ANALYSIS OF THE SERIES

I. Whatever there may be of truth or fiction in the amusing Narrative of GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH, it must be borne in mind that, on its appearance, it “perfectly electrified the Literary public of Europe.” The style is easy and flowing, and it immediately attained a degree of popularity never equalled either in ancient or modern times. Alured of Beverley, indeed, informs us, “that it was looked upon as a mark of rusticity not to have read the book, and that he blushed upon hearing every body praise it before he had read it; but that his poverty for some time denied him the gratification.” “At length,” he adds, “I sought it, and when I found it, I studied it diligently.” Geoffrey of Monmouth is the Father of our Narrative Poetry, to whom Wace, Gaimar, and Beneoit de St. Maure owe their celebrity, and whose pages have furnished Shakspere with his Lear, Cordelia, and Cymberline, adding thus the impress of his Genius to the Literary merits of the Monk of Monmouth. Drayton’s Polyolbion is scarcely more than a poetical paraphrase of the “British History,” whilst Milton and Dryden borrow largely from the old Monkish Chronicler. Holingshed, Grafton, and a host of less celebrated Annalists, following Giraldus Cambrensis, give his Narrative as authentic in their “Histories before the Conquest.” In conclusion, we may remark, in the words of Bolton. “Out of this very story have titles been framed in open Parliament, both in England and Ireland, for the Rights of the Crown of England, even to entire Kingdoms,” thus rendering it necessary as a work of reference to the Historical Inquirer. Geoffrey’s Work commences with the Destruction of Troy, and brings the History down to the death of Athelstan.

II. The most ancient British Historian is GILDAS. “It does not well appear,” says Bishop Nicolson, “that there was ever more than one Historian of this name. He was a Monk of Bangor, about the middle of the sixth century; a sorrowful spectator of the miseries and almost utter ruin of his countrymen, by a people under whose banners they hoped for peace.” His History is a record of the lamentable state of Britain in his day A.D. 550, briefly narrating, by way of Introduction, the events from the time of Boadicea.

III. It seems to be a point difficult to clear up, at what period NENNIUS flourished. If we take the authority of Dr. Owen Pughe, he was resident at Bangor, about the close of the eighth century. This statement seems to be contradicted by himself for he says in the prologue: “This History was compiled in the 858th year of the Lord, and in the 24th year of Mervin King of Britain.” This, however, matters but little in estimating the value of his History, “the chief importance of which consists in its being, not an historic record of events with which the writer was either personally acquainted, or for which he had coeval written evidence, but as a depository of traditionary information, in the preservation of which the Celtic nations have been always peculiarly interested.”

IV. VENERABLE BEDE’S historical labours were chiefly devoted to the History of the Church, from its first establishment in England. Besides his ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, however, it has been thought advisable to give, in the present Series, his LIVES OF THE ABBOTS OF WEREMOUTH AND JARROW, the Life of ST. CUTHBERT, Lives of the Saints, his Letters, Book of the Holy Places, Chronicle, etc. All these works, without losing sight of their chief object, record secular events, noticing, particularly, the introduction of the useful arts into England; and, from the easy and flowing style in which they are composed, have ever been held in great esteem by literary men. His History commences with Julius Cæsar, and comes down to the year of our Lord 731. Bede died in 735, aged 62 years.

V. ASSER wrote the Life of King Alfred up to his 45th year, A.D. 893. The continuation to his death and the Epitaph are by other hands—the latter by Henry of Huntingdon. There is a truthfulness throughout the Narrative, alike honourable to this great king and his friend; for our author, who lived on terms of intimacy with his sovereign, was promoted by him to the Bishopric of Sherburn. King Alfred was born A.D. 849, and died A.D. 900.

VI. THE SAXON CHRONICLES, from the original MSS., the earliest of which appears to have been compiled in the year 891, and continued to A.D. 1070, and the latest of which is carried down to A.D. 1154, will be given in the words of the most ancient document of each period, any variation being noted at the foot of the page. The first publisher of this noble Monument was Mr. Wheloc, who caused it to be printed at the end of the Saxon Bede in 1664. By the assistance of other MSS., an enlarged edition, commenced by Bp. Nicolson, was given by Mr. Gibson, in 1692; and since then the labours of Dr. Ingram, made public in 1823, have added much to the value of this venerable chronicle. Miss Gurney’s accurate version, the first in English, appeared in 1819. A Dissection of the Saxon Chronicle was published in 1830.

VII. The earliest writer after the Conquest, INGULPHUS, Abbot of Croyland, was born in London, A.D. 1030, and died in 1109. Bishop Nicolson justly observes, that “the relation he bore to King William does manifestly bias him in the ill account he gives of Harold, pelting that Prince with a volley of hard names, all in a breath.” His History commences A.D. 664, and is continued down to A.D. 1091.

