The
University
of Paris.
Cambridge History of English Literature - 1908 - v01
Albert S.
Cook, Prof.
T.
R.
Lounsbury and Prof.
W.
H.
Schofield. Other debts, too numerous to set forth in detail, it
has only been possible to acknowledge by the insertion of names
and titles of works in the bibliographies; but our thanks will, we
trust, be read “ between the lines” by all our fellow-workers.
A. W. W.
A. R. W.
PETERHOUSE, CAMBRIDGE
2 August 1907
## p. xi (#15) ##############################################
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
THE BEGINNINGS
By A. R. WALLER, M. A. , Peterhouse.
Characteristics of the earliest Poetry. The Gleeman. Theodore and
Hadrian. National Strife . . . . . . . . .
PAGB
CHAPTER II
RUNES AND MANUSCRIPTS
By ANNA C. PAUES, Ph. D. Upsala, Newnham College.
The National Germanic Alphabet. Runes in Scandinavian and Old
English Literature. The Ruthwell Cross. The Franks Casket.
The Roman Alphabet. The Irish School of Writing. Tablets,
parchment, vellum, paper, pens, ink and binding. Scribes and
scriptoria. . • • • • • • • • • • •
CHAPTER III
EARLY NATIONAL POETRY
By H. MUNRO CHADWICK, M. A. , Fellow of Clare College.
Early National Poems the work of Minstrels. Teutonic Epic Poetry.
Beowulf: Scandinavian Traditions; Personality of the Hero; Origin
and Antiquity of the Poem; the Religious Element. Finnsburh.
The Waldhere Fragments. Widsith. Deor. The Wanderer.
The Seafarer. The Wife's Complaint. The Husband's Message.
The Ruin. Religious Poetry of Heathen Times . . . '.
CHAPTER IV/
OLD ENGLISH CHRISTIAN POETRY
By M. BENTINCK SMITH, M. A. ,
Headmistress of St Leonard's School, St Andrews.
Celtic Christianity. Changes wrought by the New Spirit. ' Caedmon's
Hymn. Genesis, Exodus, Daniel. Crist and Satan. Cynewulf.
His Personality. Crist, Juliana, The Fates of the Apostles,
Elene. Andreas. The Dream of the Rood. Guthlac, The
Phoenix, Physiologus, Riddles. Minor Christian Poems. The
Riming Poem, Proverbs, The Runic Poem, Salomon and Saturn.
The Schools of Caedmon and Cynewulf . . . . . .
41
## p. xii (#16) #############################################
Contents
CHAPTER V
LATIN WRITINGS IN ENGLAND TO THE TIME OF ALFRED
By MONTAGUE RHODES JAMES, Litt. D. ,
Provost of King's College.
PAGE
Gildas and The History of the Britons. “Hisperic” Latin. Nennins
and Historia Brittonum. The Roman Mission to Kent and its
results. Aldhelm and his School. Bede's Ecclesiastical History.
Bede's Letter to Egbert of York. Alcuin. Lives of Saints.
Visions. Minor writings . . .
. .
. . .
65
CHAPTER VI
ALFRED AND THE OLD ENGLISH PROSE OF HIS REIGN
By P. G. THOMAS, M. A. , Professor of English Language and
Literature at Bedford College, University of London.
Asser's Life of Alfred. The Handbook and Pastoral Care. Trans-
lations of Orosius and Bede. Codes of Law. De Consolatione
Philosophiae. The metres in Alfred's Boethius. Augustine's
Soliloquies. The Chronicle. Gregory's Dialogues. Works at-
tributed to Alfred. His Literary Achievement . . . . 88
CHAPTER VII
FROM ALFRED TO THE CONQUEST
By JOHN S. WESTLAKE, M. A. , Trinity College.
The Chronicle. The Monastic Reform. Blickling Homilies.
The Works of Aelfric. Wulfstan. Byrhtferth. Lindisfarne,
Rushworth and West Saxon Glosses. Legends of the Holy Rood.
Legends of the East. Quasi-scientific works. The Ballads and
Poems in The Chronicle. Judith. The Battle of Maldon or
Byrhtnoth's Death. Menologium. Be Domes Daege . . .
