The method and order of reading both civil and ecclesiastical histories in which the most excellent historians are reduced into the order in which they are successively to be read, and the judgments of learned men concerning each of them, subjoin'd / by Degoræus Wheare ... ; to which is added, an appendix concerning the historians of particular nations, as well ancient as modern, by Nicholas Horseman ; made English and enlarged by Edmund Bohun, Esq. ...

SECT. XXXI.

Although we have no perfect Body of our En∣glish History in Latin, Written according to the dignity of the Subject, yet we have some that have done it very well in English. John Speed his Theatre of the British Em∣pire, is an Illustrious Work, and to be con∣templated in the first place by our Youth, and especially by those that intend to Travell.

BUt now, if any of our Countreymen, who are desirous to Reade the Histo∣ry of England, be so delicate, that he thinks it a task of too much labour and trouble to undertake the Reading of so many Au∣thours, and therefore would rather chuse some one Historian (who may serve in∣stead of all the rest) and stick to, and pur∣sue him alone: He must remember, as I said before, that there is no such Latin Hi∣storian extant, who hath well described the Affairs of Britain, from its first Inhabiting to our Times: but yet there are some, who, in English, have commendably attempted to doe this. Amongst whom, I shall not fear to commend in the first place, that famous Man John Speed. He having travell'd over all Great Britain, read diligently all our own Historians, and those of our neighbour Nations, together with a diligent search in the Publick Offices, Rolls, Monuments, and Ancient Writings, or Charters, built up a

Splendid and Admired Theatre of the Bri∣tish Empire; which, with great Expedition and Labour, he perfected in XIV. years, in Ten (Scenes, or) Books, in this order. In his First Scene, he hath most excellently represented the image of this Kingdom, with its distinct Counties, and Principal Cities and Towns: In his IId. he Exhibits all the Provinces of Wales: In the IIId. he gives a Description of the whole King∣dom of Scotland: In the IVth, he shews the Kingdom of Ireland, and all the several parts of it. Nor has he onely proposed to our view, the naked Images, and bare Maps, though he has done that too with great ex∣actness and beauty, in these Four first Scenes: but he hath also, by short Narra∣tives, adjoin'd to his Maps, discovered whatever in each part is Memorable and Worthy to be seen, or taken notice of. If from thence the Reader turns his Eyes up∣on the Vth Scene, he will see the Situation and Greatness of the British Islands: the Ancient Names, first Inhabitants, Manners, Polities, with the most Ancient Kings and Governours. When he comes to the VIth Scene, he will find there the Successions and Actions of those Monarchs and Presidents, who flourished during the times in which the Romans were Masters of Britain: In the VIIth Scene the Authour doth express the History of the Saxon and English Monarchs, and the times of their Reigns. In the VIIIth Scene he Commemorates the Origine

of the Danes, their Expeditions and Incur∣sions into England, and all their Actions here which are worth the taking notice of. In the IXth he describes the Invasion of the Normans, their Conquest, and the History of William the Conquerour, and all his Suc∣cessours: And lastly, in the Xth Scene, he hath contained the Joyfull Entrance of James the First, the most happy Union of the Two Kingdoms, and the Peace esta∣blished by King James with all the Neigh∣bour Kings and Princes. And then, as a Corollary the Venerable Authour doth, with a Vivid and Unaffected Style (which runs through his whole Work) most clearly shew, that horrible black, and never be∣fore heard of Design of the Gunpowder-Plot, which was by God miraculously dis∣covered and prevented.

