the condition of princes and their humours； they conclude their counsels；
and attribute to them words proper for the occasion； such have title to
assume the authority of regulating our belief to what they themselves
believe； but certainly； this privilege belongs to very few。 For the
middle sort of historians； of which the most part are； they spoil all；
they will chew our meat for us； they take upon them to judge of； and
consequently； to incline the history to their own fancy； for if the
judgment lean to one side； a man cannot avoid wresting and writhing his
narrative to that bias； they undertake to select things worthy to be
known； and yet often conceal from us such a word； such a private action；
as would much better instruct us； omit； as incredible； such things as
they do not understand； and peradventure some； because they cannot
express good French or Latin。 Let them display their eloquence and
intelligence； and judge according to their own fancy： but let them；
withal； leave us something to judge of after them； and neither alter nor
disguise； by their abridgments and at their own choice； anything of the
substance of the matter； but deliver it to us pure and entire in all its
dimensions。
For the most part； and especially in these latter ages； persons are
culled out for this work from amongst the common people； upon the sole
consideration of well…speaking； as if we were to learn grammar from them；
and the men so chosen have fair reason； being hired for no other end and
pretending to nothing but babble； not to be very solicitous of any part
but that； and so； with a fine jingle of words； prepare us a pretty
contexture of reports they pick up in the streets。 The only good
histories are those that have been written themselves who held command in
the affairs whereof they write； or who participated in the conduct of
them； or； at least； who have had the conduct of others of the same
nature。 Such are almost all the Greek and Roman histories： for； several
eye…witnesses having written of the same subject； in the time when
grandeur and learning commonly met in the same person； if there happen to
be an error； it must of necessity be a very slight one； and upon a very
doubtful incident。 What can a man expect from a physician who writes of
war； or from a mere scholar； treating of the designs of princes？ If we
could take notice how scrupulous the Romans were in this； there would
need but this example： Asinius Pollio found in the histories of Caesar
himself something misreported； a mistake occasioned； either by reason he
could not have his eye in all parts of his army at once and had given
credit to some individual persons who had not delivered him a very true
account； or else； for not having had too perfect notice given him by his
lieutenants of what they had done in his absence。＇Suetonius； Life of
Caesar； c。 56。＇ By which we may see； whether the inquisition after
truth be not very delicate； when a man cannot believe the report of a
battle from the knowledge of him who there commanded； nor from the
soldiers who were engaged in it； unless； after the method of a judicial
inquiry； the witnesses be confronted and objections considered upon the
proof of the least detail of every incident。 In good earnest the
knowledge we have of our own affairs； is much more obscure： but that has
been sufficiently handled by Bodin； and according to my own sentiment
＇In the work by jean Bodin； entitled 〃Methodus ad facilem historiarum
cognitionem。〃 1566。＇ A little to aid the weakness of my memory （so
extreme that it has happened to me more than once； to take books again
into my hand as new and unseen； that I had carefully read over a few
years before； and scribbled with my notes） I have adopted a custom of
late； to note at the end of every book （that is； of those I never intend
to read again） the time when I made an end on't； and the judgment I had
made of it； to the end that this might； at least； represent to me the
character and general idea I had conceived of the author in reading it；
and I will here transcribe some of those annotations。
I wrote this； some ten years ago； in my Guicciardini （of what language
soever my books speak to me in； I always speak to them in my own）： 〃He is
a diligent historiographer； from whom； in my opinion； a man may learn the
truth of the affairs of his time； as exactly as from any other； in the
most of which he was himself also a personal actor； and in honourable
command。 There is no appearance that he disguised anything； either upon
the account of hatred； favour； or vanity； of which the free censures he
passes upon the great ones； and particularly those by whom he was
advanced and employed in commands of great trust and honour； as Pope
Clement VII。； give ample testimony。 As to that part which he thinks
himself the best at； namely； his digressions and discourses； he has
indeed some very good； and enriched with fine features； but he is too
fond of them： for； to leave nothing unsaid； having a subject so full；
ample； almost infinite； he degenerates into pedantry and smacks a little
of scholastic prattle。 I have also observed this in him； that of so many
souls and so many effects； so many motives and so many counsels as he
judges； he never attributes any one to virtue； religion； or conscience；
as if all these were utterly extinct in the world： and of all the
actions； how brave soever in outward show they appear in themselves； he
always refers the cause and motive to some vicious occasion or some
prospect of profit。 It is impossible to imagine but that； amongst such
an infinite number of actions as he makes mention of； there must be some
one produced by the way of honest reason。 No corruption could so
universally have infected men that some one would not escape the
contagion which makes me suspect that his own taste was vicious； whence
it might happen that he judged other men by himself。〃
In my Philip de Commines there is this written： 〃You will here find the
language sweet and delightful； of a natural simplicity； the narration
pure； with the good faith of the author conspicuous therein； free from
vanity； when speaking of himself； and from affection or envy； when
speaking of others： his discourses and exhortations rather accompanied
with zeal and truth； than with any exquisite sufficiency； and；
throughout； authority and gravity； which bespeak him a man of good
extraction； and brought up in great affairs。〃
Upon the Memoirs of Monsieur du Bellay I find this： 〃'Tis always pleasant
to read things written by those that have experienced how they ought to
be carried on； but withal； it cannot be denied but there is a manifest
decadence in these two lords ＇Martin du Bellay and Guillaume de Langey；
brothers； who jointly wrote the Memoirs。＇ from the freedom and liberty
of writing that shine in the elder historians； such as the Sire de
Joinville； the familiar companion of St。 Louis； Eginhard； chancellor to
Charlemagne； and of later date； Philip de Commines。 What we have here is
rather an apology for King Francis； against the Emperor Charles V。； than
history。 I will not believe that they have falsified anything； as to
matter of fact； but they make a common practice of twisting the judgment
of events； very often contrary to reason； to our advantage； and of
omitting whatsoever is ticklish to be handled in the life of their
master； witness the proceedings of Messieurs de Montmorency and de Biron；
which are here omitted： nay； so much as the very name of Madame
d'Estampes is not here to be found。 Secret actions an historian may
conceal； but to pass over in silence what all the world knows and things
that have drawn after them public and such high consequences； is an
inexcusable defect。 In fine； whoever has a mind to have a perfect
knowledge of King Francis and the events of his reign； let him seek it
elsewhere； if my advice may prevail。 The only profit a man can reap from
these Memoirs is in the special narrative of battles and other exploits
of war wherein these gentlemen were personally engaged； in some words and
private actions of the princes of their time； and in the treaties and
negotiations carried on by the Seigneur de Langey； where there are
everywhere things worthy to be known； and discourses above the vulgar
strain。〃
CHAPTER XI
OF CRUELTY
I fancy virtue to be something else； and something more noble； than good
nature； and the mere propension to goodness； that we are born into the
world withal。 Well…disposed and well…descended souls pursue； indeed； the
same methods； and represent in their actions the same face that virtue
itself does： but the word virtue imports； I know not what； more great and
active than merely for a man to suffer himself； by a happy disposition；
to be gently and quietly drawn to the rule of reason。 He who； by a
natural sweetness and facility； should despise injuries received； would
doubtless do a very fine and laudable thing； but he who； provoked and
nettled to the quick by an offence； should fortify himself with the arms
of reason against the furious appetite of revenge； and after a great
conflict； master his own passion； would certainly do a great deal more。
The fir