Wulfatares. Legends The Baldon Of
108
108
CHAPTER VIII
THE NORMAN CONQUEST
By A. R. WALLER
Dunstan. The Coming Change. The Wisdom of the East. Lanfranc.
Anselm. Norman Gifts . . . . . . . . . .
149
## p. xiii (#17) ############################################
Contents
xiii
CHAPTER IX
LATIN CHRONICLERS FROM THE ELEVENTH TO THE
THIRTEENTH CENTURIES
By W. LEWIS JONES, M. A. , Professor of English Language and
Literature at the University College of North Wales.
PAGE
England and Normandy. Characteristics of the Chroniclers. The
Northumbrian School of English Medieval History. Simeon of
Durham. Florence of Worcester. Eadmer and Ordericus Vitalis.
William of Malmesbury. Gesta Stephani. Henry of Huntingdon.
Geoffrey of Monmouth. William of Newburgh. Benedict of
Peterborough. Richard Fitz-Neale. Roger of Loveden. Ralph
of Diceto. Richard of Devizes. Jocelin of Brakelond. Giraldus
Cambrensis. Walter Map. Matthew Paris. Minor Chroniclers.
156
CHAPTER X
ENGLISH SCHOLARS OF PARIS AND FRANCISCANS
OF OXFORD
LATIN LITERATURE OF ENGLAND FROM JOHN OF SALISBURY TO
RICHARD OF BURY
By J. E. SANDYS, Litt. D. , Fellow of St John's College and
Public Orator of the University of Cambridge.
The University of Paris. English Scholars of Paris. John of Salisbury.
Peter of Blois. Walter Map. Other Writers of Latin. Gervase.
Nigel Wireker. Jean de Hauteville. Alain de Lille. Geoffrey de
Vinsauf. Alexander Neckam. Joannes de Garlandia. Giraldus
Cambrensis. Michael Scot. Franciscans and Dominicans. Fran-
ciscans of Oxford. Alexander of Hales. Robert Grosseteste and the
Franciscans. Adam Marsh. Roger Bacon. Duns Scotus. William
of Ockham. Walter Burleigh. Scholars of Oxford. John Bacon-
thorpe. Thomas Bradwardine. Richard of Bury . . . . 183
CHAPTER XI
EARLY TRANSITION ENGLISH
By J. W. H. ATKINS, M. A. , Professor of English Language and
Literature at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth,
Fellow of St John's College.
The Proverbs of Alfred. Poema Morale. Literary Revolt of the
13th Century. Ormulum. Hortatory Verse and Prose. Genesis
and Exodus. The Bestiary. An Bispel. Sawles Warde. Hali
Meidenhad. Lives of the Saints. Ancren Riwle. The Virgin
Cult and Erotic Mysticism. The Luve Ron. Layamon's Brut.
The Owl and Nightingale . . . . . . . . . 217
## p. xiv (#18) #############################################
xiy
Contents
CHAPTER XII
THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND
By W. LEWIS JONES, M. A. , Professor of English Language and
Literature at the University College of North Wales, Bangor,
formerly Scholar of Queens' College. .
PAGE
Early Welsh Tradition. Nennius and Gildas. Early Welsh Poetry.
Kulhwch and Olwen. The Mabinogion. Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Caradoc of Llancarvan. The French Romances. Wace. Layamon.
Subsidiary Legends. Merlin, Gawain. Lancelot and Guinevere.
The Holy Grail. Tristram and Iseult. Celtic Literature . . .
243
CHAPTER XIII
METRICAL ROMANCES, 1200—1500
I
By W. P. KER, M. A. , Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford,
Professor of English Literature, University College, London.
French Influences. Benoit de Ste More and Chrétien de Troyes.
Translators' difficulties. History of the English Romances. Matter
and Form. The“ matter of France," " of Britain” and “of Rome. "
Sources and Subjects. Forms of Verse. Traditional Plots. Breton
Lays. Fairy Tales. Sir Gawayne and Sir Tristrem. The Tale
of Gamelyn and The Tale of Beryn. Relation of Romances to
Ballads . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
CHAPTER XIV
METRICAL ROMANCES, 1200-1500
II
By J. W. H. ATKINS.
