Thereappearedafewyearssincea\'ComicHistoryofEngland，\'dulycaricaturingandfalsifyingallourgreatnationalevents，andrepresentingtheEnglishpeople，formanycenturiesback，asamoboffoolsandknaves，ledbythenoseineachgenerationbyafewarch。
foolsandarch—knaves。Somethoughtfulpersonsregardedthebookwithuttercontemptandindignation;itseemedtothemacrimetohavewrittenit;aproofof\'banausia，\'asAristotlewouldhavecalledit，onlytobeoutdonebythewritinga\'ComicBible。\'Afterawhile，however，theirindignationbegantosubside;theirsecondthoughts，asusual，weremorecharitablethantheirfirst;theywerenotsurprisedtohearthattheauthorwasanhonest，just，andablemagistrate;theysawthatthepublicationofsuchabookinvolvednomoralturpitude;thatitwasmerelymeantasajestonasubjectonwhichjestingwaspermissible，andasamoneyspeculationinafieldofwhichmenhadarighttomakemoney;whileallwhichseemedoffensiveinitwasmerelytheoutcome，andasitwereapotheosis，ofthatmethodofwritingEnglishhistorywhichhasbeenpopularfornearlyahundredyears。\'Whichofourmodernhistorians，\'theyaskedthemselves，\'hashadanyrealfeelingoftheimportance，thesacredness，ofhissubject？——anyrealtrustin，orrespectfor，thecharacterswithwhomhedealt？Hasnotthebeliefofeachandallofthembeenthesame——thatonthewhole，themanyalwayshavebeenfoolsandknaves;foolishandknavishenough，atleast，tobecomethepuppetsofafewfoolsandknaveswhoheldthereinsofpower？Havetheynotheldthat，onthewhole，theproblemsofhumannatureandhumanhistoryhavebeensufficientlysolvedbyGibbonandVoltaire，GilBlasandFigaro;thatourforefathersweresillybarbarians;thatthisgloriousnineteenthcenturyistheoneregionoflight，andthatallbeforewasouterdarkness，peopledby\'foreigndevils，\'
Englishmen，nodoubt，accordingtotheflesh，butinspirit，inknowledge，increed，incustoms，soutterlydifferentfromourselvesthatweshallmerelyshowoursentimentalismbydoingaughtbutlaughingatthem？
OnwhatotherprinciplehaveourEnglishhistoriesasyetbeenconstructed，evendowntothechildren\'sbooks，whichtaughtusinchildhoodthatthehistoryofthiscountrywasnothingbutastringoffoolishwars，carriedonbywickedkings，forreasonshithertounexplained，saveonthatgreathistoriclawofGoldsmith\'sbywhichSirArchibaldAlisonwouldstillexplaintheFrenchRevolution—
\'Thedog，toservehisprivateends，Wentmad，andbittheman？\'
Itwillbeansweredbysome，andperhapsratherangrily，thatthesestricturesaretoosweeping;thatthereisarising，inacertainquarter，aschoolofhistorybooksforyoungpeopleofafarmorereverenttone，whichtriestodofullhonourtotheChurchandherworkintheworld。Thosebooksofthisschoolwhichwehaveseen，wemustreply，seemjustasmuchwantinginrealreverenceforthepastastheschoolofGibbonandVoltaire。Itisnotthepastwhichtheyreverence，butafewcharactersorfactseclecticallypickedoutofthepast，and，forthemostpart，madetolookbeautifulbyignoringallthefeatureswhichwillnotsuittheirpreconceivedpseudo—ideal。
ThereisinthesebooksascarcelyconcealeddissatisfactionwiththewholecourseoftheBritishmindsincetheReformation，and（thoughtheyarenotinclinedtoconfessthefact）withitswholecoursebeforetheReformation，becausethatcoursewasoneofsteadystruggleagainstthePapacyanditsanti—nationalpretensions。Theyaretheoutcomeofanutterlyun—Englishtoneofthought;andtheso—