Wherefore I do most earnestly exhort our Young Men, and especially those who are of Noble birth, and intend to Travell, that they would first peruse this beautifull Theatre of Great Britain, and run over all the parts of it, before they Travell into Foreign Countries, or visit strange Nati∣ons: For though I will not deny, that the desire of knowing the various Laws of Countries, the searching out the Rites and Customs of many several People, and the seeing the Forms of divers Cities, is a very commendable affection, and which was highly celebrated in Ulysses: yet I think it is preposterous, if not absurd, to

desire to see Foreign, and far distant things, and in the mean time neglect what is nearer and at home; to seek out Cities that are Situate abroad, and afar off; and nei∣ther to see nor know those we have at home. And this is the more unrea∣sonable, because our Britain is one of the most celebrated Islands in the whole World, and hath many famous Ci∣ties in it, many Temples Re∣verend and August for Reli∣gion, Venerable for their Antiquity, and Conspicuous for their Ornaments and Splendour; we have Moun∣tains which are enobled by Fame; Fountains, that for their use and effects, are admir'd; Navigable Rivers and safe Ports, and many other things which are infinitely worth our perusal and knowledge. Therefore let we persuade you, Young Men, once or more to view, and with great attention to run through the four First Scenes of this Theatre, I mean the Geogra∣phical part. I am much deceived, if there be any where, under Heaven, a Countrey that can boast of more Monuments which deserve to be seen: Then go through the other Six Scenes, and reade the Historical part seriously; I will become your Surety, that you shall find in every one of these Parts, some things that are very well wor∣thy of remembring. Nor do I think there

is any Countrey under Heaven which has so much reason to Glory in the Illustrious Atchievements of her Children as ours hath. To conclude, this you may be sure of, that which soever of you hath treasured up the greatest number of our domestick affairs and things; and does freely com∣municate them to Foreigners wheresoever he comes (which for the most part is de∣sired by most Men) he will be the Wel∣comest Guest, and will have the greatest liberty of inquiring (as doth become a Traveller) into the Manners and Laws of those People he comes amongst, and of asking concerning the forms of their Ci∣ties, their Princes, Wars and Accidents, or whatever other events are worth the observing; and so will return home much the better furnished with the desired fruits of his Travels.

Hitherto we have discoursed of the Po∣litical, or Civil Histories, and in what Order they are to be read.

ADDITION.

As I have before given an account as well as I could, and in the ends of the IV foregoing Sections, discoursed of the La∣tine Historians of the English Nation, which have been Printed since our Authour wrote, so I will here with the Reader's leave, take the same liberty in relation to the English Historians of our Nation, some of which have been Printed since the Authour finished this piece, and others perhaps were omitted by him, because these Lectures were read in an University, and to men generally well acquainted with the Latine Tongue.

The first that I will take notice of is Mr. Aylet Sammes his Britannia Antiqua Illustrata, or the Antiquities of ancient Britain, derived from the Phoenicians, wherein the Original Trade of this Island is discovered, the names of Places, Offices, Dignities, as likewise the Idolatry, Lan∣guage and Customes of the primitive Inha∣bitants, are clearly demonstrated from that Nation; many old Monuments illustra∣ted, and the Commerce with that People as well as the Greeks plainly set forth, and Collected out of approved Greek and La∣tine Authours, together with a Chronologi∣cal History of this Kingdom, from the first traditional beginning untill the year of our Lord 800, when the Name of BRITAIN

was changed into ENGLAND, faith∣fully Collected out of the best Authours, and disposed in a better method than hath hitherto been done, with the Antiquities of the Saxons as well as Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans, Printed in Folio in London, in the year 1676, Volume the first.

I know very well some Learned men have taken great exceptions to this Piece and have affirmed many things in it to be fabu∣lous, and I will not contest for the truth of the whole, and every part of it, but then I will presume to say that I have found good Authority for some of those things which some have pretended Mr. Samms invented, and if we are to stay for an History, which all the World approves of before we reade one, our Lives will end with as little knowledge of past times, as of those that are to follow us when we are dead; I know any ingenious person who shall reade this piece, must reap much satisfaction, pleasure and delight from it.

John Milton who was Latine Secretary to Oliver Cromwell, a Learned, ingenious, but a very factious man, wrote the History of Britain, that part especially that is called England, from the first traditional begin∣ning of it to the Norman Conquest Col∣lected out of the ancientest and best Authours (as he saith,) it was printed 1670, and 1671, in Quarto, and in 1678 in Octavo.

