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England by William Harrison, a work of considerable topographical and antiquarian interest; (2) A Chronicle of Ireland, derived from Giraldus Cambrensis as far as the Norman Conquest, from which time to the year 1509 it is the compilation of Holinshed; it was then continued by Richard Stanyhurst (a Catholic, and the uncle of archbishop Ussher), who brings the narrative down to 1547; from thence to 1586 it is the work of John Hooker, alias Vowell, an uncle of the eminent author of the Ecclesiastical Polity; (3) A Chronicle of Scotland, chiefly from the Latin of Hector Boethius, by William Harrison; (4) A Chronicle of England, by Holinshed, who carried his work as far as the year 1577, whence it was continued to 1586 by John Hooker; (5) A Chronicle of Scotland, by Holinshed and other hands, compiled from Boethius, John Major, and the continuation of Boethius by John Ferreri. The range of Holinshed's reading was considerable, and in the compilation of his work he had the advantage of being allowed to consult the manuscripts of Leland. In his dedication, he professes to 'have had an especial eye unto the truth of things,' a claim which is fairly borne out by his own share in the performance; and, on the whole, the collection justifies the description of its compilers given by Holinshed himself in his preface, as the work of men of commendable diligence though not of deepest judgement.' The first edition of the Chronicles appeared in two volumes folio, in 1557; but the edition of 1807, to which reference is given in the footnote, is a reprint of the edition of 1586-7 in 3 vols., in which certain passages of the original edition, displeasing to Elizabeth and her ministers, had been suppressed by order of the Privy Council. The suppressed passages were however printed separately in 1723.

The works of JOHN STOWE, in their conception and

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VI.

CHAP.

VI.

John
Stowe.

b. 1525.
d. 1605.

His Summary, Annales,

character, somewhat resemble the foregoing Chronicles. He was the son of a merchant tailor of London, and became one of the most distinguished antiquaries of the century. His theological sympathies, which were first those of a moderate Catholic, and subsequently of a loyal adherent of the Established Church, inclined him to look with reverence and interest on the institutions and memorials of the past. He was the author of (1) A Summary of the Chronicles of England,'—a small popular manual of English history, which, so far as it relates to and Survey sixteenth century history, consists mainly of notable political events, extraordinary occurrences, natural phenomena, &c.; (2) Annales,2 a work of similar character, but more strictly historical in its conception, continued to the year 1614, by Edward Howes, who re-edited it under the title of Stowe's Chronicle; (3) A Survey of London and Westminster, treating of the history and antiquities of the two cities for a period of six centuries, together with their municipal institutions and forms of govern

of London.

A Summarie of the Chronicles of England, from the first arriving of Brute in this Ieland unto this present yeere of Christ, 1590. First collected, since inlarged, and now continued by John Stowe, citizen of London. London, 1590.

2 The Annales, or Generall Chronicle of England, begun first by maister John Stow, and after him continued and augmented with matters forayne and domestic, auncient and moderne, unto the end of this present yeere 1614. By Edward Howes, gentleman. London, 1615. (Howes dedicates his edition to Prince Charles.)

A Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster: containing the Original, Antiquity, Increase, Modern Estate and Government of those Cities. Written at first in the year 1598. By John Stow, citizen and native of London. Since reprinted and augmented by the Author: and afterwards by A[nthony] Monday], H[umphrey] D[yson], and others. Now lastly corrected, improved, and very much enlarged, and the Survey and History brought down from the year 1633 to the present time; by John Strype, M.A. To which is prefixed the Life of the Author, writ by the Editor. London, 1720. Another and much more compendious edition was published by Mr. Thoms in 1842.

ment; the contemporary portion is described by Mr. Thoms as 'a simple unadorned picture of London at the close of the sixteenth century.'

CHAP.

VI.

b. 1517.

and Monu

For what is usually denominated the Reformation period, the chief contemporary source of information is JOHN FOXE'S History of the Acts and Monuments of the John Foxe. Church, more commonly known as the Book of Martyrs.' d. 1587. Foxe was a man of high character and undoubted in- His Acts tegrity of purpose, but his sympathies were altogether ments. with the extreme Protestant party, and his Puritanical views would never permit him to subscribe to the Articles of the Established Church. There is consequently little reason to doubt that, though there is no reason to suppose that he wilfully mistated facts, his representations are largely coloured by his feelings as a partisan. He was acrimoniously attacked by Harding, Harpsfield (Alan Cope), and others, but their vehemence in a great measure recoiled upon themselves, and comparatively few of his statements have been disproved. The History extends to the year 1559.

