Volume 1

The history of the worthies of England ... / Endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

  • Thomas Fuller
Date:
1811
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the worthies of England ... / Endeavoured by Thomas Fuller. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    3 THE GENERAL WORTHIES had neither left him paper whereon, or copy whereby to write. But rich men will he with¬ out excuse, if not expressing their bounty in some proportion, God having provided them paper enough [“ the poor you have alwayes with you *”] and set them signal examples, as in our ensuing work will plainly appear. . *. . Fourthly, to entertain the Reader with delight. I confess, the subject is but dull in it self, to tell the time and place of men’s birth, and deaths, their names, with the names and number of their books ; and therefore this bare sceleton of time, place, and person, must be fleshed with some pleasant passages. To this intent I have purposely interlaced (not as meat, but as condiment) many delightful stories, that so the Reader if he do not arise (which I hope and desire) religiosior or doctior, with more piety or learning, at least he may depart jucundior, with more pleasure and lawful delight. Lastly, to procure moderate profit to my self in compensation of my pains. It was a proper question, which plain-dealing Jacob pertinently propounded to Laban his father-in- law : “ and now when shall I provide for mine house also 2 ?” Hitherto no Stationer 3 hath lost by me ; hereafter it will be high time for me (all things considered) to save for my self. The matter following may be divided into Real and Personal, though not according to the le^al acception of the words. By Real, I understand the commodities and observables of every County : by Personal, the characters of those worthy men who were Natives thereof. We begin with a Catalogue of the particular heads whereof this Book doth consist, intending to shew how they are severally useful ; and then I hope, if good as single in¬ struments, they will be the better as tuned in a Consort. CHAPTER II. THE REAL TOPICKS INSISTED ON IN THE RESPECTIVE COUNTIES. THE NATIVE COMMODITIES. ISTo County hath cause to complain with the Grecian widdowes, <c that they are neg¬ lected in the daily ministration4.” God hath not given all commodities to one, to elate it with pride, and tione to others to deject them with pensivenesse ; but there is some kind of equality betwixt the profits of Counties, to continue commerce, and ballance trading in some proportion. We have therefore in this Work taken especial notice of the several commodities which every Shire doth produce. And indeed God himself enjoyneth us to observe the variety of the Earth’s productions in this kind. For, speaking of the land of Havilah, (where saith he) if there is gold, and the gold of that land is good ; there is bdellium, and the onix- stone 5.” See here how the holy spirit points at those places where God hath scattered such treasure, and the best thereof in all kinds, that man (if so disposed) may know where to gather them up. I confess, England cannot boast of gold, and precious stones, with the land of Havilah ; yet affordeth it other things, both above and beneath ground, more needful for man s being. Indeed some Shires, Joseph-like, have a better-coloured coat then others ; and some, with Benjamin, have a more bountiful rpesse of meat belonging unto them. Yet every County hath a child’s portion, as if God in some sort observed Gavel-hind in the distribution of his favours. “ O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and declare the wondrous works which he doeth for the Children of men s !’* 1 John xii. 8. 5 Gen. xxx. 30. ... 3 By this general name the Publishers of Books were at this period almost universally distinguished. And in many cases the Stationer, Printer, and Bookseller, were one and the same person. N. 4 Actsvi. 1. * Gen, 6 Psalms cvii. 8, Know,
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