Nor did we think it necessary to confine ourselves so entirely to the History of the Life and Times of the Cardinal, as not to introduce, here and there, a short Account of the Lives of several eminent Men, his Cotemporaries; for these we conceived, as they were no unnatural, would consequently be no unpleasing Digressions ; but rather prove so many Reliefs to the Attention of the Reader, which tires when it is conftantly pursuing the fame Tract; but, by making now and then an Excursion, is refreshed and entertain'd with some new, unexpected Prospect ; and therefore returns with so much the more Pleasure to the Path, from which it had been diverted, : Tho' the general Affairs of Europe are interspersed with those of England, Scotland and Ireland; yet, as we have kept strictly to Order of Time, and placed the Date of the Year in the Margin, the Reader will not be at a loss for the particular Period treated of. If it should be asked, why we write the History of the Life and Times of this memo: memorable Statesman, after the former and with many Au- ment ment of such Readers, as are themselves void of them. It is a Qualification most indispensably requisite in an Historian, that he be a Writer of Truth, to which he ought always to pay the strictest 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 least Inclination, either to disguise his Vices, or to diminish his Virtues ; either to contract or lessen 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 best Endeavours to « follow the strict Rules of Sincerity « and Judgment, the two superior Guides " to an Historian. As to the former, « which includes or implies Impartia lity, we may insist upon that without “ the Breach of Modesty, and declare " that we are not conscious to ourselves “ of any Deviation from Truth and real " Fact. “ Fact. We are sensible of the mighty Difficulty in some Cases of discovering « Truth, and of knowing it when it “ is discovered; and therefore beg that « some Allowances may be made. For a striet Impartiality is so rare a Quality. in some Writers of History, that many are ready to think, that an im partial Historian is not a Man to be « found in the World ; and some car“ ry it further, and say, that, consider“ ing human Infirmities, it is impossi“ ble to be really impartial. But while " there are such things in the World as Truth and Honesty, 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 |
