gant and poetical perhaps too much so for a history; and the best edition of it is that by Stephanius, 1644, folio. Several English Antiquities of this period are also illustrated by some of the Latin works of Olaus Wormius, a Danish Physician who died A. D. 1654, aged 66; and the doctrines of the Ancient Danes as exciting their contempt of Death, are interestingly considered by Thomas Bartholine, a celebrated Danish Lawyer, who died in 1690. The ancient authors of this nation, however, are comprised in M. J. Langebeck's Collection of Writers of Danish Affairs in the Middle Ages, Copenhagen, 1772-92, 5 vols. folio, and in addition to the foregoing, the following modern works only require to be included in the list. Antiquitates Celto-Scandicæ, by J. Johnstone, Hafn. 1786, 4to: Fragments of English and Irish History in the 9th and 10th Centuries translated from the Icelandic by G. J. Thorkelin, 1789, 4to, and M. Mallet's Northern Antiquities, translated by Bishop Percy, Lond. 1770. 2 vols. 8vo.

5. English Historians after the Norman Invasion.-Sir William Temple, who is seldom inclined to be favourable towards the Ancient Historians of England, observes of those of the present period, that the portraiture of affairs has neither been delineated by any one skilful hand, nor from the life, yet it is represented in so clear a light as leaves very little either obscure or uncertain in the history of this kingdom, or the succession of its kings. After the accession of William I., however, the contemporary histories, annals, and bio. graphies, become more copious and interesting; but as the authors of these works also became very

numerous, the reader can be presented only with a brief account of those which have been published, and are principally consulted, arranged in the several centuries to which they belong.

Eleventh Century.-INGULPHUS Abbot of Croyland in Lincolnshire, wrote a history of his Abbey from its foundation in A. D. 664 to A. D. 1091 in which he occasionally gives some particulars of the English Sovereigns. He was born in London, A. D. 1030, and about the age of 21, was Secretary to William I., in Normandy; which probably prejudiced him in his account of Harold. The best edition of his Historia Anglorum, with the continuation of Peter Blesensis, is that of Oxford, 1684, though it is also printed in Savile's Scriptores already cited. His Latin style is rather inferior; he died in A. D. 1109.

Marianus Scotus, a Monk of Mentz in Germany, brought down the English history, with a general one of Europe, to A. D. 1083; and it met with such universal applause, in monasteries, that scarcely one was without a copy, but frequent transcription produced many mistakes and interpolations, which caused several of its real excellences to be afterwards regarded as spurious. The German part of this history was published by John Pistorius, in 1607, but he omitted all relating to England.

Under this century may also be included the fragment of an anonymous memoir of William I., published in Camden's Anglica, already cited: and those contemporary particulars of that Monarch, written by William of Poictou, his soldier, priest, and chaplain; and afterwards Archdeacon of Lisieux. He wrote from his own immediate know

ledge, ending his history in A. D. 1070. Some account of this King was also written by Gulielmus Gemeticensis, or William of Jumieges, who dedicated his work to him; and it will be found printed in A. Duchesne's Historia Normannorum Scriptores Antiqui, Paris, 1619, folio. Of modern lives of this Sovereign, are those by the Rev. Samuel Clarke, Lond. 1671, 4to, and by Alex. Henderson, Lond. 1764, 12mo. There appear to have been no separate contemporary memoirs preserved of William II.

Twelfth Century.-FLORENCE OF WORCESTER, a Monk of that place, surnamed Bavonius, compiled, in 1101, a general history, entitled Chronicon ex Chronicis, being taken from Marianus, the Saxon Chronicle, &c. It extends from Adam to A. D. 1118, and is executed with great care and judgment. Another Monk of the same place continued it to a. D, 1141; and the best printed edition is that of Lond. 1592, small quarto. He died in 1119.

Eadmer, surnamed the Chanter, was a Benedictine Monk of Canterbury, who wrote the Historia Novorum in six books, containing memorials from William I. to Henry I. This work is highly commended for authenticity, regularity of composition, and purity of style; and the best edition of it is that prepared by Selden during his imprisonment, Lond. 1623, folio. The author was an intimate companion of Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, and some time Abbot of St Albans. He died in 1124.

Alfred of Beverley, being a Monk and Treasurer of that House, appears chiefly to have epitomised the work of Geoffrey of Monmouth; but

he is also said to have compiled a history ending about 1121, the 21st year of Henry I,, wherein are several circumstances not extant in the former.

The famous William of Malmesbury, Monk ́and Librarian of that Abbey, in Wiltshire, has been celebrated as an elegant, learned, and faithful historian; the only man of his time, who has honestly discharged the trust of such a writer; and the chief of all our annalists. He was born in Somersetshire, whence he is called Somersetanus, and his book, De Gestis Regum Anglorum, is printed in Savile's Scriptores already cited. It is dedicated to Robert, Duke of Gloucester, natural son of Henry I.; and contains 5 books, extending from the coming in of the Saxons, to A. D. 1126. There is also attached an Appendix of 2 books, called Historia Novella, continuing the narrative to the escape of the Empress Maud from Oxford in 1143, when he died. These books contain a judicious collection of all he had found on record concerning England; and have lately been made. familiar to the English reader, by the Rev. John Sharpe's translation, Lond. 1817, 4to. William of Malmesbury also wrote a Church-History of England, in 4 books, which is likewise printed in Savile's Collection.

Simeon of Durham, where he was a Monk and Precentor, may be considered one of the most learned men of his age; though his 2 books, De Gestis Regum Anglorum, are not his best works, being principally some unarranged collections out of Florence of Worcester. He took great pains, however, in collecting monuments, especially in the north of England, after they had been scattered

by the devastations of the Danes, whence he composed part of his history. His memorials extend from A. D. 616 to 1130, soon after which he probably died, though the work was continued by John, Prior of Hexham, to 1156. The best edition of Simeon's aistory is in Twysden's Scriptores already referred to.

Ealred, or Ailredus, Abbot of Rievaulxin, composed a short genealogy of the English Kings, with some other historical pieces, in which he particularly praises David, King of Scotland, who founded many Cistercian Abbies. He was born in 1109, and died in 1166. His Genealogies include the Saxon Kings and William I.; and with his Life of Edward the Confessor, and his Account of the War between the King of Scotland and the English Barons in 1138, are printed in Sir Roger Twysden's Scriptores.

Henry of Huntington, being Archdeacon of that Diocess, is, however, a more familiar and popular historian, though he has been accused of writing confusedly, and of having done little more than copy the Saxon Chronicle, Bede, Geoffrey of Monmouth, and Florence of Worcester. He was, nevertheless, a learned man in his time, and is said to have composed his History at the request of Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, retiring to Rome for that purpose, and remaining there several years. It contains 8 books, and extends from the earliest accounts of Britain, down to the time of Stephen; after which there is a continuation to 1164. All the monastic historians, excepting this author, characterize King Edwy as an abandoned profligate, arising out of their prejudice for Dunstan ; but Henry of Huntington affirms that the English