Thisuse，mylord，whichImaketheproperandprincipaluseofthestudyofhistory，isnotinsistedonbythosewhohavewrittenconcerningthemethodtobefollowedinthisstudy：andsinceweproposedifferentends，wemustofcoursetakedifferentways。Fewoftheirtreatiseshavefallenintomyhands：one，themethodofBodin，amanfamousinhistime，Iremembertohaveread。Itookitupwithmuchexpectationmanyyearsago；Iwentthroughit，andremainedextremelydisappointed。Hemighthavegivenalmostanyothertitletohisbookasproperlyasthatwhichstandsbeforeit。Therearenotmanypagesinitthatrelateanymoretohissubjectthanatediousfifthchapter，whereinheaccountsforthecharactersofnationsaccordingtotheirpositionsontheglobe，andaccordingtotheinfluenceofthestars；andassureshisreaderthatnothingcanbemorenecessarythansuchadisquisition；
“aduniversamhistoriarumcognitionem，etincorruptumearumjudicium。“
Inhismethod，wearetotakefirstageneralviewofuniversalhistory，andchronology，inshortabstracts，andthentostudyallparticularhistoriesandsystems。Senecaspeaksofmenwhospendtheirwholelivesinlearninghowtoactinlife，“dumvitaeinstrumentaconquirunt。“IdoubtthatthismethodofBodinwouldconductusinthesame，orasbadaway；
wouldleaveusnotimeforaction，orwouldmakeusunfitforit。Ahugecommon-placebook，whereinalltheremarkablesayingsandfactsthatwefindinhistoryaretoberegistered，mayenableamantotalkorwritelikeBodin，butwillnevermakehimabetterman，norenablehimtopromote，likeanusefulcitizen，thesecurity，thepeace，thewelfare，orthegrandeurofthecommunitytowhichhebelongs。Ishallproceedthereforetospeakofamethodthatleadstosuchpurposesasthesedirectlyandcertainly，withoutanyregardtothemethodsthathavebeenprescribedbyothers。
Ithinkthenwemustbeonourguardagainstthisveryaffectationoflearning，andthisverywantonnessofcuriosity，whichtheexamplesandpreceptswecommonlymeetwitharecalculatedtoflatterandindulge。Wemustneitherdwelltoolonginthedark，norwanderabouttillweloseourwayinthelight。Wearetooapttocarrysystemsofphilosophybeyondallourideas，andsystemsofhistorybeyondallourmemorials。Thephilosopherbeginswithreason，andendswithimagination。Thehistorianinvertsthisorder：hebeginswithoutmemorials，andhesometimesendswiththem。Thissillycustomissoprevalentamongmenofletterswhoapplythemselvestothestudyofhistory，andliassomuchprejudiceandsomuchauthorityonthesideofit，thatyourlordshipmustgivemeleavetospeakalittlemoreparticularlyandplainlythanIhavedone，infavorofcommonsenseagainstanabsurditywhichisalmostsanctified。