The Latin Historians from the foundation of Rome to the death of the Emperor Valens: Sallust, Cæsar, Titus Livius, Velleius Paterculus, Quintus Curtius, Tacitus, Florus, Suetonius, Justinus, Ammianus Marcellinus, &c. To these may be superadded, Plutarch, Diogenes Laertius, Philostratus, and Eunapius, among the Greeks; Cornelius Nepos, Emilius Probus, Spartianus, Lampridius, and the Augustæ Scriptores, of the Latin, &c.: but, for being more mixed, and less methodical, they would haply be read in another order; and if the Greeks have haply written more even of the Roman story than the Romans themselves, it is what is universally known and acknowledged by the learned; which has made the enumeration of the one to exceed the mention of the latter. These are, my Lord, sufficient to afford your Lordship a fairer and more ample course than any of your quality usually pretend to; being the best and most worthy consideration both as to the grandeur of examples, and politure of the language. As to the later period, from Valens and the Gothic Emperors to our times, I shall furnish the curiosity, when you have finished this stage; for it were now, my Lord, to discourage you, the very calling over the names of so many; how much more, should I add (what your Lordship's curiosity will desire to dip into, to emerge a complete historian) the Biography, or writers of particular lives, relations, negotiations, memoirs, &c., which are things apart, and that properly come within the series of the more solid and illustrious historians. Only as to that of Chronology, I conceive it of absolute necessity that your Lordship join it with all the readings, together with some geographical author and guide, whose tables, maps, and discoveries both for the ancient and modern names, situations and boundaries of the places, you shall with incredible advantage consult, to fix and make it your own. Scaliger's Emendatio Temporum, Petavii Ratio 2 narium, Calvisius, Helvicus, or our Isaacson,' may suffice to assist you, with Cluverius, our Peter Heylin, and the late accurate atlasses set forth by Bleau. To these may be added, as necessary subsidiaries, H. Stephens's Historical Dictionary set lately forth in London; and if your Lordship think fit to pursue the cycle with more expedition, which were likewise to gratify your curiosity by a preparation that will furnish you with a very useful prospect, before you engage yourself on the more particulars, there is in English one Howel (not James) who has published a very profitable Compendium of Universal History, so far as he has brought it; to which you may join what Bishop Usher has set forth in two volumes, containing the annals of all the memorable actions and passages which have happened in the Church from the Creation, mingled with divers secular passages of rare remark, and which may serve you instead of Baronius, or any of his voluminous epitomisers, Spondanus, Peruginus, &c. And by that time your Lordship is arrived thus far, you will have performed more than any man of your quality can pretend to in Court, by immense degrees, according to my weak observation, who sometimes pass my time at the circle where the gallants produce themselves with all their advantages, and (God knows) small furniture. Nor will it be difficult for you to go through the rest with delight and ease, whether you would begin at the present age, and read upwards, till you meet with the period where you left off (which is Grotius's advice to Mon Maurelique), or proceed in that order in which you began. But, my Lord, of this, as of whatever else you shall judge me worthy to serve you in, I shall endeavour to present your Lordship with something more material, and better digested, when you please to command, my Lord, Your Lordship's, &c. John Evelyn to Lord Viscount Cornbury. MY LORD, Sayes-Court, 9th Sep. 1665. I should be exceedingly wanting to my duty, and to the interest you pleased to allow me in your friendship, Henry Isaacson, author of the "Chronological Series of the Four Monarchies." Folio, London, 1633. not to preserve it by such acknowledgments as are due to you by infinite obligations: and if this have not been done oftener, distance, and the many circumstances of a jealous intercourse, will easily obtain your mercy; for I swear to you, my Lord, there breathes not a man upon earth who has a greater value for your noble person: because I have established it upon your virtues, and that which shines in you above titles, and adjuncts, which I regard but as the shadows of great men; nothing constituent of good and really permanent. But, my Lord, I intend not here a panegyric, where haply an epithalamium were due, if what has been lately told me, of your Lordship's being newly married, or shortly re-entering into those golden-fetters, be true.' But can your Lordship think of such a felicity, and not command me to celebrate it? not as a poet (for I know not what it means), but as one perfectly devoted to your good fortune; since that glory must needs be in my mouth, which already is so profoundly engraven in my heart. I thought indeed that golden key which I saw tied to your side by that silken ribbon was the fore-runner of some other knot, constant as the colour, and bright as the metal. My Lord, I joyed you at Hampton-Court for the one, and I would joy you from Sayes-Court for the other. You have