The Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical history of England / [translated by J. Stevens] Also the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. With illustrative notes, a map of Anglo-Saxon England and a general index. Edited by J.A. Giles.

  • Bede, the Venerable, Saint, 673-735.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical history of England / [translated by J. Stevens] Also the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. With illustrative notes, a map of Anglo-Saxon England and a general index. Edited by J.A. Giles. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    before that period. The next ten years rather exhibit differ- ent ink than a different writer. From 1132 to the end, A.D. 1154, the language and orthography became gradually more Isormanized, particularly in the reign of king Stephen; the account of which was not written till the close of it. The dates not being regularly affixed to the last ten years, Wanley has inadvertently described this MS. as ending A.D. 1143; whereas it is continued eleven years after- Avards.” VI. The sixth and last copy is in the British Museum. [Cotton, Domitian A. viii.] “ This is a singularly curious MS., attributed generally to a monk of Christ Church, Canterbury, on account of the monastic interpolations. It is often quoted and commended by II. Wharton, in his Anglia Sacra, because it contains much ecclesiastical and local information. We consider it, however, of the least authority among the Cotton MSS., because the Avriter has taken greater liberties in abridging former Chronicles, and inserting translations of Latin docu- ments in his OAvn Normauized dialect. Frithstan, bishop of Winchester, Avho died a.d. 931 according to this Chronicle, is called bi.scop Wentanus; and BjTiistanus [Brinstan] is said to have been consecrated on his loh—in eji/s locum, /iew, Fr. Its very peculiarities, nevertheless, stamp a great value on it; and its frauds are harmless, if possible, because they are easily detected. ToAvards the end the Avriter intended to say something about prince Edward, the father of Edgar and Margaret; but it is nearly obliterated, and the MS. soon lifter concludes, a.d. 1058. It is remarkable for being AAD'itten both in Latin and Saxon ; but for Avhat purpose it is noAv needless to conjecture. It is said to have been gii'cn to Sir Eobert Cotton by Camden. The passages printed from it by Gibson, and the variations in the margin, marked Cot., are from tlic collations of .lunius inserted in his copy of Wlieloc. There does not appear to have been any entire transcript of the i\lS., as we lind it sometimes stated.* Gib- sou takes no notice of the introductory description of Britain as being in this !MS., and he dates its termination in the wrong place, ^^'e have therefore had recourse to it again in Uic British Museum, Avhere it is depo ited.” • A'id. Wanl. Cat. p. ‘220.