The Carolingian Element. English Romances: Havelok, Horn, Guy
of Warwick, Beves of Hamtoun. The literature of Antiquity:
Troy, King Alisaunder, Richard Cour de Lion. Oriental Fable:
Flores and Blancheflour, The Seven Sages of Rome. Celtic
Romances. The Gawain Cycle. Ipomedon, Amis and Amiloun,
Sir Cleges, Sir Isumbras, The Squire of Low Degree, William
of Palerne, etc. Anonymity of the work embodied in the Romances.
Qualities and Defects . . . . . . . . . .
301
## p. xv (#19) ##############################################
Contents
XV
CHAPTER XV
PEARL, CLEANNESS, PATIENCE AND SIR GAWAYNE
By I. GOLLANCZ, Litt. D. , Christ's College, Professor of English
Language and Literature, King's College, London, Secretary
of the British Academy.
PAGE
Sources and Metre of Pearl. Cleanness and Patience. Sir Gawayne
and the Grene Knight. Sources of Sir Gawayne. The Question
of Authorship. Hypothetical Biography of the Poet. Ralph Strode.
Huchoun of the Awle Ryale. Erkenwald, etc. . . . . .
320
CHAPTER XVI
LATER TRANSITION ENGLISI
I
LEGENDARIES AND CHRONICLERS
By CLARA L. THOMSON.
Robert of Gloucester. Thomas Bek. The South English Legendary.
Northern Homilies and Legends. The Northern Psalter. Cursor
Mundi. Robert Mannyng of Brunne's Handlyng Synne. Char-
acteristics of Mannyng's style. Mannyng's Debt to Wadington.
Mannyng's Chronicle. The Medytacyuns. William of Shoreham.
The Ayenbite of Inwyt. Adam Davy. Laurence Minot . .
335
CHAPTER XVII
LATER TRANSITION ENGLISH
II
SECULAR LYRICS; TALES; SOCIAL SATIRE*
By A. R. WALLER.
Middle English Lyrics. The Proverbs of Hendyng. The Deeds of
Hereward. The Land of Cokaygne. Dame Siriz. The Vox
and the Wolf. The Turnament of Totenham. The Tale of
Gamelyn. Gesta Romanorum, John de Bromyarde. The Child-
hood of Jesus. Political verses. Songs of the Soil. John Ball.
The Black Death . . . . . . . . . .
Schofield. Other debts, too numerous to set forth in detail, it
has only been possible to acknowledge by the insertion of names
and titles of works in the bibliographies; but our thanks will, we
trust, be read “ between the lines” by all our fellow-workers.
A. W. W.
A. R. W.
PETERHOUSE, CAMBRIDGE
2 August 1907
## p. xi (#15) ##############################################
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
THE BEGINNINGS
By A. R. WALLER, M. A. , Peterhouse.
Characteristics of the earliest Poetry. The Gleeman. Theodore and
Hadrian. National Strife . . . . . . . . .
PAGB
CHAPTER II
RUNES AND MANUSCRIPTS
By ANNA C. PAUES, Ph. D. Upsala, Newnham College.
The National Germanic Alphabet. Runes in Scandinavian and Old
English Literature. The Ruthwell Cross. The Franks Casket.
The Roman Alphabet. The Irish School of Writing. Tablets,
parchment, vellum, paper, pens, ink and binding. Scribes and
scriptoria. . • • • • • • • • • • •
CHAPTER III
EARLY NATIONAL POETRY
By H. MUNRO CHADWICK, M. A. , Fellow of Clare College.
Early National Poems the work of Minstrels. Teutonic Epic Poetry.
Beowulf: Scandinavian Traditions; Personality of the Hero; Origin
and Antiquity of the Poem; the Religious Element. Finnsburh.
The Waldhere Fragments. Widsith. Deor. The Wanderer.
The Seafarer. The Wife's Complaint. The Husband's Message.
The Ruin. Religious Poetry of Heathen Times . . . '.
CHAPTER IV/
OLD ENGLISH CHRISTIAN POETRY
By M. BENTINCK SMITH, M. A. ,
Headmistress of St Leonard's School, St Andrews.
Celtic Christianity. Changes wrought by the New Spirit. ' Caedmon's
Hymn. Genesis, Exodus, Daniel. Crist and Satan. Cynewulf.