called\'agesoffaith\'arepleasantandusefultothem，principallybecausetheyaredistantandunknownenoughtoenablethemtoconcealfromtheirreadersthatintheagesonwhichtheylookbackasideallyperfectaBernardandaFrancisofAssisiwerecryingalldaylong——\'Othatmyheadwereafountainoftears，thatImightweepforthesinsofmypeople！\'DantewascursingpopesandprelatesinthenameoftheGodofRighteousness;BoccaccioandChaucerwereliftingtheveilfrompriestlyabominationsofwhichwenowareashamedeventoread;andWolsey，seeingtherottennessofthewholesystem，spenthismightytalents，andatlastpouredouthissouluntodeath，inonelonguselessefforttomakethecrookedstraight，andnumberthatwhichhadbeenweighedinthebalancesofGod，andfoundforeverwanting。Toignorewilfullyfactslikethese，whichwerepatentallalongtotheBritishnation，factsonwhichtheBritishlaityacted，tilltheyfinallyconqueredattheReformation，andonwhichtheyareactingstill，andwill，probably，actforever，isnottohaveanyrealreverencefortheopinionsorvirtuesofourforefathers;andwearenotastonishedtofindrepeated，insuchbooks，theoldstockcalumniesagainstourlayandProtestantworthies，takenatsecond—
handfromthepagesofLingard。IncopyingfromLingard，however，thispartyhasdonenomorethanthosewritershavewhowouldrepudiateanyparty——almostanyChristian——purpose。Lingardisknowntohavebeenalearnedman，andtohaveexaminedmanymanuscriptswhichfewelsehadtakenthetroubletolookat;sohiswordistobetaken，noonethinkingitworthwhiletoaskwhetherhehaseitherhonestlyreadorhonestlyquotedthedocuments。ItsuitedthesentimentalandlazyliberalityofthelastgenerationtomakeashowoffairnessbylettingthePopishhistoriantellhissideofthestory，andtosneerattheilliberaloldnotionthatgentlemenofhisclassweregiventoberathercarelessabouthistorictruthwhentheyhadapurposetoservethereby;andLingardisnowactuallyrecommendedasastandardauthorityfortheyoungbyeducatedProtestants，whoseemutterlyunabletoseethat，whetherthemanbehonestornot，hiswholeviewofthecourseofBritisheventssinceBecketfirstquarrelledwithhiskingmustbeantipodaltotheirown;
andthathisaccountofallwhichhaspassedforthreehundredyearssincethefallofWolseyismostlikelytobe（and，indeed，maybeprovedtobe）onehugelibelonthewholenation，andthedestinywhichGodhasmarkedoutforit。
Thereis，indeed，nointrinsiccausewhytheecclesiastical，orpseudo—Catholic，viewofhistoryshould，inanywise，conducetoajustappreciationofourforefathers。Fornotonlydidourforefathersrebelagainstthatconceptionagainandagain，tilltheyfinallytrampleditundertheirfeet，andsoappear，primafacie，asoffenderstobejudgedatitsbar;buttheconceptionitselfisonewhichtakestheverysameviewofnatureasthatcynicconceptionofwhichwespokeabove。Man，withtheRomishdivines，is，ipsofacto，thesamebeingasthemanofVoltaire，LeSage，orBeaumarchais;heisaninsaneanddegradedbeing，whoistobekeptinorder，and，asfarasmaybe，curedandsettoworkbyanecclesiasticalsystem;andtheonlythreadsoflightinthedarkwebofhishistoryareclericalandtheurgic，notlayandhuman。Voltaireistheveryexperimentumcrucisofthisuglyfact。EuropeanhistorylookstohimwhatitwouldhavelookedtohisJesuitpreceptors，hadthesacerdotalelementinitbeenwanting;whatheathenhistoryactuallydidlooktothem。Heeliminatesthesacerdotalelement，andnothingremainsbutthechaosofapesandwolveswhichtheJesuitshadtaughthimtobelievewastheoriginalsubstratumofsociety。Thehumanityofhishistory——evenofhis\'Pucelled\'Orleans，——issimplythehumanityofSanchezandtherestofthosevingtquatrePereswhohanggibbetedforeverinthepagesofPascal。