A14350:274
The Common Places
The common places of the most famous and renowned divine Doctor Peter Martyr divided into four principal parts: with a large addition of many theological and necessary discourses, some never extant before. Translated and partly gathered by Anthony Marten, one of the sewers of her Majesties most honourable chamber.The common places of the most famous and renowmed diuine Doctor Peter Martyr diuided into foure principall parts: with a large addition of manie theologicall and necessarie discourses, some neuer extant before. Translated and partlie gathered by Anthonie Marten, one of the sewers of hir Maiesties most honourable chamber.
Imprinted at London : In Pater noster Rowe, by Henry Denham and Henry Middleton at the costs and charges of Henry Denham, Thomas Chard, William Broome, and Andrew Maunsell, 1583Imprinted at London : In Pater noster Rovve, by Henry Denham and Henry Middleton at the costs and charges of Henrie Denham, Thomas Chard, VVilliam Broome, and Andrew Maunsell, 1583
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Of History.
Of Historie.
120 Let us now declare somewhat of the historical scriptures. An history (as Quintilian defineth it, in the second book, and fourth chapter of his institutions) is a declaration of a thing that hath been done. From whom Augustine doth not much vary; saying, that History is the declaration of any thing done, either by God or by man; comprehending within the compass of this definition, as well profane histories, as those of the Bible. Howbeit, all narrations of things done, are not of one sort. For some are called Chronicles, or Annals, showing the success of things from year to year, and time to time; but others are properly called histories. Howbeit we cannot well do this, unless we distinguish these two one from the other. Cicero in his second book De oratore, when he touched these matters, writeth on this wise: The Greeks themselves wrote so in the beginning, as our Cato, Pictor, and Piso did. For history was nothing else, but a gathering together of things done from year to year: and for the preservation of such things in public memory, the chief prelate did put every year in writing, whatsoever was done worth the registering within that year; and so continued from the original of the Roman state, even unto Publius Mutius, who bare the same office. Which being done, he not only did publish it abroad, but also did set it forth in a table at home, that the people might have the perfect knowledge thereof. Yea, and many of them (saith he) which are counted the chief historiographers at this day, follow much of their trade; who without any curiousness or eloquence, leave the monuments of times, persons, places and things, even simply as they were done. Wherefore as Pherecydes, Hellanicus, Acusilaus, and many other among the Greeks, such were our Cato, Pictor, and Piso among us, who have small regard to set forth their matter with goodly words: and so it may be understood what they say, they account brevity a special praise of speaking.