ANECDOTES

ANECDOTES, Anecdota, a Term used by some Authors, for the Titles of Secret Histories; that is of such as relate the secret Affairs and Transactions of Princes; speaking with too much Freedom, or too much Sincerity, of the Manner and Conduct of Persons in Authority, to allow of being made public. Herein they imitate Procopius, who gives this Title to a Book which he published against Justinian and his Wife Theodora; and seems to be the only Person among the Ancients, who has represented Princes, such as they are in their domestic Relation. Varillas has published Anecdotes of the House of Medici. The Title Anecdotes is also given to such Works of the Ancients as have not yet been published. In this Sense, M. Muratori gives the Name Anecdota Graeca, to several Writings of the Greek Fathers, found in the Libraries, and first published by him. F. Martene has given a Thesaurus Anecdotarum Novus, in Folio, 5 Vol. The Word is Greek ἀνέκδοτα, i.e., Things not yet known, or hitherto kept secret.

ANECDOTES