The style and composure of this History is delicate, short and perspicuous, and it is of the greater value, because few of our English Writers begin (to any purpose) before the Norman Conquest, passing over all those times that went before it with a slight hand.

Doctour John Heyward writ the History of the first Norman Kings, William the Conquerour, William Rufus, and Henry the first; he lived in the times of King James, and was a Civilian and a very candid, true and Learned Writer.

Samuel Daniel writ the Collection of the History of England, where in making some short reflexions on the State of Britain, and the Succession of the Saxons, he descends to William the Conquerour and the Norman Kings, and ends with the Reign of Ed∣ward the third, Anno Domini 1376.

It is written with great brevity and Po∣liteness, and his Political and Moral Re∣flexions are very fine, usefull and instruc∣tive.

John Trussel continued this History with the like brevity and truth, but not with equal Elegance, till the end of the Reign of Richard the third, Anno Domini 1484.

In that Period or interval of time which Daniel hath written, there are two Lives writ by two several Pens, the first is the Life of Henry the third, writ by that Learned, wise and ingenious Gentleman Sir Robert Cotton Knight, in a Masculine style, with great labour and pains, and with a Loyal design.

The Second is a piece which was late∣ly Printed with this Title; the History of the Life, Reign and Death of Edward the II King of England, and Lord of Ireland, with the Rise and Fall of his great Favorites, Gaveston and the Spencers, written by E. F. in the year 1627, and Printed verbatim from the Original in the year 1680.

Who this E. F. was I know not, but that he was under the Dominion of a migh∣ty Discontent, is apparent by his short Preface to the Reader, his first words there are these.

To out-run those weary hours, of a deep and sad Passion, my melancho∣ly Pen fell accidentally (saith he,) on this Historical Relation, which speaks A King, our own, though one of the most unfortunate, and shews the Pride and fall of his inglorious Minions.

If this Book was really written when pretended, it may be probably conjectured

this Male-Content had a mighty Spleen a∣gainst the then Duke of Buckingham, who being baited this year by the Commons in Parliament, fell a Sacrifice to popular discontent the year following, which with some other things to me unknown, might occasion the suppressing this History then, and it had been as well, if it had never been Printed, being partial to the highest degree and designed to encourage rather than suppress Rebellion, Sedition and Trea∣son, and now why it was raked up out of the Dust and Printed when it was, I shall leave the World to guess; onely I cannot for bear observing, the Authour was more ingenuous than the Publisher, not onely because he concealed it, but also because he had undoubtedly set down the causes of his discontent, in the beginning of his Preface, which are omitted in the Print, for those weary hours must relate to some∣thing before exprest, to perfect the nse.

Within this Period of time belonging to Trussel falls in the Life of Henry the IV^th, written by Dr. Heyward, and also the Life of Edward the IV^th, written very Ele∣gantly and Prudently, by William Habing∣ton Esquire, and the Life of Richard the third, written by George Buck Gent.

Francis Bio••di and Italian Gentleman, and of the Privy Chamber to King Charles the first, hath written in the Italian Tongue the Civil Wars between the two

Houses of Lancaster and York, from King Richard the second, to King Henry the VIII^th, translated Elegantly into English (saith Sir Richard Baker,) by Henry Earl of Monmouth.

Sir Francis Bacon, Viscount St. Albans, writ the History of Henry the 7^th in a most Elegant style.

Edward Lord Herbert of Sherbury, hath writ the Life of Henry the Eighth, with great Exactness and Accuracy, as he was a person of great industry and capacity. He was put upon this Work by King Charles the first, and consulted all our Re∣cords.

