An Introduction to the History of the Principal Kingdoms and States of Europe

Preface to the Reader

5 the preface to the reader That History is the most pleasant and usefull Study for Persons of Quality, and more particularly for those who design for Employments in the State, is well known to all Men of Learning. It is therefore requisite, that young Gentlemen should be exhorted early to apply themselves to this Study, not only because their Memory is vigorous, and more capable to retain what they then learn, but also because it may be concluded, that he who has no Relish for History is very unlikely to make any Advantage of Learning or Books. It is a common Custom as well in Publick as Private Schools, to read to their Scholars some ancient Historians; and there are a great many who employ several Years in reading of Cornelius Nepos, Curtius, Justin[us] and Livy, but never as much as take into their Consideration the History of later Times. ’Tis true, and it cannot be deny’d, but that we ought to begin with the ancient Historians, they being equally usefull and pleasant; but that the History of later Times is so much neglected is a great Mistake and want of Understanding in those to whom the Education of Youth is committed; for I lay down this as a Principle, That we are to study those Things in our Youth, which may prove usefull to us hereafter, when we come to riperYears, and apply our selves to Business. Now I cannot for my life apprehend, what great Benefit we can expect to receive from Cornelius Nepos, Curtius, and the first Decad of Livy, as to our Modern Affairs, tho’ we had learn’d them 1. For Pufendorf’s views on the study of history, see the Editor’s Introduction, pp. xix–xxii. 2. On the importance of both ancient and modern history in the education of noble youth, see Pufendorf’s “Unvorgreiffliches Bedencken wegen Information eines Knaben von Condition,” in Pufendorf (1995), §§5–6, pp. 544–57. 3. Livy’s books on Roman history were divided (probably by later copiers) into decades or groups of ten. The first decade begins with the foundation of Rome and covers some 460 years. 6 the preface to the reader by Heart, and had, besides this, made a perfect Index of all the Phrases and Sentences that are to be found in them: Or if we were so well vers’d in them, as to be able to give a most exact account, how many Cows and Sheep the Romans led in Triumph when they had conquer’d the Aequi, the Volsci, and the Hernici. But what a considerable Advantage it is to understand the Modern History as well of our Native Country, as also its neighbouring Nations, is sufficiently known to such as are employ’d in States Affairs. But it is not so easie a matter to acquire this Knowledge, partly because those Histories are comprehended in large and various Volumes; partly because they are generally publish’d in the native Language of each Country; so that he who intends to apply himself to this Study must be well vers’d in Foreign Languages. To remove in some measure this Difficulty, I did some Years ago, for the Benefit of some young Gentlemen in Swedeland, compile a Compendium, in which was comprehended the History of such States as seem’d to have any Reference unto this Kingdom, with an Intention only to give them the first tast[e] of those Histories fitted chiefly for their Improvement . But after this rough Draught had fallen into other Hands, I had some reason to fear, lest some covetous Bookseller or another might publish it imperfect, as I have known it has happen’d to others, whose Discourses scarce premeditated, have been publish’d against theirWill and Knowledge. Wherefore I saw my self oblig’d, notwithstanding I had but little Leisure, to revise the said Work, and after I had render’d it somewhat more perfect, rather to publish it, such as it is, than to suffer that another should rob me of it. I hope therefore, that the Discreet Reader will look favourably upon this Work, not as a Piece design’d for Men of great Learning, but adapted 4. These were three ancient peoples in central Italy. 5. On Pufendorf’s sources for the individual chapters, see the Editor’s Introduction , notes 21–24, pp. xiv–xvi. 6. There was a Swedish...