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　　and，ifIwasnotmoreafraidoftiring，thanofscandalisingyourlordship，IcouldquotetoyouexamplesofmodernchurchmenwhohaveendeavoredtojustifyfoullanguagebytheNewTestament，andcrueltybytheOld；nay，whatisexecrablebeyondimagination，andwhatstrikeshorrorintoeverymindthatentertainsduesentimentsoftheSupremeBeing，GodhimselfhasbeencitedforrallyingandinsultingAdamafterhisfall。Inothercasesthischargebelongstothepedantsofeverynation，andthetoolsofeveryparty。Whataccusationsofidolatryandsuperstitionhavenotbeenbrought，andaggravatedagainstMahometans？ThosewretchedChristianswhoreturnedfromthosewars，soimproperlycalledtheholywars，rumoredthesestoriesabouttheWest；andyoumayfind，insomeoftheoldchroniclersandromancewriters，aswellaspoets，theSaracenscalledPaynims；thoughsurelytheyweremuchfurtherofffromanysuspicionofpolytheism，thanthosewhocalledthembythatname。WhenMahomettheSecondtookConstantinopleinthefifteenthcentury，theMahometansbegantobealittlebetter，andbutalittlebetterknown，thantheyhadbeenbefore，tothesepartsoftheworld。Buttheirreligion，aswellastheircustomsandmanners，wasstrangelymisrepresentedbytheGreekrefugeesthatfledfromtheTurks：andtheterrorandhatredwhichthispeoplehadinspiredbytherapidityoftheirconquests，andbytheirferocity，madeallthesemisrepresentationsuniversallypassfortruths。

　　ManysuchinstancesmaybecollectedfromMaraccio’srefutationoftheKoran，andRelandushaspublishedaveryvaluabletreatiseonpurposetorefutethesecalumnies，andtojustifytheMahometans。Doesnotthisexampleinclineyourlordshiptothink，thattheheathensandtheArians，andotherheretics，wouldnotappearquitesoabsurdintheiropinions，norsoabominableintheirpractice，astheorthodoxChristianshaverepresentedthem；ifsomeRelanduscouldarise，withthematerialsnecessarytotheirjustificationinhishands？Hewhoreflectsonthecircumstancesthatattendedletters，fromthetimewhenConstantineinsteadofunitingthecharactersofemperorandsovereignpontiffinhimselfwhenhebecameChristian，astheywereunitedinhimandalltheotheremperorsinthePagansystemofgovernment，gavesomuchindependentwealthandpowertotheclergy，andthemeansofacquiringsomuchmore：hewhocarriesthesereflectionsonthroughallthelatterempire，andthroughthoseagesofignoranceandsuperstition，whereinitwashardtosaywhichwasgreatest，thetyrannyoftheclergyortheservilityofthelaity：hewhoconsiderstheextremeseverity，forinstanceofthelawsmadebyTheodosiusinordertostifleeverywritingthattheorthodoxclergy，thatis，theclergytheninfashiondisliked；orthecharacterandinfluenceofsuchapriestasGregorycalledthegreat，whoproclaimedwartoallheathenlearninginordertopromoteChristianverity；andflatteredBrunehault，andabettedPhocas：hewhoconsidersallthesethings，Isay，willnotbeatalosstofindthereasonswhyhistory，boththatwhichwaswrittenbefore，andagreatpartofthatwhichhasbeenwrittensincetheChristianera，iscometoussoimperfectandsocorrupt。

　　Whentheimperfectionisduetoatotalwantofmemorials，eitherbecausenonewereoriginallywritten，orbecausetheyhavebeenlostbydevastationsofcountries，extirpationsofpeople，andotheraccidentsinalongcourseoftime；orbecausezeal，malice，andpolicyhavejoinedtheirendeavorstodestroythempurposely；wemustbecontenttoremaininourignorance，andthereisnogreatharminthat。Securefrombeingdeceived，Icansubmittobeuninformed。Butwhenthereisnotatotalwantofmemorials，whensomehavebeenlostordestroyed，andothershavebeenpreservedandpropagated，thenweareindangerofbeingdeceived：andthereforehemustbeveryimplicitindeedwhoreceivesfortruethehistoryofanyreligionornation，andmuchmorethatofanysectorparty，withouthavingthemeansofconfrontingitwithsomeotherhistory。Areasonablemanwillnotbethusimplicit。Hewillnotestablishthetruthofhistoryonsingle，butonconcurrenttestimony。

　　Iftherebenonesuch，hewilldoubtabsolutely：iftherebealittlesuch，hewillproportionhisassentordissentaccordingly。Asmallgleamoflight，borrowedfromforeignanecdotes，servesoftentodiscoverawholesystemoffalsehood：andeventheywhocorrupthistoryfrequentlybetraythemselvesbytheirignoranceorinadvertency。ExampleswhereofIcouldeasilyproduce。

　　Uponthewholematter，inallthesecaseswecannotbedeceivedessentially，unlessweplease；andthereforethereisnoreasontoestablishPyrrhonism，thatwemayavoidtheridiculeofcredulity。