Monastic history is illustrated by the Chronicle of the Grey Friars of London, which extends to the year 1556, -a volume the more deserving of notice in that it was unused by Stowe, and appears to have altogether escaped the notice of Strype. With the commencement of the reign of Henry VIII. the entries give evidence that the chronicler was watchfully observant of the religious tendencies of the age. The collection of Letters relating to the Dissolution of the Monasteries (published in the same series) throws considerable light on the actual state of The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe. A new and complete ediEdited by Rev. S. R. Cattley. 8 vols. 1841.

tion.

2 Chronicle of the Grey Friars of London. Edited by John Gough Nichols. C. S. 1852.

Three Chapters of Letters relating to the Suppression of the Monasteries. Edited by Thomas Wright. C. S. 1843.

Minor

Works re

lating to

the Refor

mation.

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VI.

Remains of Ed

ward VI.

Machyn's
Diary.

Chronicle

of Queen

Jane, &c.

Lives of
More and
Wolsey.

these communities at that time. To these may be added the companion volume, entitled Narratives of the Days of the Reformation, which includes two contemporary biographies of Cranmer. Another excellent illustration of the period is afforded in the rhymed satire, Rede me and be nott wrothe (1528),-an attack upon the clergy and Wolsey in particular for the immorality and worldliness of their lives.2

The Literary Remains of King Edward VI.3 published by the Roxburgh Club, contain his letters, 'orations,' and exercises, together with his Journal. They are preceded by a preface by Mr. J. G. Nichols, of considerable interest, in which he defends the originality of the Journal. The whole work offers some noteworthy illustrations both of the education of the time and of the royal character.

The Diary of Henry Machyn, a citizen of London, extends from A.D. 1550 to 1563, and preserves many interesting facts which have however been largely incorporated by Strype. Another work of a somewhat similar character, dealing with the first two years of queen Mary's reign, and with Wyatt's rebellion, has been used in like manner by Stowe."

The Life of Sir Thomas More, by his son-in-law,

Narratives of the Days of the Reformation, chiefly from the MSS. of
John Foxe the Martyrologist, with two contemporary Biographies of Arch-
bishop Cranmer. Edited by John Gough Nichols.
C. S. 1859.

2 In Arber's English Reprints, 1871.

Literary Remains of King Edward the Sixth. Edited from his autograph manuscripts, with Historical Notes and a Biographical Memoir. By J. G. Nichols. R. C. 1857.

The Diary of Henry Machyn, Citizen and Merchant Taylor of London, from A.D. 1550 to A.D. 1563. Edited by John Gough Nichols. C. S. 1854.

The Chronicle of Queen Jane, and of Two Years of Queen Mary, and especially of the Rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyat; written by a Resident in the Tower of London. Edited by J. G. Nichols. C. S. 1850.

ROPER,' and that of Wolsey, by his usher CAVENDISH,2 are both biographies of signal merit, containing much that serves to illustrate the social habits and standard of morality prevalent in their day.

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VI.

Carew.

Elizabeth.

The expedition of the Earl of Essex to Ireland receives some additional illustration in the Life of Sir Peter Carew, written by JOHN HOOKER (alias Vowell) Hooker's of Exeter, an uncle of the eminent Richard Hooker. The Life of work affords also a striking picture of the domestic life of an English country gentleman of the sixteenth century. The eminent antiquary CAMDEN, of whose Britan- Camden's nia some account has already been given, published in 1615 the first part of his Life of Elizabeth; it was originally composed in Latin, and is a lucid and able digest chiefly of the political events of her reign. Camden's conception of the historian's function, as indicated in his Preface, marks a distinct advance upon preceding writers. He professes to take Polybius for his model, and to refer events to their true causes. In the compilation of his work he was materially aided by papers and correspondence from the royal archives, placed in his hands by lord Burghley.

The main value of the foregoing material, however, The State often consists rather in the evidence which it affords Papers, and Calendars with respect to contemporary impressions and beliefs, of the same. than in the light which it throws on the genuine connexion of events and the true springs of state policy.

'The Life of Sir Thomas More, by his son-in-law, William Roper, Esq.; to which is added an Appendix of Letters. Chiswick, 1817.

The Life of Cardinal Wolsey, by George Cavendish, his Gentleman Usher. Edited by Samuel Weller Singer, F.S.A. 1827.

The Life and Times of Sir Peter Carew, Kt. From the original MS. With an historical Introduction and elucidatory Notes by John Maclean. 1857.

• In Kennet, vol. ii. see supra, p, 217. The second part was not pub. lished until 1633, after Camden's death.

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