Dr. John Heyward wrote the Life of Edward the VIth, very Elegantly, and as much of that Prince's Reign, and that of Queen Mary was spent in matters of Re∣ligion; so Dr. Peter Heylin in his Ecclesia Anglicana Restaurata, has given a very good account of their two Reigns, and al∣so Dr. Gilbert Burnet in his History of the Reformation in two Volumes in Folio, which is excellently Epitomized by himself in Octavo.

Though these two chiefly intend the Ecclesiastical History of those times, yet they have carefully intermixt the Civil History also, especially Burnet, who with his History hath published many Original Records of those times, which do purely belong to the Civil History.

Sir William Dugdale one of the Kings of Arms in England, hath writ two Books which he styles the Baronage of England, being an excellent History of the Successi∣ons of all the noble Families of England, which is of excellent use to the well under∣standing of the English History.

Sir Richard Baker hath written a Chro∣nicle of the Kings of England, from the times of the Romans Government, unto the Death of King James, to which the Reign of Charles the first, and the first 13 years of Charles the second, were added by one Mr. Edward Phillips, which ends with the Coronation of that Prince being the 23d. of April 1661.

The former Sir William Dugdale (as is supposed,) hath writ a short account of the late troubles of England, wherein all the proceedings of the Rebellion are ex∣cellently laid together.

James Heath Gent. hath also written the History of the same times (very well as it is said,) to the Restitution of Charles the second, continued since to the year 1675 by J. Phillips.

William Sanderson hath written not onely the Reigns of Queen Mary of. Scotland and King James, but also another piece which he calls a complete History of the Life and Reign of King Charles (the first,) from his Cradle to his Grave, but as this was written and published during our hor∣rid Confusions here in England, and be∣fore

his late Majesty's Restitution, so there are many things in it (as it is said) which will need amendment.

The truth is, there hath been never a good History writ since Camden's Annals, of our affairs that ever yet came to my knowledge; nor perhaps have the times been such as to bear one; that of Tacitus is considerable, the prosperous and unfortu∣nate Events of the ancient People of Rome are delivered by great Writers, in the times of Augustus there was no want of generous Pens, till they were supprest by the rising flat∣tery of the times; the accounts of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero, whilst these Princes flourished were out of fear, false, and after they were gone, whilst the hatred of men was fresh, were as much too sharp; from which considerations I resolved (saith he,) to deliver a few, and those of the last Actions of Au∣gustus, (when the flattery he hints at be∣gan,) and then the Reign of Tiberius and the rest, without Anger or affection, as having by reason of the distance of the time, had no concern with any of them. I need not make any application, nor will the case bear one. But yet I should have excepted one Historian and that is Johnstonius, but though he did not publish his History in his Life, and so by that, and putting it in∣to such hands as Printed it beyond the Seas, secured his

History from all suspicion of a necessitated Compliance, yet then he being a Stranger to our English Laws and Constitutions, has committed some faults which an English man would have easily avoided, and speaks too contemptuously of some of our Greatest Lawyers, whom he styles every where Le∣guleii, as if they had been some little snar∣ling Countrey Attornies.

If now our Reader desires a short course of English History, he may begin with Milton first, then take Daniel and Trussel, and then Sir Francis Bacon's, Henry the 7^th, and Bishop Godwin's Annals, which will bring him down to the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, where Camden's Annals (such as they now are in English) fall in, and for the rest he may take his Choice accor∣ding to his fancy.

There is an excellent Catalogue of the Historians of England in Baker's Chronicle, which the Reader may Consult too if he please.

Notes

• It is base and hurtfull and unworthy a good Sub∣ject, to search into▪ and ad∣mire the things that belong to Strangers; and in the Interim never to consider the good things of their own Countries, neither ob∣serving nor magnifying the Vertues of their own Princes, which is ever before their Eyes. Georg. Fabrit.
• Tacit. An. l. 1. c. 1.
• By these two means Cam∣den secured his liberty as to the second part of his Hi∣story, which he sent to Thu∣anus, who printed it in Holland after Camden was dead.