The Commentary of Father Monserrate 1.1

1.1

To P. Claudius Aquaviva, head of the whole Society of Jesus, Antonius Monserratus, priest of the same Society, sends greetings. The men of antiquity were so exact and diligent that, when they were making a journey, they entered the happenings of every single day in their journals, with the most minute carefulness. Alexander, when he made his expedition into Asia, gave the charge of this important matter to Eratosthenes the Macedonian, whilst Antiochus Nicator, the son of Seleucus Nicator, gave it to Artemidorus. But Julius Caesar himself undertook this task and wrote Commentaries on the wars he waged. The Persian kings, as is mentioned in the book of Esdras, used to do the same. For the recorders of events, as they were called, were ordered by royal command to note down every event that occurred. Many have since followed the example of this diligence, both by land and sea ; and thus, in their devotion to Geography, marine Exploration, and History—those most weighty subjects of study—have enriched the republic of letters with generous provision. For this and other reasons it has become a rule in the Society of Jesus that a record should be kept of all events. This rule dates from the blessed memory of our Father Ignatius (Loyola who first pronounced it.