VIII. EADMER’S HISTORIA NOVORUM, OR HISTORY OF HIS OWN TIME, contains the Reigns of William the Conqueror and William Rufus, from A.D. 1066 to 1122. “’Tis a work of great gravity and unquestionable authority. It affords no fooleries of miracles, so rife in the writings of other Monks.” The great Selden says: “His style equals that of Malmesbury; his matter and composure exceed him.”

IX. WILLIAM OF MALMESBURY IS THE CHIEF OF OUR HISTORIANS,” says Archbishop Usher. He was a Monk, and the library keeper. Styled by Leland, “an elegant, faithful, and learned historian,” his character is confirmed by Sir Henry Saville, who says: “He is the only man of his time who has discharged his trust as an Historian.” In his “History of the Kings of England.” says Bishop Nicolson, “we have a judicious collection of whatever he found on record touching the affairs of England from the arrival of the Saxons (A.D. 449), concluding his work with the reign of King Stephen (A.D. 1143), in the Historiæ Novellæ.” In the present Series will now be found, for the first time, an English Version of his History of the English Bishops. He died A.D. 1143.

X. The GESTA STEPHANI are contained in the Valuable Collection of Historians edited by Duchesne. Quoted by all writers on this eventful period, and termed by Sharon Turner “a most important work,” it cannot be considered out of place in the present Series. The well known bias of William of Malmesbury, whose patron, the celebrated Robert, Earl of Gloucester, natural son of Henry I., was the constant enemy of Stephen, will be sufficient apology for thus introducing “the most authentic account of those times.” Stephen usurped the throne A.D. 1135, and died A.D. 1154.

XI. WILLIAM OF NEWBURGH, thus named after a Monastery in Yorkshire, though his real name was Little, was born A.D. 1136. His History commences with the Norman Conquest, and is carried down to the year 1197. “For veracity, regularity of disposition, and purity of language,” says Dr. Henry, “it is one of the most valuable productions of this period.”

XII. Of RICHARD OF DEVIZES, little is known. He gives an Account of English Affairs from A.D. 1189 to 1192, and of the exploits of Richard I. in the Holy Land. It appears from internal evidence to have been written about the year 1199, and may be considered anterior to Roger Hovenden and Ralph de Diceto.

XIII. RICHARD OF CIRENCESTER’S Description of Britain was first discovered by Professor Bertram, at Copenhagen, and by him communicated to Dr. Stukeley. Doubts have been cast on the genuineness of the document itself, but, considering a Description of Britain a necessary appendage to our Series, and all persons concurring in the general accuracy of the present work, it is here repeated on its own merits.

XIV. THOMAS SPROTT’S CHRONICLE was originally published in Latin by Hearne, in the year 1719. In the present translation, every thing connected with Britain will be given. The original itself commences with the Creation, but in our version the landing of Julius Cæsar is the first event recorded, and the narrative is brought down to A.D. 1339. Sprott himself compiled the Chronicle to the year 1272, after which it was continued by WILLIAM THORN. Both were Monks of St. Augustine’s, Canterbury.

XV. FRAGMENTS OF ANONYMOUS CHRONICLES, and CHRONOLOGICAL TABLES, will be added by way of Appendix. Amongst the former, the very curious fragment published by Hearne at the end of his edition of Sprott’s Chronicle, and which is supposed to have been written by a member of the Howard Family, who was on terms of intimacy with King Edward the Fourth, will be read with much interest, detailing with the greatest minuteness, in the vernacular language of the day, those stirring events in which the great Earl of Warwick figured so conspicuously. In the same volume will be printed the only remaining Yorkist Fragments, Which have reached our times, respecting the Reigns of Henry VI. and King Edward IV. giving a most minute account of the Civil Wars of the Rival Houses of York and Lancaster.

ROGER OF WENDOVER, MATTHEW PARIS, WILLIAM RISHANGER, and MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER, form a complete History of England, from the year 447 to the death of King Edward III., A.D. 1377. As all these Annalists occupy nearly the same period in our History, it would be only useless repetition to give the entire Narrative of each. ROGER OF WENDOVER commences with the year 447, and up to the Conquest his History will be adopted as our Text. MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER, (whose “Flores Historiarum” are almost exclusively taken from Roger of Wendover and Matthew Paris,) will be quoted in the shape of foot notes, wherever he adduces any facts not contained in either of their Narratives. MATTHEW PARIS’S fearless and impartial History will be given ENTIRE, from the Conquest, A.D. 1026, till his death in 1279. Wherever Roger of Wendover and Matthew Paris differ, it will also be noted. This will be followed by the continuation of WILLIAM RISHANGER, to the year 1273, after which, MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER’S text brings down the History to the Death of Edward the Third, A.D. 1377.