in the first a dignity conspicuous for the ornament it receives from your virtues; but in the second only, a reward of them above the pearls, and the rubies: 'tis a price which Fortune owes your Lord. ship, and I can celebrate her justice without flattery. Long may you live under her happy empire. When I am certain of the particulars, I will string more roses on this chaplet, and make you a country gardener's present; if the anxiety of being at this distance from a person whose influence is so necessary, do not altogether wither my genius. But, my Lord, give me now leave to entertain you a little with mine own particular condition; since, as contraries illustrate one another, it cannot but improve your happiness. After 6978 (and possibly half as many more concealed) which the pestilence has mowed down in London this week, near 30 houses are visited in this miserable village, 'See ante, p. 149. Lord Cornbury was at this time Lord Chamberlain to the Queen. narium, Calvisius, Helvicus, or our Isaacson,' may suffice to assist you, with Cluverius, our Peter Heylin, and the late accurate atlasses set forth by Bleau. To these may be added, as necessary subsidiaries, H. Stephens's Historical Dictionary set lately forth in London; and if your Lordship think fit to pursue the cycle with more expedition, which were likewise to gratify your curiosity by a preparation that will furnish you with a very useful prospect, before you engage yourself on the more particulars, there is in English one Howel (not James) who has published a very profitable Compendium of Universal History, so far as he has brought it; to which you may join what Bishop Usher has set forth in two volumes, containing the annals of all the memorable actions and passages which have happened in the Church from the Creation, mingled with divers secular passages of rare remark, and which may serve you instead of Baronius, or any of his voluminous epitomisers, Spondanus, Peruginus, &c. And by that time your Lordship is arrived thus far, you will have performed more than any man of your quality can pretend to in Court, by immense degrees, according to my weak observation, who sometimes pass my time at the circle where the gallants produce themselves with all their advantages, and (God knows) small furniture. Nor will it be difficult for you to go through the rest with delight and ease, whether you would begin at the present age, and read upwards, till you meet with the period where you left off (which is Grotius's advice to Mon Maurelique), or proceed in that order in which you began. But, my Lord, of this, as of whatever else you shall judge me worthy to serve you in, I shall endeavour to present your Lordship with something more material, and better digested, when you please to command, my Lord, Your Lordship's, &c. John Evelyn to Lord Viscount Cornbury. Mr LORD, Sayes-Court, 9th Sep. 1665. I should be exceedingly wanting to my duty, and to the interest you pleased to allow me in your friendship, Henry Isaacson, author of the "Chronological Series of the Four Monarchies." Folio, London, 1633. not to preserve it by such acknowledgments as are due to you by infinite obligations: and if this have not been done oftener, distance, and the many circumstances of a jealous intercourse, will easily obtain your mercy; for I swear to you, my Lord, there breathes not a man upon earth who has a greater value for your noble person: because I have established it upon your virtues, and that which shines in you above titles, and adjuncts, which I regard but as the shadows of great men; nothing constituent of good and really permanent. But, my Lord, I intend not here a panegyric, where haply an epithalamium were due, if what has been lately told me, of your Lordship's being newly married, or shortly re-entering into those golden-fetters, be true.' But can your Lordship think of such a felicity, and not command me to celebrate it? not as a poet (for I know not what it means), but as one perfectly devoted to your good fortune; since that glory must needs be in my mouth, which already is so profoundly engraven in my heart. I thought indeed that golden key which I saw tied to your side by that silken ribbon was the fore-runner of some other knot, constant as the colour, and bright as the metal. My Lord, I joyed you at Hampton-Court for the one, and I would joy you from Sayes-Court for the other. You have in the first a dignity conspicuous for the ornament it receives from your virtues; but in the second only, a reward of them above the pearls, and the rubies: 'tis a price which Fortune owes your Lordship, and I can celebrate her justice without flattery. Long may you live under her happy empire. When I am certain 2 of the particulars, I will string more roses on this chaplet, and make you a country gardener's present; if the anxiety of being at this distance from a person whose influence is so necessary, do not altogether wither my genius. But, my Lord, give me now leave to entertain you a little with mine own particular condition; since, as contraries illustrate one another, it cannot but improve your happiness. After 6978 (and possibly half as many more concealed) which the pestilence has mowed down in London this week, near 30 houses are visited in this miserable village, 'See ante, p. 149. 'Lord Cornbury was at this time Lord Chamberlain to the Queen. |