 obliged to record Matters as he finds
them; though they may be of so extraordinary a Nature, as will require no small
Degree of historical Faith to swallow them. Such was the successless Armament of
Xerxes, described by Herodotus, or the successful Expedition of Alexander
related by Arrian. Such of later Years was the Victory of Agincourt obtained by
Harry the Fifth, or that of Narva, won by Charles the Twelfth of Sweden. All
which Instances, the more we reflect on them, appear still the more astonishing.
    Such Facts, however, as they occur in the Thread of the Story; nay, indeed,
as they constitute the essential Parts of it, the Historian is not only
justifiable in recording as they really happened; but indeed would be
unpardonable, should he omit or alter them. But there are other Facts not of
such Consequence nor so necessary, which tho' ever so well attested, may
nevertheless be sacrificed to Oblivion in Complaisance to the Scepticism of a
Reader. Such is that memorable Story of the Ghost of George Villers, which might
with more Propriety have been made a Present of to Dr. Drelincourt, to have kept
the Ghost of Mrs. Veale Company, at the Head of his Discourse upon Death, than
have been introduced into so solemn a Work as the History of the Rebellion.
    To say the Truth, if the Historian will confine himself to what really
happened, and utterly reject any Circumstance, which, tho' never so well
attested, he must be well assured is false, he will sometimes fall into the
Marvellous, but never into the Incredible. He will often raise the Wonder and
Surprize of his Reader, but never that incredulous Hatred mentioned by Horace.
It is by falling into Fiction therefore, that we generally offend against this
Rule, of deserting Probability, which the Historian seldom if ever quits, till
he forsakes his Character, and commences a Writer of Romance. In this, however,
those Historians who relate publick Transactions, have the Advantage of us who
confine ourselves to Scenes of private Life. The Credit of the former is by
common Notoriety supported for a long Time; and public Records, with the
concurrent Testimony of many Authors bear Evidence to their Truth in future
Ages. Thus a Trajan and an Antoninus, a Nero and a Caligula, have all met with
the Belief of Posterity; and no one doubts but that Men so very good, and so
very bad, were once the Masters of Mankind.
    But we who deal in private Character, who search into the most retired
Recesses, and draw forth Examples of Virtue and Vice, from
