An introduction to the history of England by Sir William Temple, Baronet.

THE PREFACE.

I Have often complained, that so anci∣ent and noble a Nation as ours, so re∣nowned by the Fame of their Arms and Exploits abroad, so applauded and envi∣ed, for their wise and happy Institutions at home, so flourishing in Arts and Learn∣ing, and so adorned by excellent Wri∣ters in other Kinds, should not yet have produced one good or approved general History of England. That of France has been composed with great Industry, by des Serres, with Iudgment and Candor by Mezeray. That of Spain with great Diligence and eloquent Stile, by Mariana. That of the Empire, with much Pains and good Order, as

well as Learning, by Pedro de Mexia, but ours have been written by such mean and vulgar Authors, so tedious in their Relations, or rather Collections, so in∣judicious in the Choice of what was fit to be told or to be let alone, with so lit∣tle Order, and in so wretched a Style; that as it is a Shame to be ignorant in the Affairs of our own Country, so 'tis hardly worth the Time or Pains to be informed, since for that End a Man must read over a Library rather than a Book, and after all, must be content to forget more than he remembers.

'Tis true, some Parcels or short Pe∣riods of our History have been left us by Persons of great Worth and Learn∣ing, much honoured or esteemed in their Times; as, Part of Edward the fourth and Richard the third by Sir Thomas Moor; Henry the so∣venth by Sir Francis Bacon; Henry the eighth by the Lord Herbert; Ed∣ward

the sixth by Sir John Hay∣wood; and Queen Elizabeth by Mr. Camden. There are besides these, many voluminous Authors of ancient Times, in Latin, and of modern in English, with some Forreigners, as Froissart and Polidore Virgil; out of all which might be framed a full and just Body of our general History, if col∣lected with Pains and Care, and di∣gested with good Order; for the Archi∣tect is only wanting, and not the Mate∣rials for such a Building.

I will confess, I had it in my Thoughts at one Time of my Life, and the most proper for such a Work, to make an Abridgment of our English Story, having observed that Meze∣ray's Abrege of his own, was more esteemed, and much more read than his larger Volume; but those Thoughts were soon diverted by other Imploy∣ments, wherein I had the Hopes, as

well as the Intentions of doing some greater Sevices to my Country. I have since endeavoured to engage some of my Friends in the same Design, whom I thought capable of atchieving it, but have not prevailed; some pretending Modesty, and others too much valuing Ease.

Therefore to invite and encourage some worthy Spirit, and true Lover of our Country to pursue this Attempt; I have consented to the publishing of this Introduction to the History of England, wherein I have traced a short Account of this Island, the Names, the Inhabi∣tants, and Constitutions thereof, from the first Originals, as far as I could find any Ground of probable Story, or of fair Conjecture, since Philosophers tell us, that none can be said to know things well, who does not know them in their Beginnings. I have further de∣duced it, through the great and me∣morable

Changes of Names, People, Customs, and Laws that passed here, until the End of the first Norman Reign, which made the last and great Period of this Kingdom, leaving the Successions and Constitutions since that Time, so fixed and Established as to have lasted for the Space of above six hundred Years, withont any considera∣ble Alteration from so long a Course of Time, or such Variety of E∣vents as have since arrived in the World.

I have hereby beaten through all the rough and dark Ways of this Iourney, the rest lies fair and easie through a plain and open Country, and I should think my self happy to see it well pur∣sued by some abler Hand, for the Ho∣nour of our Nation, and the Satisfa∣ction of our own as well as forreign Readers, who shall be curious to know

our Story. I wish it may be per∣formed with the same good Intenti∣ons, and with much better Suc∣cess, than this small Endeavour of mine.