Concerning the writers themselves, it may be remarked that:—

XVI. ROGER OF WENDOVER was a Monk of St. Alban’s, in which Abbey he filled the office of Historiographer. His work, which has been recently edited for the first time by Mr. Coxe, and published by the English Historical Society, appears to be the groundwork of the “Historia Major” of Matthew Paris, who in his turn again furnished Matthew of Westminster with the materials for his History. Indeed, before the introduction of the art of printing rendered a variety of books easy of access, it was the common practice to borrow largely from other authors, in the compilation of a new work. Thus, Florence of Worcester transfers Asser’s Life of Alfred, entire, to his own pages; Matthew of Westminster takes whole pages from Matthew Paris; and “Walsingham” is such a plagiary, that were he resolved into his component parts, scarcely a vestige of him would remain, instead of occupying, as he now does, 550 closely printed folio pages. “Roger of Wendover continued his history down to the year 1235.”

XVII. MATTHEW PARIS was likewise a Monk of St. Alban’s, and succeeded Wendover in the office of Historiographer. “He was,” says Pits, “an elegant poet, an eloquent orator, an acute logician, a subtle philosopher, a solid divine, a celebrated historian, and, which crowned the whole, a man justly famous for the purity, integrity, innocence, and simplicity of his manners.” “He was also,” adds Dr. Henry, “an exquisite sculptor in gold, silver, and other metals, and the best painter of the age in which he flourished.” On terms of intimacy with his own Sovereign, Henry III., he was courted and trusted by foreign princes. Haco, King of Norway, with whom he was in habits of correspondence, availed himself of his knowledge and piety in restoring Monastic discipline in his Kingdom, and in compliance with a Bull from Pope Innocent IV., he made a Voyage to that country in A.D. 1248. It was during his residence, in Norway, that he acted as Ambassador for Louis IX., King of France. “No Historian,” says Dr. Henry, “who has recorded the transactions of his own countrymen, in his own times, can be compared with Matthew Paris for intrepidity. He censures without ceremony, and in the plainest language, the vices and follies of persons of the highest rank and greatest power. Though he was a Monk, he paints the insatiable avarice, intolerable tyranny, unbounded luxury, and abandoned perfidy of the Court of Rome, in stronger colours than any Protestant writer hath done. From all his writings, he appears to have been a man of genius, taste, and learning.” He gives the History of the Reign of eight of our Kings, from William the Conqueror to Henry III.; and so forcibly does he lead you back to the events he describes, that it is as difficult to tear oneself away from the bewitching pages of his History, as to leave off in the middle of a well written and amusing novel. “He rejoices,” says Sharon Turner, “in the acquired liberties of the nation; notices without acrimony the faults of the Royal Administration; and states with a fair censorial impartiality, the avarice of the Popedom. I THINK I HAVE NEVER READ A MORE HONEST HISTORIAN.” He died at St. Alban’s in 1259, having been a member of that fraternity since January 21, A.D. 1217.

XVIII. WILLIAM RISHANGER, like the two preceding writers, was a Monk of St. Alban’s, and Historiographer of the Abbey, or rather, according to Bishop Nicolson, Historiographer Royal. He is indebted to his predecessor for his celebrity, and as the continuator of the valuable Annals of Matthew Paris, whose impartiality he copies, deserves the gratitude of posterity. He died, at a very advanced age, A.D. 1312.

XIX. MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER is supposed to have flourished in the year 1377; but Bishop Nicolson, perhaps more correctly, places his death A.D. 1307, ascribing the continuation of his Annals to another hand. As has been already stated, he copied and transcribed largely from Roger of Wendover and Matthew Paris. “He wrote with so scrupulous a veracity, that he is never found to wander a tittle from the truth; and with such diligence that he omitted nothing worthy of remark.” He is commended also for his acuteness in tracing, and his judgment in selecting facts, his regularity in the method of selecting his plan, and his skill in Chronological Computations. With the exception of Bishop Nicolson, he is highly esteemed by every writer on the subject, and has deservedly been accounted “one of the most venerable fathers of English History.” He was a Benedictine Monk of the Abbey of Westminster, from which he derives his name.

The Entire Series will probably not exceed Twenty Volumes, and contain the following writers:—ASSER; BEDE; EADMER; GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH; GILDAS; GESTA STEPHANI; INGULPH; MATTHEW PARIS; MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER; NENNIUS; RICHARD OF CIRENCESTER; RICHARD OF DEVIZES; RISHANGER; ROGER OF WENDOVER; SAXON CHRONICLES; SPROTT; WILLIAM OF MALMESBURY; WILLIAM WYRCESTER; WILLIAM OF NEWBURGH, and FRAGMENTS OF OTHER WRITERS

FIVE HUNDRED COPIES only are printed, of which 250 are already subscribed for. As each author is sold separately, the Publisher can only pledge himself to supply the entire Series to those gentlemen who may favour him with their names, through their respective booksellers.

JAMES BOHN.

12, King William Street,

January 1, 1845.