His Personality. Crist, Juliana, The Fates of the Apostles,
Elene. Andreas. The Dream of the Rood. Guthlac, The
Phoenix, Physiologus, Riddles. Minor Christian Poems. The
Riming Poem, Proverbs, The Runic Poem, Salomon and Saturn.
The Schools of Caedmon and Cynewulf . . . . . .
41
## p. xii (#16) #############################################
Contents
CHAPTER V
LATIN WRITINGS IN ENGLAND TO THE TIME OF ALFRED
By MONTAGUE RHODES JAMES, Litt. D. ,
Provost of King's College.
PAGE
Gildas and The History of the Britons. “Hisperic” Latin. Nennins
and Historia Brittonum. The Roman Mission to Kent and its
results. Aldhelm and his School. Bede's Ecclesiastical History.
Bede's Letter to Egbert of York. Alcuin. Lives of Saints.
Visions. Minor writings . . .
. .
. . .
65
CHAPTER VI
ALFRED AND THE OLD ENGLISH PROSE OF HIS REIGN
By P. G. THOMAS, M. A. , Professor of English Language and
Literature at Bedford College, University of London.
Asser's Life of Alfred. The Handbook and Pastoral Care. Trans-
lations of Orosius and Bede. Codes of Law. De Consolatione
Philosophiae. The metres in Alfred's Boethius. Augustine's
Soliloquies. The Chronicle. Gregory's Dialogues. Works at-
tributed to Alfred. His Literary Achievement . . . . 88
CHAPTER VII
FROM ALFRED TO THE CONQUEST
By JOHN S. WESTLAKE, M. A. , Trinity College.
The Chronicle. The Monastic Reform. Blickling Homilies.
The Works of Aelfric. Wulfstan. Byrhtferth. Lindisfarne,
Rushworth and West Saxon Glosses. Legends of the Holy Rood.
Legends of the East. Quasi-scientific works. The Ballads and
Poems in The Chronicle. Judith. The Battle of Maldon or
Byrhtnoth's Death. Menologium. Be Domes Daege . . .
Wulfatares. Legends The Baldon Of
108
108
CHAPTER VIII
THE NORMAN CONQUEST
By A. R. WALLER
Dunstan. The Coming Change. The Wisdom of the East. Lanfranc.
Anselm. Norman Gifts . . . . . . . . . .
149
## p. xiii (#17) ############################################
Contents
xiii
CHAPTER IX
LATIN CHRONICLERS FROM THE ELEVENTH TO THE
THIRTEENTH CENTURIES
By W. LEWIS JONES, M. A. , Professor of English Language and
Literature at the University College of North Wales.
PAGE
England and Normandy. Characteristics of the Chroniclers. The
Northumbrian School of English Medieval History. Simeon of
Durham. Florence of Worcester. Eadmer and Ordericus Vitalis.
William of Malmesbury. Gesta Stephani. Henry of Huntingdon.
Geoffrey of Monmouth. William of Newburgh. Benedict of
Peterborough. Richard Fitz-Neale. Roger of Loveden. Ralph
of Diceto. Richard of Devizes. Jocelin of Brakelond. Giraldus
Cambrensis. Walter Map. Matthew Paris. Minor Chroniclers.
156
CHAPTER X
ENGLISH SCHOLARS OF PARIS AND FRANCISCANS
OF OXFORD
LATIN LITERATURE OF ENGLAND FROM JOHN OF SALISBURY TO
RICHARD OF BURY
By J. E. SANDYS, Litt. D. , Fellow of St John's College and
Public Orator of the University of Cambridge.
The University of Paris. English Scholars of Paris. John of Salisbury.
Peter of Blois. Walter Map. Other Writers of Latin. Gervase.
Nigel Wireker. Jean de Hauteville. Alain de Lille. Geoffrey de
Vinsauf. Alexander Neckam. Joannes de Garlandia. Giraldus
Cambrensis. Michael Scot. Franciscans and Dominicans. Fran-
ciscans of Oxford. Alexander of Hales. Robert Grosseteste and the
Franciscans. Adam Marsh. Roger Bacon. Duns Scotus. William
of Ockham. Walter Burleigh. Scholars of Oxford. John Bacon-
thorpe. Thomas Bradwardine. Richard of Bury . . . . 183
CHAPTER XI
EARLY TRANSITION ENGLISH
By J. W. H. ATKINS, M. A. , Professor of English Language and
Literature at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth,
Fellow of St John's College.
