ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 57 



In the business of relations it is, also, to be wished that greater 

 diligence were employed ; for there is no signal action, but has 

 some good pen to describe it. But very few being qualified to 

 write a complete history, suitable to its dignity (a thing wherein 

 so many have failed), if memorable acts were but tolerably re- 

 lated as they pass, this might lay the foundations, and afford 

 materials for a complete history of times, when a writer should 

 arise equal to the work. 



CHAPTER VIII 



Division of the History of Times into Universal and Particular. The 

 Advantages and Disadvantages of both 



History of times is either general or particular, as it relates 

 the transactions of the whole world, or of a certain kingdom or 

 nation. And there have been those who would seem to give us 

 the history of the world from its origin ; but, in reality, offer 

 only a rude collection of things, and certain short narratives 

 instead of a history ; whilst others have nobly, and to good ad- 

 vantage, endeavored to describe, as in a just history, the 

 memorable things, which in their time happened over all the 

 globe. For human affairs are not so far divided by empires 

 and countries, but that in many cases they still preserve a con- 

 nection : whence it is proper enough to view, as in one picture, 

 the fates of an age. And such a general history as this may 

 frequently contain particular relations, which, though of value, 

 might otherwise either be lost, or never again reprinted: at 

 least, the heads of such accounts may be thus preserved. But 

 upon mature consideration, the laws of just history appear so 

 severe as scarcely to be observed in so large a field of matter, 

 whence the bulkiness of history should rather be retrenched 

 than enlarged; otherwise, he who has such variety of matter 

 everywhere to collect, if he preserve not constantly the strictest 

 watch upon his informations, will be apt to take up with rumors 

 and popular reports, and work such kind of superficial matter 

 into his history. And, then, to retrench the whole, he will be 

 obliged to pass over many things otherwise worthy of relation, 

 and often to contract and shorten his style ; wherein there lies 

 no small danger of frequently cutting off useful narrations, in 

 order to oblige mankind in their favorite way of compendium ; 



