Advancement of Learning 75 



of the world for arms, learning, moral virtue, policy, and 

 laws; the state of Graecia, and the state of Rome; the 

 histories whereof occupying the middle part of time, have 

 more ancient to them, histories which may by one common 

 name be termed the antiquities of the world : and after them 

 histories which may be likewise called by the name of 

 modern history. 



Now to speak of the deficiencies. As to the heathen 

 antiquities of the world, it is in vain to note them for defici 

 ent: deficient they are no doubt, consisting most of fables 

 and fragments; but the deficience cannot be holpen; for 

 antiquity is like fame, Caput inter nubila condit, 1 her head 

 is muffled from our sight. For the history of the exemplar 

 states, it is extant in good perfection. Not but I could wish 

 there were a perfect course of history for Graecia from 

 Theseus to Philopcemen (what time the affairs of Graecia 

 were drowned and extinguished in the affairs of Rome); 

 and for Rome from Romulus to Justinianus, who may be 

 truly said to be Ultimus Romanorum. 2 In which sequences of 

 story the text of Thucydides and Xenophon in the one, and 

 the texts of Livius, Polybius, Sallustius, Caesar, Appianus, 

 Tacitus, Herodianus in the other, to be kept entire with 

 out any diminution at all, and only to be supplied and 

 continued. But this is a matter of magnificence, rather to 

 be commended than required : and we speak now of parts 

 of learning supplemental and not of supererogation. 



But for modern histories, whereof there are some few very 

 worthy, but the greater part beneath mediocrity, (leaving the 

 care of foreign stories to foreign states, because I will not be 

 curiosus in aliena republica, 3 ) I cannot fail to represent to 

 your majesty the unworthiness of the history of England in 

 the main continuance thereof, and the partiality and obli 

 quity of that of Scotland in the latest and largest author that 

 I have seen : 4 supposing that it would be honour for your 

 Majesty, and a work very memorable, if this island of Great 

 Britain, as it is now joined in monarchy for the ages to come, 



1 Virg. JEn. iv. 177. 



2 Said of Cassius, Tac. Ann. iv. 34: &quot; Cremutius Cordus postu- 

 latur, . . . quod C. Cassium Romanorum ultimum dixisset.&quot; Cf. 

 Plut. Brutus, 43. Suet. Tib. 61, who attributes it to both Brutus 

 and Cassius. 



3 Cic. Off. i. 34. 



* Buchanan, for whom King James had no love. 