The Proverbs of Alfred. Poema Morale. Literary Revolt of the
13th Century. Ormulum. Hortatory Verse and Prose. Genesis
and Exodus. The Bestiary. An Bispel. Sawles Warde. Hali
Meidenhad. Lives of the Saints. Ancren Riwle. The Virgin
Cult and Erotic Mysticism. The Luve Ron. Layamon's Brut.
The Owl and Nightingale . . . . . . . . . 217
## p. xiv (#18) #############################################
xiy
Contents
CHAPTER XII
THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND
By W. LEWIS JONES, M. A. , Professor of English Language and
Literature at the University College of North Wales, Bangor,
formerly Scholar of Queens' College. .
PAGE
Early Welsh Tradition. Nennius and Gildas. Early Welsh Poetry.
Kulhwch and Olwen. The Mabinogion. Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Caradoc of Llancarvan. The French Romances. Wace. Layamon.
Subsidiary Legends. Merlin, Gawain. Lancelot and Guinevere.
The Holy Grail. Tristram and Iseult. Celtic Literature . . .
243
CHAPTER XIII
METRICAL ROMANCES, 1200—1500
I
By W. P. KER, M. A. , Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford,
Professor of English Literature, University College, London.
French Influences. Benoit de Ste More and Chrétien de Troyes.
Translators' difficulties. History of the English Romances. Matter
and Form. The“ matter of France," " of Britain” and “of Rome. "
Sources and Subjects. Forms of Verse. Traditional Plots. Breton
Lays. Fairy Tales. Sir Gawayne and Sir Tristrem. The Tale
of Gamelyn and The Tale of Beryn. Relation of Romances to
Ballads . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
CHAPTER XIV
METRICAL ROMANCES, 1200-1500
II
By J. W. H. ATKINS.
The Carolingian Element. English Romances: Havelok, Horn, Guy
of Warwick, Beves of Hamtoun. The literature of Antiquity:
Troy, King Alisaunder, Richard Cour de Lion. Oriental Fable:
Flores and Blancheflour, The Seven Sages of Rome. Celtic
Romances. The Gawain Cycle. Ipomedon, Amis and Amiloun,
Sir Cleges, Sir Isumbras, The Squire of Low Degree, William
of Palerne, etc. Anonymity of the work embodied in the Romances.
Qualities and Defects . . . . . . . . . .
301
## p. xv (#19) ##############################################
Contents
XV
CHAPTER XV
PEARL, CLEANNESS, PATIENCE AND SIR GAWAYNE
By I. GOLLANCZ, Litt. D. , Christ's College, Professor of English
Language and Literature, King's College, London, Secretary
of the British Academy.
PAGE
Sources and Metre of Pearl. Cleanness and Patience. Sir Gawayne
and the Grene Knight. Sources of Sir Gawayne. The Question
of Authorship. Hypothetical Biography of the Poet. Ralph Strode.
Huchoun of the Awle Ryale. Erkenwald, etc. . . . . .
320
CHAPTER XVI
LATER TRANSITION ENGLISI
I
LEGENDARIES AND CHRONICLERS
By CLARA L. THOMSON.
Robert of Gloucester. Thomas Bek. The South English Legendary.
Northern Homilies and Legends. The Northern Psalter. Cursor
Mundi. Robert Mannyng of Brunne's Handlyng Synne. Char-
acteristics of Mannyng's style. Mannyng's Debt to Wadington.
Mannyng's Chronicle. The Medytacyuns. William of Shoreham.
The Ayenbite of Inwyt. Adam Davy. Laurence Minot . .
335
CHAPTER XVII
LATER TRANSITION ENGLISH
II
SECULAR LYRICS; TALES; SOCIAL SATIRE*
By A. R. WALLER.
Middle English Lyrics. The Proverbs of Hendyng. The Deeds of
Hereward. The Land of Cokaygne. Dame Siriz. The Vox
and the Wolf. The Turnament of Totenham. The Tale of
Gamelyn. Gesta Romanorum, John de Bromyarde. The Child-
hood of Jesus. Political verses. Songs of the Soil. John Ball.
The Black Death . . . . . . . . . .
