1. The first in order, as also in time shall be _Herodotus_ of _Halicarnassus_, an excellent and very elegant Historian; whose Books of History were so well received in his own days, and at their rehearsal in the Olympick games, they obtained the names of the nine Muses; and continued in such esteem unto descending Ages, that _Cicero_ termed him, _Historiarum parens_. And _Dionysius_ his Countryman, in an Epistle to _Pompey_, after an express comparison, affords him the better of _Thucydides_; all which notwithstanding, he hath received from some, the stile of _Mendaciorum pater_. His Authority was much infringed by _Plutarch_, who being offended with him, as _Polybius_ had been with _Philarcus_ for speaking too coldly of his Countrymen, hath left a particular Tract, _De malignitate Herodoti_. But in this latter Century, _Camerarius_ and _Stephanus_ have stepped in, and by their witty Apologies, effectually endeavoured to frustrate the Arguments of _Plutarch_, or any other. Now in this Author, as may be observed in our ensuing discourse, and is better discernable in the perusal of himself, there are many things fabulously delivered, and not to be accepted as truths: whereby nevertheless if any man be deceived, the Author is not so culpable as the Believer. For he indeed imitating the Father Poet, whose life he hath also written, and as _Thucydides_ observeth, as well intending the delight as benefit of his Reader, hath besprinkled his work with many fabulosities; whereby if any man be led into error, he mistaketh the intention of the Author, who plainly confesseth he writeth many things by hear-say, and forgetteth a very considerable caution of his; that is, _Ego quæ fando cognovi, exponere narratione mea debeo omnia: credere autem esse vera omnia, non debeo_.