102 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



dent and sober exercise and administration of learning, and 

 by marking out the virtues and vices of intellectual things, 

 as well as the motions and perturbations of states, to show 

 how the best regulation and government may be thence 

 derived; for as the works of St. Austin or St. Ambrose 

 will not make so wise a divine as a thorough reading of 

 Ecclesiastical History, the same will hold true of learned 

 men with regard to particular books and literary history: 

 for whoever is not supported by examples and the remem 

 brance of things, must always be exposed to contingencies 

 and precipitancy. 



CHAPTER V 



The Dignity of Civil History and the Obstacles it has to encounter 



CIVIL history, particularly so called, is of prime dig 

 nity and authority among human writings; as the 

 examples of antiquity, the revolutions of things, 

 the foundations of civil prudence, with the names and 

 reputations of men, are committed to its trust. But it is 

 attended with no less difficulty than dignity; for it is a work 

 of great labor and judgment, to throw the mind back upon 

 things past, and store k with antiquity; diligently to search 

 into, and with fidelity and freedom relate, 1, the commo 

 tions of times; 2, the characters of persons; 3, the insta 

 bility of counsels; 4, the courses of actions; 5, the bottoms 

 of pretences; 6, the secrets of state; and 7, to set all this to 

 view in proper and suitable language: especially as ancient 

 transactions are uncertain, and late ones exposed to danger. 

 Whence such a civil history is attended with numerous 

 defects; the greater part of historians writing little more 

 than empty and vulgar narrations, and such as are really a 

 disgrace to history; while some hastily draw up particular 

 relations and trivial memoirs, some only run over the gen 

 eral heads of actions; and others descend to the minutest 