Heissuperiortohisteachers，certainly，inthis，thathehashopeforhumanityonearth;dreamsofanewandnoblerlifeforsociety，bymeansofatrueandscientificknowledgeofthelawsofthemoralandmaterialuniverse;inaword，hehas，inthemidstofallhisfilthandhisatheism，afaithinarighteousandtruth—revealingGod，whichthepriestswhobroughthimuphadnot。Letthetruthbespoken，eventhoughinfavourofsuchadestroyingAzraelasVoltaire。Andwhatifhisprimaryconceptionofhumanitybeutterlybase？Isthatofourmodernhistorianssomuchhigher？DoChristianmenseemtothem，onthewhole，inallages，tohavehadthespiritofGodwiththem，leadingthemintotruth，howeverimperfectlyandconfusedlytheymayhavelearnthislessons？
Havetheyeverheardwiththeirears，orlistenedwhentheirfathershavedeclareduntothem，thenobleworkswhichGoddidintheirdays，andintheoldtimebeforethem？DotheybelievethatthepathofChristendomhasbeen，onthewhole，thepathoflifeandtherightway，andthatthelivingGodisleadinghertherein？AretheyproudoftheoldBritishworthies？Aretheyjealousandtenderofthereputationoftheirancestors？DotheybelievethattherewereanyworthiesatallinEnglandbeforethesteam—engineandpoliticaleconomywerediscovered？DotheirconceptionsofpastsocietyandthepastgenerationsretainanythingofthatgreatthoughtwhichiscommontoalltheAryanraces——thatis，toallraceswhohaveleftaughtbehindthembetterthanmeremoundsofearth——toHindooandPersian，GreekandRoman，TeutonandScandinavian，thatmenarethesonsoftheheroes，whowerethesonsofGod？Ordotheybelievethatforcivilisedpeopleofthenineteenthcenturyitisaswelltosayaslittleaspossibleaboutancestorswhopossessedourviceswithoutouramenities，ourignorancewithoutourscience;whowerebred，nomatterhow，likefliesbysummerheat，outofthateverlastingmiddenwhichmencalltheworld，tobuzzandstingtheirfoolishday，andleavebehindthemafreshracewhichknowsthemnot，andcouldwinnohonourbyowningthem，andwhichowesthemnomorethanifithadbeenproduced，asmidden—fliesweresaidtobeofold，bysomespontaneousgeneration？
Itisnotprobablethatthiswriterwillbelikelytoundervaluepoliticaleconomy，orthesteam—engine，oranyothersolidandpracticalgoodwhichGodhasunveiledtothisgeneration。Allthathedoesdemand（forhehasarighttodemandit）isthatrationalmenshouldbelievethatourforefatherswereatleastasgoodasweare;
thatwhatsoevertheirmeasureoflightwas，theyacteduptowhattheyknewasfaithfullyaswedo;andthat，onthewhole，itwasnottheirfaultiftheydidnotknowmore。Evennowtherealdiscoveriesoftheagearemade，asofold，byaveryfewmen;and，whenmade，havetostruggle，asofold，againstallmannerofsuperstitions，lazinesses，scepticisms。IsthehistoryoftheMinierifleonesoverycomplimentarytoourage\'squicknessofperceptionthatwecanaffordtothrowmanystonesattheprejudicesofourancestors？Thetruthisthat，asofold，\'manymentalkofRobinHoodwhonevershotinhisbow\';andmanytalkofBaconwhoneverdiscoveredalawbyinductionsincetheywereborn。Asfarasourexperiencegoes，thosewhoareloudestintheirjubilationsoverthewonderfulprogressoftheagearethosewhohaveneverhelpedthatprogressforwardoneinch，butfinditagreatdealeasierandmoreprofitabletousetheresultswhichhumblermenhavepainfullyworkedoutassecond—handcapitalforhustings—speechesandrailwaybooks，andflatteramechanics\'instituteofself—satisfiedyouthsbytellingthemthattheleastinstructedofthemiswiserthanErigenaorRogerBacon。
