make him companye in the other worlde as sche did in this."

P.-Did the historians who flourished in the two reigns of Edward the Third and Richard the Second, surpass the very moderate pretensions of their immediate predecessors in that department.

A. They continued to perform their task in the same dull, dry, drowsy, monkish style. Walter Hemingford was a canon of Gisborough Abbey: he wrote a history of England, from the Conquest to 1308, with care and exactness; he subjoined an additional book, reaching to 1347, in which year it is supposed that he died his narrative is perspicuous, and valuable for its references to public documents. Robert Avesbury, register of the court of the Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote a history of the reign of Edward the Third, to the year 1356, when the author died: it is a plain narrative of facts, stated with apparent candour and impartiality, accurately referring, like the last writer, to public documents. Ralph Higden's Polychronicon, so called because it comprehends the transactions of many ages, is a history of England, from the beginning of the world to his own times (1357): it is not in much estimation: much of the work is supposed to be stolen from the MSS. of Roger, a monk of St. Werburghs, in Chester, who wrote half a century before. Higden belonged to the same monastery, in which he died very aged (1363). This work was translated into English by John de Trevisa, and in it are the passages which we have just quoted; it was printed, with the language a little modernized, by Caxton, in 1482, who added an additional book: this edition is justly considered as a great curiosity. Henry Knyghton was a canon of Leicester; his history reaches from the Conquest to

the year 1395: he is esteemed an exact and faithful narrator of events within his own time.

F.-We must not pass over the Scotish historian John, a priest of Fordun, who died about 1380: his work, Scotichronicon, is considered as a complete and tolerably authentic history of the affairs of Scotland, though containing many legendary tales; it was so much esteemed that every convent in Scotland had a copy transcribed for its use. This author incidentally glances at several particulars of contemporary English history; but we may recollect what was observed at the close of the last conversation, that our knowledge of the events of any reign is chiefly to be derived, not from contemporary, but from subsequent, authors.

A. The celebrated chronicles of Froissart are somewhat an exception to this remark: personally acquainted with the principal actors in the scenes which he describes, this author related every thing that he saw, and believed every thing that was told him; consequently his history is more valuable as a striking picture of ancient and chivalric manners, than as an accurate detail of facts, the narration being strangely confused and abounding in mistakes and inaccuracies.

F.-The French have considered him as partial towards the English; but who could describe the battles of Crecy and Poictiers in any terms that would not wound the vanity of the Gallic nation?

A.-Froissart was born at Valenciennes, and followed in the train of Queen Philippa to the English court, in which he resided a few years: his chronicle, in four books, narrates various transactions relative to England, France, and Spain, from 1326 to 1400. He has been called Herodotus, without his style; but this seems much too high an encomium. Doubtless, from their

dramatic painting, Froissart's pages are often highly interesting; and at other times, from the frivolousness of his facts, and the excessive minuteness with which they are detailed, exceedingly tiresome. A specimen of the importance which he attaches to the most trivial circumstances, may be seen in his account of a letter sent by Henry of Transtamare to the Black Prince on the subject of approaching hostilities: "When the letter was written King Henry had it sealed, and calling his own herald to him, said, 'Go thou, as fast as possible, by the nearest road, to the Prince of Wales, and give him from me this letter.' The herald replied, 'Willingly, my lord.' He left the king, and taking the road to Navarre came up to the prince, when bending his knee, he delivered to him the letter from King Henry. The prince made the herald rise, and taking the letter, opened it, and read it twice over, the better to understand it: when he had read and considered a little its contents, he ordered part of his council to be summoned, telling the herald to quit the place where the council was to be held."

P.-If all history were written in this style, it would be difficult to find libraries sufficient to contain its volumes.

A.-Froissart was an enthusiastic admirer of chivalry, and looked upon a knight as little less than an angel: he calls St. James, Le saint baron St. Jacques. He revisited England in 1395, and presented Richard the Second with a book "fairly illuminated, and covered with crimson velvet, with ten buttons of silver gilt, and roses of gold in the midst, with two great clasps gilt, richly wrought. Then the king," says he, " demanded of me, whereof it treated? and I replied, d'Amour; at which he was glad." With much feeling the historian

relates the melancholy end of his benefactor: "How Richard of Bourdeaux died, and by what means, I could never learn some pitied him, and others not, saying, he had for a long time deserved death. Now consider, ye kings, lords, dukes, prelates, and earls, how very changeable the fortunes of this world are: this king reigned twenty-two years in great prosperity, and with much splendour; during my residence with him for a quarter of a year he made me good cheer, because in my youth I had been secretary to King Edward, his grandfather, and the lady Philippa of Hainault, queen of England. When I took my leave of him at Windsor, he presented me by one of his knights, Sir John Golofre, a silver gilt goblet weighing full two marks, filled with one hundred nobles, which were then of service to me, and will be so long as I live. I am bound to pray to God for him, and sorry I am to write of his death."

F. Next these the plenteous Ouse came far from land,

By many a city and by many a towne,

Thence doth by Huntingdon and Cambridge flit;
My mother Cambridge, whom as with a crowne

He doth adorne, and is adorned of it,

With many a gentle muse and many a learned wit.
Faery Queene, book 4, canto 11.

Such was the affectionate remembrance of the poet Spenser to his venerable Alma Mater; and cold must be the heart which has studied in these classic bowers that does not kindle with enthusiasm in revisiting the scenes of early friendships and enchanting hopes.

A. Few spots in the kingdom are associated with