the latyne translatyon of the same , in places & passages which he thought to haue be altered or darkened . In such sorte the with good diligence , I myght take oute the true sense . And so hauing accomplyshed the sayd translation , I might saye , that I had done one principall worke in the Frenche tongue . Which promyses & persuasyons gaue me such courage , Ioyned the desyre that I haue to be hable to presente vnto you one thing singulier in him self , & not knowen to Frenche men : that I enterprysed to parfaycteit , by helpe of the annotacyons and correction of the said Laskary . without whiche , for trouth I coulde neuer haue knowen , howe to comme vnto the ende , aswe●l for the dyfficultye of the matter , as for the imperfectyon of the Latyne translation . in many circumstances . & specially in the moste harde . Therfor I most humbly requyre you ( my redoubted souuerayne Lorde ) that it maye be youre pleasure to take in good parte this translation . and to accepte it for the chief o● the workes of my labourem thys arte of translatyon , specyally for humayne histories : aswell for this that I cannot fynde other matter , whiche shal not appere grosse , as concerning this , as also that my estate & my age , togethers with the busynes , in which you haue geuen me charges in Ambassades , that you haue committed vnto me for your principal affayres , whan they haue bene most troublesome : haue taken fro me fantasye & facultye to attende or be vacant hereafter to such workes , which apperteygne to yonge people , endewed with good wytt & syngulyer doctryne , that haue no other busynes to withdrawe theyr fantasyes . Also souuerayne Lorde , I hope that God of hys goodnes hauynge regarde to youre intente , woll change the wille of Princes & people , which haue these yeares passed , made & moued warre against youe through ambition & couetice , as I do coniecture , vsing great ingratytude agaynste you , as it is well knowen , in such wise that knowyng the greate goodnes and playsures that you haue done to them , and the malyce & deceyte of them that haue bene promoters and occasyon of the said warre & discensions , together wyth the euils whiche haue chaunced & be to happen , yf it endure , & also your puyssaunce & armye so strong , that soner they maye therin loose , than wynne , lyke as they haue perceyued these two yeares passed , shal cause them to requyre pair . Which God by his meane shall , easely do , hauyng alwaies bene desyred or purchassed on your behalfe , or els from them , that he shall knowe to be obstynate , shall take away their strength & meanes to execute it , by such remedies perpepuell or temporall , as his diuine prouidence shall knowe to be most conuenyent for the vnyuersal wealthe of Christendome , as he hath already done to some of them . In such sorte , that you may vse the remanante of youre daies in suertie & reste , to the great reioysing of your good & faythfull subiectes , to the prosperitie & augmentacion of your royaulme , & to the perpetuall glory of your Royall & victoryous name in thys world , and fynally after all , to the eternall felicitie of your soule . And I , who vnto this my age , which draweth to oldnes , haue not hytherto discharged my self in any charge , that God hath geuen me , chiefly in the churche , but haue employed all my time in temporal and worldly negotiations & affayres , requyre hym , that I may in this , that it shall please hym to lende me lyfe hereafter , supplye after my frayltie , to the faultes paste in hys seruyce , wythout therfore to be withdrawen from yours , ther , where it shal please you to employe me , & that I shall perceyue that I maye serue you & your Roy●ulme according to my estate and condition Wherunto I holde and repute my selfe bounden in conscience , and cannot foresake so to do wythout incurryng the detestable synne of ingratitude . which aboue all other I haue alwayes abhorred , as the selfe thyng , that I esteme to be most displeasaunt to God . To whom I praye right souuerayne Lorde , that it may please hym to order our operations and workes in the waye of hys commaundementes .