Letthembe。Theyhavetheirreward。Andsoalsohasthepatientandhumblemanofscience，who，themoreheknows，confessesthemorehowlittleheknows，andlooksbackwithaffectionatereverenceonthegreatmenofoldtime——onArchimedesandPtolemy，AristotleandPliny，andmanyanotherhonourablemanwho，walkingingreatdarkness，soughtarayoflight，anddidnotseekinvain，——asintegralpartsofthatgoldenchainofwhichheisbutonelinkmore;
asscientificforefathers，withoutwhoseaidhissciencecouldnothavehadabeing。
Meanwhile，thisgeneraltoneofirreverenceforourforefathersisnohopefulsign。Itisunwiseto\'inquirewhytheformertimeswerebetterthanthese\';tohanglazilyandweaklyoversomeeclecticdreamofapastgoldenage;fortodosoistodenythatGodisworkinginthisage，aswellasinpastages;thatHislightisasnearusnowasitwastotheworthiesofoldtime。
Butitismorethanunwisetoboastandrejoicethattheformertimeswereworsethanthese;andtoteachyoungpeopletosayintheirhearts，\'Whatcleverfellowsweare，comparedwithourstupidoldfogiesoffathers！\'Morethanunwise;forpossiblyitmaybefalseinfact。TolookatthepoliticalandmoralstateofEuropeatthismoment，Christendomcanhardlyaffordtolookdownonanyprecedingcentury，andseemstobeinwantofsomethingwhichneithersciencenorconstitutionalgovernmentseemsabletosupply。Whetherourforefathersalsolackedthatsomethingwewillnotinquirejustnow;
butiftheydid，theirwantofscientificandpoliticalknowledgewasevidentlynotthecauseofthedefect;orwhyisnotSpainnowinfinitelybetter，insteadofbeinginfinitelyworseoff，thanshewasthreehundredyearsago？
Athome，too——ButonthequestionwhetherwearesoverymuchbetteroffthanourforefathersMr。Froude，notwe，mustspeak:forhehasdeliberately，inhisnewhistory，sethimselftothesolutionofthisquestion，andwewillnotanticipatewhathehastosay;whatwewouldratherinsistonnowarethemoraleffectsproducedonouryoungpeoplebybookswhichteachthemtolookwithcontemptonallgenerationsbuttheirown，andwithsuspiciononallpubliccharacterssaveafewcontemporariesoftheirownespecialparty。
ThereisanancientHebrewbook，whichcontainsasingularstoryconcerningagrandsonwhowascursedbecausehisfatherlaughedatthefrailtyofthegrandfather。Whetherthereadershallregardthatstory（aswedo）asaliteralfactrecordedbyinspiredwisdom，asaninstanceofoneofthegreatroot—lawsoffamilylife，andthereforeofthatnationallifewhich（astheHebrewbooksocunninglyshows）
istheorganicdevelopmentofthefamilylife;orwhetherheshalltreatit（aswedonot）asamereapologueormyth，hemustconfessthatitisequallygrandinitssimplicityandsingularinitsunexpectedresult。Thewordsofthestory，takenliterallyandsimply，nomorejustifythenotionthatCanaan\'sslaverywasanymagicalconsequenceoftheoldpatriarch\'sangerthantheydothewell—knowntheorythatitwasthecauseoftheNegro\'sblackness。
Hamshowsalow，foul，irreverent，unnaturaltempertowardshisfather。Theoldman\'sshameisnotacauseofshametohisson，butonlyoflaughter。Noahprophesies（inthefullestanddeepestmeaningofthatword）thatacursewillcomeuponthatson\'sson;
thathewillbeaslaveofslaves;andreasonandexperienceshowthathespoketruth。Lettheyoungbutseethattheirfathershavenoreverenceforthegenerationbeforethem，thenwilltheyinturnhavenoreverencefortheirfathers。Letthembetaughtthatthesinsoftheirancestorsinvolvetheirownhonoursolittlethattheyneednottakeanytroubletocleartheblotoffthescutcheon，butmaysafelysitdownandlaughoverit，saying，\'Verylikelyitistrue。Ifso，itisveryamusing;andifnot——whatmatter？\'——Thenthoseyoungpeoplearebeingbredupinahabitofmindwhichcontainsinitselfallthecapabilitiesofdegradationandslavery，inself—conceit，hastyassertion，disbeliefinnobleness，andalltheother\'credulitiesofscepticism\':partedfromthatpastfromwhichtheytaketheircommonorigin，theyarepartedalsofromeachother，andbecomeselfish，self—seeking，divided，andthereforeweak:
