U. 12.] THE SECOND BOOK. 97 



12. I cannot likewise be ignorant of a form of writing 

 which some grave and wise men have used, containing a 

 scattered history of those actions which they have thought 

 worthy of memory, with politic discourse and observation 

 thereupon: not incorporate into the history, but separ 

 ately, and as the more principal in their intention ; which 

 kind of ruminated history I thing more fit to place amongst 

 books of policy, whereof we shall hereafter speak, than 

 amongst bookfe of history. For it is the true office of his 

 tory 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 judge 

 ment. But mixtures are things irregular, whereof no man 

 can define. 



13. So also is there another kind of history manifoldly 

 mixed, and that is history of cosmography : being com 

 pounded of natural history, in respect of the regions 

 themselves ; of history civil, in respect of the habitations, 

 regiments, and manners of the people; and the mathe 

 matics, in respect of the climates and configurations to 

 wards 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 through-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, 



yet that mought 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 later times : and 



H 



