Puocarnotensis, Episcopus. 33. Beda de Naturis Rerum. 34. Historia Francorum. $5. Beda de Temporibus. 36. Titus Livius de Gestis Romanorum. 37. Gildas de Gestis Britonum. 38. Martinus, Penitentiarius Domini Papæ, in Cronicis suis de Imperatoribus et Pontificis. 39. Marianus Scotus. 40. Willelmus Malmesburiensis, Monachus, de Gestis Regum Angliæ et Pontificum. 41. Florentius Wigorum, Monachus, quem in annorum supputatione, unà cum Mariano, potissime sum secutus.

Florence of Worcester, to whom Higden says he was particularly indebted in his computation of time, was the earliest historian of the twelfth century. He abridged, or rather transcribed Marianus; adding, however, a few judicious collections of his own, from the Saxon Chronicle, and other sources. To whomsoever be referred the principal merit of the compilation, it is generally agreed, that Higden continued the Chronicle from 1329 to 1357, if not to the end of the seventh book. Higden is valuable, as having preserved many remains of ancient Chronicles, now lost.

The Polychronicon is thus stiled, as the author himself informs us, from its comprehending the transactions of many ages; and it is di

vided into seven books, from the example of Him who wrought all his works in six days, and rested on the seventh. The first describes all countries in general, particularly Britain. The other six comprise a concise account of civil history, from the creation, down to the author's own time; that is, the reign of Edward III. terminating in the year 1357.

The part which treats of England, in the first book, comprehends 15 chapters. The second book contains the transactions from Adam to the burning of the Temple of the Jews. The third extends to the transmigration of the people to Christ. The fourth from Christ to the arrival of the Saxons. The fifth from the

Saxons to the Danes.

Danes to the Normans.

The sixth from the

The seventh from the

Normans to the reign of Edward III.

That part which relates to the Britons and Saxons was published by Dr. Gale, in 1691, fol. Oxon. among his "Quindecim Scriptores Historia Brittanica Saxonica Anglo-Danica."

This Chronicle was translated into English, as already suggested, by John De Trevisa, a Cornish man, and vicar of Berkley, Gloucestershire; who undertook the task at the request of Thomas Lord Berkley, to whom he was

chaplains The translation begins with JuliusCæsar; and it was finished, according to the Cottonian MS. in the tenth of Richard II. or in 1387.

Trevisa's work commences with a prefatory dialogue on the Utility of Translations; De Utilitate Translationum; Dialogus Inter Clericum et Patronum; the former stating his reasons for the translation, the latter opposing it as unnecessary; the Latin being the more ge neral language. After this comes the Epistle of Trevisa to his Lordship; and which is suf ficiently curious for extraction:

Wealth and worship to my worthy and worshipful Lord Thomas, Lord of Barkley. I John Trevisa, your priest and bedeman1, obedient and buxom to work your will, hold in heart, think in thought, and mean in mind your needful meaning and speech that ye spake and said, that ye would have English translation of Ranulph of Chester's Books of Chronicles. Therefore I will fond3 to take that travail, and makė English translation of the same books, as God granteth me grace. For blame of backbiters will I not blinne for envy of enemies, for evil spiting and speech

1 confessor. 2 alert.

3

engage, try, endeavour, 4 cease, stop.

of evil speakers will I not leave1 to do this deed: for travail will I not spare. Comfort I have in needful making and pleasing to God, and in knowing that I wote that it is your will.

For to make this translation clear, and plain, to be known and understanden, in some place, I shall set word for word, and active for active, and passive for passive a-row, right as it standeth, without changing of the order of words. But in some place I must change the order of words, set active for passive, and againward3; and in some place I must set a reason for a word, and tell what it meaneth. But for all such changing, the meaning shall stand and not be changed. But some words and names of countries, of lands, of cities, of waters, of rivers, of mountains and hills, of persons, and of places, must be set and stand for themselves in their own kind; as Asia, Europa, Africa, and Syria; Mount Atlas, Sinai, and Oreb; Marah, Jordan, and Armon; Bethlem, Nazareth, Jerusalem, and Damascus; Hannibal, Rasin, Ahsuerus and Cyrus; and many such words and names. If any man make of these Books of Chronicles a better English translation and more profitable, God do him meed1. And by cause ye make me do this meedful deed, he that quiteth all good deeds, quite your mard, in the bliss of heaven, in wealth and liking

with all the holy saints of mankind, and the nine orders of angels; as angels, archangels, principates, potestates, virtutes, dominations, thrones, cherubin and seraphin, to see God in his blissful face in joy withouten any end. Amen.

Of the Manners of the ancient Irish.-Chap. 34, fol. 34.

2

In

Solinus saith that men of this land ben strong of nation, houseless, and great fighters; and account right and wrong all for one thing, and ben single of clothing, scarce of meat, cruel of heart, and angry of speech, and drinketh first blood of dead men that ben slain; and then weshen1 their visages therewith, and holden them paid with flesh and fruit instead of mete, and with milk instead of drink; and use much playing, idleness and hunting; and travail full little. their childhood they ben hard nourished and hard fed; and they ben unseemly of manners and of clothing; and have breech and hosen all of one wool; and strait hoods that stretcheth a cubit over the shoulders behind; and foldings instead of mantles and of cloaks. Also they use no saddles, boots, ne spurs when they ide; but they drive their horses with a chambred yerde in the one end. Instead of bits with treaches, and of bridles of reest, they use bridles that let

I wash. 2 meat. 3 chamferred yard.