disbelievinginthenoblenessofthosewhohavegonebeforethem，theylearnmoreandmoretodisbelieveinthenoblenessofthosearoundthem;and，bydenyingGod\'sworksofold，come，byajustanddreadfulNemesis，tobeunabletoseehisworksinthemenoftheirownday;tosuspectandimpugnvalour，righteousness，disinterestednessintheircontemporaries;toattributelowmotives;
topridethemselvesonlookingatmenandthingsas\'menwhoknowtheworld，\'sotheyoungpuppiesstyleit;tobelessandlesschivalroustowomen，lessandlessrespectfultooldmen，lessandlessashamedofboastingabouttheirsensualappetites;inaword，toshowallthosesymptomswhich，whenfullydeveloped，leaveagenerationwithoutfixedprinciples，withoutstrongfaith，withoutself—
restraint，withoutmoralcohesion，thesensualanddividedpreyofanyrace，howeverinferiorinscientificknowledge，whichhasaclearandfixednotionofitsworkanddestiny。Thatmanyofthesesignsarethemselvesmoreandmoreominouslyshowinginouryoungmen，fromthefinegentlemanwhoridesinRottenRowtotheboy—mechanicwholistensenrapturedtoMr。Holyoake\'sexposuresoftheabsurdityofallhumanthingssaveMr。Holyoake\'sself，isafactwhichpressesitselfmostonthosewhohavewatchedthisagemostcarefully，andwho（rightlyorwrongly）attributemuchofthismiserabletempertothewayinwhichhistoryhasbeenwrittenamongusforthelasthundredyears。
WhetherornotMr。Froudewouldagreewiththesenotions，heismoreorlessresponsibleforthem;fortheyhavebeensuggestedbyhis\'HistoryofEnglandfromtheFallofWolseytotheDeathofElizabeth。\'Itwasimpossibletoreadthebookwithoutfeelingthecontrastbetweenitstoneandthatofeveryotheraccountofthetimeswhichonehadeverseen。Mr。Froudeseemstohavesettoworkupontheprinciple，toomuchignoredinjudgingofthepast，thatthehistorian\'ssuccessmustdependonhisdramaticfaculty;andnotmerelyonthatconstructiveelementofthefacultyinwhichMr。
Macaulayshowssuchastonishingpower，butonthathigheranddeepercriticalelementwhichoughttoprecedetheconstructiveprocess，andwithoutwhichtheconstructiveelementwillmerelyenableawriter，aswasoncebitterlybuttrulysaid，\'toproducethegreatestpossiblemisrepresentationwiththeleastpossibledistortionoffact。\'Thatdeeperdramaticfaculty，thecritical，isnotlogicalmerely，butmoral，anddependsonthemoralhealth，thewidenessandheartinessofhismoralsympathies，bywhichhecanputhimself——asMr。Froudehasattemptedtodo，andaswethinksuccessfully——intotheplaceofeachandeverycharacter，andnotmerelyfeelforthem，butfeelwiththem。Hedoesnotmerelydescribetheiractionsfromtheoutside，attributingthemarbitrarilytomotiveswhichareprettysuretobethelowestpossible，becauseitiseasiertoconceivealowmotivethanaloftyone，andtocallamanavillainthantounravelpatientlythetangledwebofgoodandevilofwhichhisthoughtsarecomposed。Hehasattemptedtoconceiveofhischaractersashewouldiftheyhadbeenhisowncontemporariesandequals，acting，speakinginhiscompany;andhehasthereforethoughthimselfboundtoacttowardthembythoserulesofcharityandcourtesy，commonaliketoChristianmorals，Englishlaw，anddecentsociety;namely，toholdeverymaninnocenttillheisprovedguilty;