ment of fuch Readers, as are themselves void of them. It is a Qualification_most indispensably requifite in an Hiftorian, that he be a Writer of Truth, to which he ought always to pay the ftricteft Regard in every thing he relates; that he have no Prejudice to byass him, either for or against the Person whose History he is writing; that he have not the leaft Inclination, either to disguise his Vices, or to diminish his Virtues ; either to contract or leffen his Merit, or to magnify and stretch it beyond its juft Proportion. It is thro' this Medium we have endeavoured to fteer in compiling this History. For we declare with Mr. Echard, "That "we have used our beft Endeavours to "follow the ftrict Rules of Sincerity "and Judgment, the two fuperiorGuides "to an Hiftorian. As to the former, “ which includes or implies Impartia"lity, we may infift upon that without "the Breach of Modefty, and declare "that we are not conscious to ourselves "of any Deviation from Truth and real "Fact. "Fact. We are fenfible of the mighty " Difficulty in fome Cafes of discovering "Truth, and of knowing it when it "is difcovered; and therefore beg that " fome Allowances may be made. For a ftrict Impartiality is fo rare a Qua ¢ lity in fome Writers of History, that << many are ready to think, that an im"partial Hiftorian is not a Man to be "found in the World; and fome car<< ry it further, and fay, that, confider"ing human Infirmities, it is impoffi"ble to be really impartial. But while "there are fuch things in the World "as Truth and Honefty, undoubted ly there may be an impartial Hifto"rian, as well as an impartial Judge, "who can certainly give Sentence ac"cording to his Conscience and Judgment, tho' contrary to his Defires "and Inclinations." DIREC 23456 NO 7 8 PERKIN WARBECK, CHARLES VIII. King of France, to be the Page 48 84 126 178 225 -JAMES IV. King of Scotland, [Sig.Mm] 273 COLUMBUS, 360 9 View of Richmond, and the OLD PALACE, 250 THE HISTORY OF THE LIFE and TIMES OF Cardinal WOLSEY. T 1471. HOMAS WOLSEY was born at Ipfwich in the County of Suffolk, in March, 1471. But as many Authors have spoke of Wolfey's Original and great Abilities, and have differently reprefented both, we fhall, by way of Introduction, mention what feveral of them relate.-SPEED fays, Wolfey's Parents were poor, but of honest Report. GODWIN, He was born of very mean Parentage, a Butcher's Son of Ipfwich.-HALL, GRAFTON, and HOLLINGSHEAD, fpeak of Wolfey in the fame Words: This Man was born at Ipfwich, a good Philofopher, B very * Mcmorable for the Introduction of the noble Art and Mystery of PRINTING in England. Wood's very eloquent and full of Wit; but for Pride, Covetoufnefs, and Ambition he excelled all others.STOW, Wolfey was but a poor Man's Son of Ipfwich-RAPIN, Wolfey was a Clergyman eminent for his Merit, tho' but a Butcher's Son of Ipfwich.-DANIEL, Hiftory reprefents Thomas Wolfey to us as one of the most vain, moft ambitious, most wicked, and, at the fame time, one of the ableft Men of his Age; he was of very mean Birth, but his Genius and Management raifed him.-CAMPION, He was a Man undoubtedly born to Honour, fome Prince's Baftard, no Butcher's Son.-ECHARD, This extraordinary Perfon was Son to an honeft poor Man of Ipfwich. -SALMON, Wolfey was a Clergyman of a fprightly Genius.-Bifhop BURNET does not mention Wolfey's Original; he tells us, as a Minifter, Wolfey was a very extraordinary Perfon; but, as a Churchman, he was the Difgrace of his Profeffion.-WOOD obferves, That Thomas Wolfey was born at IpfOxonienfes. wich, and fays, Of all the Clergymen of his Time, as well as before and after him, he was indifputably the greateft: He had a. vaft Mind, and a great Senfe of Regulation and "Glory, which by fome is conftrued Pride. His Parts were prodigious, and it must be owned he wanted not a Senfe of his own Sufficiency, and therefore his Demeanour and Management of himself were fuch as were more fitted to the Greatnefs of his Mind and his Fortune, than to the Meannefs of his Birth.. Many Hiftorians of that Time, whether out of Envy of his Order, or Contempt of his Birth, or Hatred of his Religion, have not been very favourable to his Fame; and the traditionary Reporters fince, who have pretended to an exact Account of his Actions, have, upon too flight Enquiries, and with too great Confidence; tranfcribed the former Narratives: So that we yet want an exact and faithful History of the greatest, most noble, and moft difinterested Clergyman |