　　Inallothercases，thereislessreasonstilltodoso；forwhenhistoriesandhistoricalmemorialsabound，eventhosethatarefalseservetothediscoveryofthetruth。Inspiredbydifferentpassions，andcontrivedforoppositepurposes，theycontradict；andcontradicting，theyconvictoneanother。Criticismseparatestheorefromthedross，andextractsfromvariousauthorsaseriesoftruehistory，whichcouldnothavebeenfoundentireinanyoneofthem，andwillcommandourassent，whenitisformedwithjudgment，andrepresentedwithcandor。Ifthismaybedone，asithasbeendonesometimes，withthehelpofauthorswhowroteonpurposetodeceive；howmuchmoreeasily，andmoreeffectuallymayitbedone，withthehelpofthosewhopaidagreaterregardtotruth？Inamultitudeofwriterstherewillbealwayssome，eitherincapableofgrossprevaricationfromthefearofbeingdiscovered，andofacquiringinfamywhilsttheyseekforfame；orelseattachedtotruthuponanoblerandsurerprinciple。Itiscertainthatthese，eventhelastofthem，arefallible。Bribedbysomepassionorother，theformermayventurenowandthentopropagateafalsehood，ortodisguiseatruth；likethepainterthatdrewinprofile，asLuciansays，thepictureofaprincethathadbutoneeye。MontagneobjectstothememorialsofDuBellay，thatthoughthegrossofthefactsbetrulyrelated，yettheseauthorsturnedeverythingtheymentionedtotheadvantageoftheirmaster，andmentionednothingwhichcouldnotbesoturned。Theoldfellow’swordsareworthquoting。“Decontournerlejugementdes&eacute；venemenssouventcontreraison&agrave；

　　notreavantage，etdiobmetretoutcequiilyadechatouilleuxenlaviedeleurmaistre，ilsenfontmestier。“These，andsuchasthese，deviateoccasionallyandvoluntarilyfromtruth；buteventheywhoareattachedtoitthemostreligiouslymayslidesometimesintoinvoluntaryerror。Inmattersofhistorywepreferveryjustlycotemporaryauthority；andyetcotemporaryauthorsarethemostliabletobewarpedfromthestraightruleoftruth，inwritingonsubjectswhichhaveaffectedthemstrongly，“etquorumparsmagnafuerunt。“IamsopersuadedofthisfromwhatIhavefeltinmyself，andobservedinothers，thatiflifeandhealthenoughfalltomyshare，andIamabletofinishwhatImeditate，akindofhistory，fromthelatequeen’saccessiontothethrone，tothepeaceofUtrecht，therewillbenomaterialsthatIshallexaminemorescrupulouslyandseverely，thanthoseofthetimewhentheeventstobespokenofwereintransaction。

　　Butthoughthewritersofthesetwosorts，bothofwhompayasmuchregardtotruthasthevariousinfirmitiesofournatureadmit，arefallible；yetthisfallibilitywillnotbesufficienttogivecolortoPyrrhonism。Wheretheirsincerityastofactisdoubtful，westrikeouttruthbytheconfrontationofdifferentaccounts：aswestrikeoutsparksoffirebythecollisionofflintsandsteel。Wheretheirjudgmentsaresuspiciousofpartiality，wemayjudgeforourselves；oradopttheirjudgments，afterweighingthemwithcertaingrainsofallowance。Alittlenaturalsagacitywillproportionthesegrainsaccordingtotheparticularcircumstancesoftheauthors，ortheirgeneralcharacters；foreventheseinfluence。ThusMontagnepretends，butheexaggeratesalittle，thatGuicciardinnowhereascribesanyoneactiontoavirtuous，buteveryonetoaviciousprinciple。SomethinglikethishasbeenreproachedtoTacitus：and，notwithstandingallthesprightlylooseobservationsofMontagneinoneofhisessays，wherehelaborstoprovethecontrary，readPlutarch’scomparisonsinwhatlanguagesyouplease，IamofBodin’smind，youwillperceivetheyweremadebyaGreek。Inshort，mylord，thefavorableopportunitiesofcorruptinghistoryhavebeenofteninterrupted，andarenowoverinsomanycountries，thattruthpenetratesevenintothosewherelyingcontinuesstilltobepartofthepolicyecclesiasticalandcivil；

　　orwhere，tosaythebestwecansay，truthisneversufferedtoappear，tillshehaspassedthroughhands，outofwhichsheseldomreturnsentireandundefiled。

　　ButitistimeIshouldconcludethishead，underwhichIhavetouchedsomeofthosereasonsthatshowthefollyofendeavoringtoestablishuniversalPyrrhonisminmattersofhistory，becausetherearefewhistorieswithoutsomelies，andnonewithoutsomemistakes；andthatprovethebodyofhistorywhichwepossess，sinceancientmemorialshavebeensocriticallyexamined，andmodernmemorialshavebeensomultiplied，tocontaininitsuchaprobableseriesofevents，easilydistinguishablefromtheimprobable，asforcetheassentofeverymanwhoisinhissenses，andare，therefore，sufficienttoanswerallthepurposesofthestudyofhistory。Imighthaveappealed，perhaps，withoutenteringintotheargumentatall，toanymanofcandor，whetherhisdoubtsconcerningthetruthofhistoryhavehinderedhimfromapplyingtheexampleshehasmetwithinit，andfromjudgingofthepresent，andsometimesofthefuture，bythepast？Whetherhehasnotbeentouchedwithreverenceandadmiration，atthevirtueandwisdomofsomemen，andofsomeages；andwhetherhehasnotfeltindignationandcontemptforothers？

