TREVISA.-THE POLYCHRONICON. THE translation of the Polychronicon, by Trevisa, is the first prose chronicle in the English language, and is among the earliest prosc compositions. It may possibly be equal in bulk to all which existed before it: for in 1248, it is stated by Mr. Ritson, from John of Glastenbury, that no more than four books in English, (and those upon religious subjects,) were found in the library of Glastenbury-abbey, one of the most extensive in the kingdom. Leland also, when he ransacked the monastic and other li- ́ braries in the reign of Henry VIII. found only two or three books written in English. This Chronicle was compiled in Latin, by Ralph Higden, a benedictine of St. Werberg's monastery, now the cathedral in Chester. Higden was born in the reign of Henry III. though in what year is unknown; but, as he is said to have died very aged, in the year 1363, if we assume even the last year of the reign of that prince, or 1272, for the time of his birth, his age will amount to no less than 91 years. By a comparison which has been made of some old MS. copies of this Polychronicon, (reposited in the Harleian library,) with the Polycratica Temporum of Roger Cestrensis, also a Benedictine monk of St. Werberg, a suspicion has arisen that Higden pillaged the greater part of his Chronicle from the Polycratica; and that he had a design to appropriate the labours of his brother monk. This supposition is rendered the more probable, from the following circumstance. It is remarked by Bishop Nicholson (English Historical Library, edit. 1714, p. 65,) that," If you spell the first letters of the several chapters that begin it, you read-Prasentem Chronicam frater compilavit Ranulphus Monachus Cestrensis;" a species of whim common with the historians of those times. Still, it should be observed, that Roger, as well as Higden, was a collector, and that the latter has subjoined the names of his authors. The following is a list of his authorities, as enumerated at the latter end of the preface to the first chapter: 1. Josephus. 2. Egesippus. 3. Plinius. 4. Trogus Pompeius. 5. Justinus. 6. Eusebius in Historia Ecclesiasticâ. 7. Historia Ecclesiastica Triptita cuique tres sunt Auctores, Eusebius, Hieronimus, et Theodorus Episcopus. 8. Augustinus de Civitate Dei. 9. Orosus Hyspanus Terraconensis, Presbyter, in Libro de Ormestra Mundi. 10. Psydorus Hyspalensis, in Libro Ethimologia. 11. Solinus de Mirabilibus Mundi. 12. Henricus Huntendon, Archidiaconus. 13. Eutropius. 14. Gualterus Oxoniensis, Archidiaconus. 15. Paulus Diaconus, in Historia Longobardonum. 16. Alfridus Beverlacensis, Thesaurarius. 17. Cassiodorus de Gestis Imperatorum et Pontificum. 18. Galfridus Monamutensis, in Historia Britonum. 19. Methodius, Martyrus et Episcopus; cui incarcerato revelavit angelus de mundi statu, principio, et fine. 20. Willelmus Ryvalensis. 21. Giraldus Cambrensis qui descripsit Topographiam Hybernia, Itinerarium Wallia, et vitam regis Henrici Secundi, sub Triplici Distinctiones. 22. Succonius de Gestis Romanorum. 23. Valerius Maximus de Gestis Memoria. 24. Macrobius, in Saturnalibus. 25. Johannes Salisburiensis, in suo Policraticon. 26. Priscianus Grammaticus, in Cosmographiû. 27. Petrus Comestor, in Historiâ Scholasticâ. 28. Hugusio Pysanus, Episcopus, in Magnis Divinationibus suis. 29. Gregorius de Mirabilibus Roma. 30. Vincentius Beluacensis, in Speculo Historiali. 31. Beda de Gestis Anglorum. 32. |
