porated into the history, but separately, and as the more principal in their intention; which kind of ruminated history I think more fit to place amongst books of policy, whereof we shall hereafter speak, than amongst books of history: for it is the true office of history to represent the events themselves together with the counsels, and to leave the observations and conclusions thereupon to the liberty and faculty of every man's judgment; but mixtures are things irregular, whereof no man can define.

So also is there another kind of history manifoldly mixed, and that is History of Cosmography; being compounded of natural history, in respect of the regions themselves; of history civil, in respect of the habitations, regimens, and manners of the people; and the mathematics, in respect of the climates and configurations towards the heavens : which part of learning of all others, in this latter time, hath obtained most proficience. For it may be truly affirmed to the honour of these times, and in a virtuous emulation with antiquity, that this great building of the world had never thorough lights made in it, till the age of us and our fathers: for although they had knowledge of the antipodes,

Nosque ubi primus equis oriens afflavit anhelis,
Illic sera rubens accendit lumina Vesper"

(And when to us the orient car succeeds,

And o'er our climes has breath'd its panting steeds, There ruddy Vesper, kindling up the sky,

Casts o'er the glowing realms his evening eye): yet that might be by demonstration, and not in fact; and if by travel, it requireth the voyage but of half the globe. But to circle the earth, as the heavenly bodies do, was not done nor enterprised till these latter times and therefore these times may justly bear in their word, not only "plus ultra" (farther), in precedence of the ancient" non ultra" (no farther),and “imitabile fulmen" (imitable thunder) in precedence of the ancient" non imitabile fulmen" (inimitable thunder), "Demens qui nimbos et non imitabile fulmen," &c. (Who mock'd with empty sounds and mimic rays, Heav'n's awful thunder and the lightning's blaze); but likewise imitabile cœlum" (imitable heaven); in respect of the many memorable voyages, after the manner of heaven, about the globe of the earth.

And this proficience in navigation and discoveries may plant also an expectation of the farther proficience and augmentation of all sciences; because

it

may seem they are ordained by God to be coevals, that is, to meet one age. For so the prophet Daniel, speaking of the latter times, foretelleth," Plurimi pertransibunt, et multiplex erit scientia" (Many to and fro, and knowledge shall be in

shall run

creased); as if the openness and thorough passage of the world and the increase of knowledge were appointed to be in the same ages, as we see it is already performed in great part; the learning of these latter times not much giving place to the former two periods or [returns of learning, the one of the Grecians, the other of the Romans.

History ecclesiastical receiveth the same divisions with history civil: but farther, in the propriety thereof, may be divided into the History of the church, by a general name; History of prophecy; and History of providence.

The first describeth the times of the "militant church," whether it be fluctuant, as the ark of Noah ; or moveable, as the ark in the wilderness; or at rest, as the ark in the temple; that is, the state of the church in persecution, in remove, and in peace. This part I ought in no sort to note as deficient, only 1 would that the virtue and sincerity of it were according to the mass and quantity. But I am not now in hand with censures, but with omissions.

The second, which is history of "prophecy," consisteth of two relatives, the prophecy, and the accomplishment; and therefore the nature of such a work ought to be, that every prophecy of the scripture be sorted with the event fulfilling the same, throughout the ages of the world; both for the better

confirmation of faith, and for the better illumination of the church touching those parts of prophecies which are yet unfulfilled: allowing nevertheless that latitude which is agreeable and familiar unto divine prophecies; being of the nature of their author, with whom a thousand years are but as one day; and therefore are not fulfilled punctually at once, but have springing and germinant accomplishment throughout many ages; though the height or fulness of them may refer to some one age.

This is a work which I find deficient; but is to be done with wisdom, sobriety, and reverence, or not at all.

The third, which is history of "providence," containeth that excellent correspondence which is between God's revealed will and his secret will: which though it be so obscure, as for the most part it is not legible to the natural man; no, nor many times to those who behold it from the tabernacle; yet at some times it pleaseth God, for our better establishment, and the confuting of those which are as without God in the world, to write it in such text and capital letters, that as the prophet saith, “ he that runneth by may read it;" that is, mere sensual persons, which hasten by God's judgments and never bend or fix their cogitations upon them, are nevertheless in their passage and race urged to

discern it. Such are the notable events and examples of God's judgments, chastisements, deliverances, and blessings; and this is a work which hath passed through the labours of many, and therefore I cannot present as omitted.

There are also other parts of learning which are Appendices to history: for all the exterior proceedings of man consist of words and deeds; whereof history doth properly receive and retain in memory the deeds; and if words, yet but as inducements and passages to deeds: so are there other books and writings, which are appropriated to the custody and receipt of words only; which likewise are of three sorts; Orations, Letters, and brief Speeches or Sayings.

Orations are pleadings, speeches of counsel, laudatives, invectives, apologies, reprehensions, orations of formality or ceremony, and the like.

Letters are according to all the variety of occasions, advertisements, advices, directions, propositions, petitions, commendatory, expostulatory, satisfactory; of compliment, of pleasure, of discourse, and all other passages of action. And such as are written from wise men, are of all the words of man, in my judgment, the best; for they are more natural than orations and public speeches, and more advised than conferences or present