　　WhetherEpaminondasorPhocion，forinstance，theDecii，orthekipios，havenotraisedinhismindaflameofpublicspirit，andprivatevirtue？andwhetherhehasnotshudderedwithhorrorattheproscriptionsofMariusandSylla，atthetreacheryofTheosotusandAchillas，andattheconsummatecrueltyofaninfantking？，’QuisnoncontraMariiarma，etcontraSyllaproscriptionemconcitatur？QuisnonTheodoto，etAchilla，etipsipuero，nonpuerileausofacinus，infestusest？“Ifallthisbeadigression，therefore，yourlordshipwillbesogoodastoexcuseit。

　　II。OftheMethodandDueRestrictionstobeObservedintheStudyofItWhathasbeensaidconcerningthemultiplicityofhistories，andofhistoricalmemorials，wherewithourlibrariesaboundsincetheresurrectionoflettershappened，andtheartofprintingbegan，putsmeinmindofanothergeneralrule，thatoughttobeobservedbyeverymanwhointendstomakearealimprovement，andtobecomewiseraswellasbetter，bythestudyofhistory。Ihintedatthisruleinaformerletter，whereIsaidthatweshouldneithergropeinthedark，norwanderinthelight。Historymusthaveacertaindegreeofprobabilityandauthenticity，ortheexampleswefindinitwouldnotcarryaforcesufficienttomakedueimpressionsonourminds，nortoillustratenortostrengthenthepreceptsofphilosophyandtherulesofgoodpolicy。

　　Butbesides，whenhistorieshavethisnecessaryauthenticityandprobability，thereismuchdiscernmenttobeemployedinthechoiceandtheusewemakeofthem。Somearetoberead，somearetobestudied；andsomemaybeneglectedentirely，notonlywithoutdetriment，butwithadvantage。Somearetheproperobjectsofoneman’scuriosity，someofanother’s，andsomeofallmen’s；

　　butallhistoryisnotanobjectofcuriosityforanyman。Hewhoimproperly，wantonly，andabsurdlymakesitso，indulgesasortofcanineappetite：thecuriosityofone，likethehungeroftheother，devoursravenouslyandwithoutdistinctionwhateverfallsinitsway。butneitherofthemdigests。Theyheapcrudityuponcrudity，andnourishandimprovenothingbuttheirdistemper。

　　SomesuchcharactersIhaveknown，thoughitisnotthemostcommonextremeintowhichmenareapttofall。OneofthemIknewinthiscountry。Hejoined，toamorethanathleticstrengthofbody，aprodigiousmemory；andtobothaprodigiousindustry。Hehadreadalmostconstantlytwelveorfourteenhoursaday，forfive-and-twentyorthirtyyears；andhadheapedtogetherasmuchlearningascouldbecrowdedintoahead。Inthecourseofmyacquaintancewithhim，Iconsultedwithhimonceortwice，notoftener；forIfoundthismassoflearningofaslittleusetomeastotheowner。Themanwascommunicativeenough：butnothingwasdistinctinhismind。Howcoulditbeotherwise？

　　hehadneversparedtimetothink，allwasemployedinreading。Hisreasonhadnotthemeritofcommonmechanism。Whenyoupressawatchorpullaclock，theyansweryourquestionwithprecision；fortheyrepeatexactlythehouroftheday，andtellyouneithermorenorlessthanyoudesiretoknow。Butwhenyouaskedthismanaquestion，heoverwhelmedyouwithpouringforthallthattheseveraltermsorwordsofyourquestionrecalledtohismemory：

　　andifheomittedanything，itwasthatverythingtowhichthesenseofthewholequestionshouldhaveledhimandconfinedhim。Toaskhimaquestion，wastowindupaspringinhismemory，thatrattledonwithvastrapidity，andconfusednoise，tilltheforceofitwasspent：andyouwentawaywithallthenoiseinyourears，stunnedanduninformed。IneverlefthimthatIwasnotreadytosaytohim，“Dieuvousfasselagracededevenirmoinssavant!“awishthatLaMotheleVayermentionsuponsomeoccasionorother，andthathewouldhavedonewelltohaveappliedhimselfuponmany。

　　Hewhoreadswithdiscernmentandchoice，willacquirelesslearning，butmoreknowledge：andasthisknowledgeiscollectedwithdesign，andcultivatedwithartandmethod，itwillbeatalltimesofimmediateandreadyusetohimselfandothers，Thususefularmsinmagazinesweplace，Allrang’dinorder；anddisposedwithgrace：

　　Northusalonethecuriouseyetoplease；

　　Buttobefound，whenneedrequires，withease。