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 just Proportion. It is thro' this Medium we have endeavoured to steer 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 Historian. 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 confcious 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 Hiftory, 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 Histo"rian, as well as an impartial Judge, "who can certainly give Sentence ac"cording to his Conscience and Judg"ment, tho' contrary to his Defires "and Inclinations."

DIREC

I The Head of the CARDINAL,
Frontispiece.

2 Marquis of DORSET,
HENRY VII.
PERKIN WARBECK,

to be the

Page 48

84

126

178

225

7- -JAMES IV. King of Scotland, [Sig.Mm] 273 8

-COLUMBUS,

360

.9 View of Richmond, and the OLD PALACE, 250

2345678

3

4

5

CHARLES VIII. King of France,

6- CESAR BORGIA,

THE

HISTORY

OF THE

LIFE and TIMES

OF

Cardinal W OLSEY

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 several of them relate.-SPEED fays, Wolfey's Parents were poor, but of honeft 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,

very eloquent and full of Wit; but for Pride, Co-
vetoufnefs, and Ambition, he excelled all others.-
STOW, Wolfey was but a poor Man's Son of Ipf-
wich.-RAPIN, Wolfey was a Clergyman eminent for
his Merit, tho' but a Butcher's Son of Ipfwich.-DA-
NIEL, Hiftory reprefents Thomas Wolfey to us as one
of the most vain, moft ambitious, moft wicked, and,
at the fame time, one of the ableft Men of his Age;
he was of very mean Birth, but his Genius and Ma-
nagement raised 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 sprightly
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 ob-
ferves, That Thomas Wolfey was born at Ipf-
Oxonienfes. wich, and fays,
wich, and fays, ' Of all the Clergymen of
his Time, as well as before and after

Wood's
Athene

"

him, he was indifputably the greatest: He had a • vast 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 Fiatred 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 Hiftory of the greatest, most noble, and moft difinterested • Clergyman