T is true that is saied of Zopyrus, the noble Per-
sian, who vētered his life: & did cause the deformi-
tie of his bodie, for the sauegarde of this countrie.
¶ The praise.
Iustinus.
Ustinus the Historiographer, for worthinesse
of fame and wisedome, deserueth in the poste-
ritie of all tymes, immortall fame, by whom
the famous actes of Princes, and other noble
Chronicles
moste neces-
sary to be red. men, doe remaine Chronicled. Giuyng exam-
ples of all valiauntnesse and vertue: for, bothe the actes and
worthie feactes of Princes, would passe as vnknowen in all
ages, excepte the worthinesse of them, were in monumentes
of writyng Chronicled. For, by the fame of their worthines,
and vertues, cōmon wealthes and kyngdomes, doe stablishe
and make Lawes, the hartes of people are incensed, and in-
flamed, to the like nobilitie of actes, and famous enter-
The worthi-
nesse of histo-
ries. prices, Histories of auncient tymes, bee vnto vs witnesses of
all tymes and ages, of kyngdomes and common wealthes, a
liuely example. A light to all truthe and knowlege, a schole-
What is a hi-
storie. maister: of maners a memorie of life, for, by it we se the wise-
dom of all ages, the forme of the beste and florishing common
wealthes. We learne by the vertues of Princes and gouer-
nours, to followe like steppe of vertue: to flie and auoide vi-
ces, and all soche thynges, as are to the destruccion and de-
An ignorant
life, a brutish
life. caie, of realme and countrie. How brutishe wer our life, if we
knewe no more then we se presently, in the state of our com-
mon wealthe and kyngdome. The kyngdomes of all Prin-
ces and common wealthes that now florisheth, doe stande by
the longe experience, wisedome, pollicy, counsaile, and god-
lie lawes of Princes of auncient times, no smal praise and
The know-
lege of Histo-
ries maketh
vs as it were
liuyng in all
ages.
[Historiogri-
phers]. commendation can be attributed, to all suche as doe trauell
in the serching out the veritie of auncient Histories, for bi the
knoledge of them, we are as it were liuyng in all ages, the
fall of all kyngdomes is manifeste to vs, the death of Prin-
ces, the subuersions of kingdomes and common wealthes,
who knoweth not the first risyng & ende of the Assiriane mo-
narchie, the glorie of the Persians, and the ruynge of the
same, the mightie Empire of the Grekes, risyng & fallyng,
the Romane state after what sorte florishyng and decaiyng,
so that no state of common wealthe or kyngdome is vnkno-
wen to vs, therefore Iustine, and all suche as doe leue to the
posteritie, the state of al things chronicled, deserue immortal
commendacions.
¶ The exposicion.
The treason
of the Assy-
rians.
