lUfiixiom on Historii, &V. 360 



^.».\rty,' spirit, AviU probably, in most instances 

 discover the proper causes for the most in- 

 teresting events recorded in the Jinnals of man* 

 kind. If these causes seem tritiing it may be! 

 rationnl to- conclude, tiial the DivinerProvi- 

 donce. ordained -the issue by means of inferior 

 and unlikely instruments for the sake of Jeadinf 

 his reasonable creatures to acknowledge, that 

 the termination was appointed aud accom- 

 plished by counsels wiser than human. 



To the truth of history in general it may- be 

 objected, ; 'that df 'some • particular periods, 

 g yen .by iwr iters of credit and reputation, dif- 

 ferent aiid contrary accounts have been given. 

 For instance, it was long generaily received, 

 that Kichard tlie 11 Id. of England, Avas re- 

 markably deformed, and that he gained the 

 throne; by a series of murders. But Walpole, 

 ill his Ilistorical Doubts, has brought docu- 

 ments before unknown, to show that the 

 usurper's bodily frame was not mishapen, and 

 that his nephew Edward the Vth, actually 

 walked in procession at his uncle's coronation. 

 Though it may not bc^easy to discover what 

 ^yas the fact, yet it ; is not reasonable . to 

 discredit the whole of history, because dark 

 clouds may rest upon some particular parts. It 

 was manifestly Henry the Vlith's interest to 

 black eo. the. tjchaiJacter of il predecessor, who 

 z z 2 



