Xciii Befide the antient abridgements of Froiffart, Sleiden, full of admiration for this hiftorian, and anxious that the advantages which may be derived from him ihould be common to all ages and nations, made in 1537 a Latin abridgement, which was af terwards tranflated into French and Ehgliih by P. Golin, in 4to. London, 1608. In a preface, or epiftle, which precedes the'Latin edition, the author recommends the ftudy of the Hiftory of France above all others, and particularly that of Froiffart, whofe candour he praifes, and whom he only finds fault with for being fometimes too minute in his military details, and in his con* Verfations with princes. Foreigners accufe Sleidan of not having compofed this abridgement with the difmtereftednefs and fidelity to have been expe&ed from a man of fo great a reputation, and of wifhing to favour the French too much, as well as of paffing over the moft' brilliant a&ions of the Englifl^ where he quits the fenfe of his author, in writing otherwife than Froiffart had done : this laft reproach does not feem to me well founded. With regard to omifflons, he has taken that liberty which an abbreviator ought to be allowed, to employ himfelf chiefly in extracting what he thinks fuitablé for his purpofe; and it is but reafonable to allow that Sleidan, who at the time was living in France with Frenchmen, may, without any want of candour, have attached himfelf principally to thofe fads •which concerned them. It will not be fo eafy to juftify Belleforêt, who, giving a French abridgement