Sir PHILIP SIDNEY.

Letter to his brother ROBERT, then in Germany, 18 October 1580.

Sir PHILIP SIDNEY to his brother, ROBERT SIDNEY, who was the first Earl of LEICESTER of that familiar name.

My Dear Brother,

For the money you have received, assure yourself (for it is true) there is nothing I spend so pleaseth me; as that which is for you.  If ever I have ability, you shall find it so:  if not, yet shall not any brother living be better beloved than you, of me.

I cannot write now to N. WHITE.  Do you excuse me!  For his nephew, they are but passions in my father; which we must bear with reverence:  but I am sorry he should return till he had the circuit of his travel; for you shall never have such a servant, as he would prove.  Use your own discretion!

For your countenance, I would (for no cause) have it diminished in Germany.  In Italy, your greatest expense must be upon worthy men, and not upon householding.  Look to your diet, sweet ROBIN! and hold up your heart in courage and virtue.  Truly, great part of my comfort is in you!  I know not myself what I meant by bravery in you; so greatly you may see I condemn you.  Be careful of yourself, and I shall never have cares.

I have written to Master SAVELL.  I wish you kept still together.  He is an excellent man.  And there may, if you list, pass good exercises betwixt you and Master NEVELL.  There is great expectation of you both.

For method of writing history, BODEN hath written at large.  You may read him, and gather out of many words, some matter.

This I think, in haste.  A Story is either to be considered as a Story; or as a Treatise, which, besides that, addeth many things for profit and ornament.  As a Story, he is nothing, but a narration of things done, with the beginnings, causes, and appendices thereof.  In that kind, your method must be to have seriem temporum very exactly, which the chronologies of MELANCTHON, TARCHAGNORA, LANGUET and such others will help you to.

Then to consider by that... as you note yourself, XENOPHON to follow THUCYDIDES, so doth THUCYDIDES follow HERODOTUS, and DIODORUS SICULUS follow XENOPHON.  So generally, do the Roman stories follow the Greek; and the particular stories of the present monarchies follow the Roman.

In that kind, you have principally to note the examples of virtue and vice, with their good or evil success; the establishment or rains of great Estates, with the causes, the time, and circumstances of the laws then written of; the enterings and endings of wars; and therein, the stratagems against the enemy, and the discipline upon the soldier.

And thus much as a very historiographer.