[A3–A4v] A. P. to the Reader

Extract

AMong all sortes of humane writers, there is none that have done more profit, or deserved greater prayse, then they who have committed to faithfull records of histories, ey ther the government of mighty states, or the lives and actes of famous men. For by describing the order and passages of these two, and what events have followed what counsailes, they have set foorth unto us not onely precepts, but lively patterns, both for private directions and for affayres of state, whereby in shorte time young men may be instructed, and ould men more fullie furnished with experience then the longest age of man can affoorde. And therefore Cicero reporteth that L. Lucullus, when he went from Rome to make warre against Mithridates, was altogether unskilfull in militarie services, yet in the time of his navigation he so exercised himselfe what with conference, and what with reading of histories, that when hee came into Asia, by the judgement and confession of that great king hee was preferred before all the commaunders that were before him. Heereupon when Alexander Severus did deliberate of anye weightie matter, hee would especiallye take advise of men skilfull in histories, and not without good cause. For if (as Afranius saith) experience hath begot wisedome, and memory as a mother hath brought it foorth, who are to be better accompted then they whose memory is as it were a rich storehouse of the experiences not of one age or country, but of all times and all nations? And therefore it is no great marvaile that Zenobia, who after the death of her husband Odonatus tooke upon her the state, not onely insulted upon the Romaines, but held the Arabians, the Saricenes, the Armenians and other fierce and intractible people in such obedience that, although shee were both a woman and a barbarian, yet they never stirred against her. For she had perfectly red the Romaine history in Greeke, and also had herselfe abridged the Alexandrian and all the Orientall histories, whereby she attained the highest pitch both of wisedome and authority. For examples are of greater force to stir unto vertue then bare preceptes, insomuch as Cicero said that nothing could be taught well without example. Therefore the Lacaedemonians (as Plutarch writeth) did use upon feastivall dayes to present unto their sons certayne drunken slaves whom they called ἑιλωτας, that by view of the vice they might learne to avoide it, and Hismenias the Thebane would shew to his schollars musitians of all sortes, good and bad, instructing them to followe the one and not the other. And this is that which the Apologie telleth of a certaine country woman who, being hard favoured, and fearing least shee should bring foorth children like her selfe, got many faire and beautifull pyctures, which shee did dayly and steedfastly beholde: the meaning whereof is that by setting before us the actes and lives of excellent men, it is the readiest way to fashion our qualities according to the same.