246 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



more than confusion of degrees ; so it doth not a little 

 embase the authority of an history, to intermingle matters 

 of triumph or matters of ceremony or matters of novelty 

 with matters of state. But the use of a Journal hath not 

 only been in the history of times, but likewise in the history 

 of persons, and chiefly of actions ; for princes in ancient 

 time had, upon point of honour and policy both, journals 

 kept of what passed day by day: for we see the Chronicle 

 which was read before Ahasuerus, when he could not take 

 rest, contained matter of affairs indeed, but such as had 

 passed in his own time, and very lately before : but the 

 Journal of Alexander's house expressed every small particu- 

 larity, even concerning his person and court ; and it is yet 

 an use well received in enterprises memorable, as expedi- 

 tions of war, navigations, and the like, to keep diaries of 

 that which passeth continually. 



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 separately, 

 and as the more principal in their intention ; which kind of 

 Ruminated History I think more fit to place amongst books 

 of policy, whereof we shall hereafter speak, than amongst 

 books of history; for it is the true office of history to re- 

 present the events themselves together with the counsels, 

 and to leave the observations and conclusions thereupon 

 to the liberty and faculty of every man's judgment. But 

 mixtures are things irregular, whereof no man can define. 



So also is there another kind of history manifoldly mixed, 

 and that is History of Cosmography : being compounded 

 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 mathematics, in respect of 

 the climates and configurations towards the heavens: which 

 part of learning of all others in this latter time hath obtained 

 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- 



