Cambridge Library Collection - Medieval History

Published 1799-1805, this four-volume work was a benchmark in Anglo-Saxon studies, drawing on manuscripts in the British Museum.

Published 1799-1805, this four-volume work was a benchmark in Anglo-Saxon studies, drawing on manuscripts in the British Museum.

Published 1799-1805, this four-volume work was a benchmark in Anglo-Saxon studies, drawing on manuscripts in the British Museum.

A 1922 edition of the early Anglo-Saxon laws from Aethelbert to Aethelstan, with a facing-page modern English translation.

The 1780 edition of one of the oldest English-language cookbooks, presenting a range of everyday and ceremonial dishes.

This 1991 publication is the first printed edition of a continuation of the French prose Brut, found in a fourteenth-century York chronicle.

An informative collection of notes on Yorkshire families and their land tenures in the middle ages, first published in 1973.

Published in thirteen volumes (1914-65), this extensive and highly regarded series contains charters and deeds from pre-thirteenth-century Yorkshire.

Published in thirteen volumes (1914-65), this extensive and highly regarded series contains charters and deeds from pre-thirteenth-century Yorkshire.

Published in thirteen volumes (1914-65), this extensive and highly regarded series contains charters and deeds from pre-thirteenth-century Yorkshire.

Published in thirteen volumes (1914-65), this extensive and highly regarded series contains charters and deeds from pre-thirteenth-century Yorkshire.

Published in thirteen volumes (1914-65), this extensive and highly regarded series contains charters and deeds from pre-thirteenth-century Yorkshire.

Published in thirteen volumes (1914-65), this extensive and highly regarded series contains charters and deeds from pre-thirteenth-century Yorkshire.

This collection of nineteen early English charters, in Old English and Latin, was formed in the eighteenth century, lost from sight for one hundred years in Ireland, and sent for auction in the early 1890s, when it was purchased by the Bodleian Library, Oxford. It includes original charters of Anglo-Saxon kings including Aethelstan and Aethelred, and refers to estates as far apart as Cornwall and St Albans. The documents were edited by A. S. Napier (1853–1916) and W. H. Stevenson (1858–1924), and published in 1895. The book contains thorough notes on historical and philological aspects of the texts, and a detailed index. The editors set new standards, voicing stern criticism of the pioneering works of Kemble and Birch (also reissued in this series) as regards authenticity and dating. Their work inspired new editions of the Anglo-Saxon charters, one in the first half of the twentieth century, the other still ongoing.

The work of the poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) frequently reflected his interest in Scottish history, and he is regarded as having written some of the most influential historical fiction of the nineteenth century. His literary works include the poem The Lady of the Lake and the novels Waverley and Ivanhoe. Originally published in two volumes in 1814–17, this one-volume reissue is a work of non-fiction that illuminates Border history as revealed through architecture and artefacts. Scott was not the sole author, but his substantial introduction sets the historical scene for the entries on various castles, churches and other historic structures on both sides of the border. Illustrative extracts of his poetry are also included, along with many detailed engravings of the evocative scenes and buildings described.

Walter de Gray Birch (1842–1924) worked in the Department of Manuscripts at the British Museum from 1864 to 1902 and published extensively in Anglo-Saxon studies. He is best known for this collection of over 1300 charters, in Latin and Old English, originally published in thirty-two parts between 1883 and 1893 and now reissued in three volumes. The funding for Birch's project eventually ran out, and the work ends at 975 CE. However, for the period covered, Birch's edition, which drew extensively on recent Victorian scholarship, superseded John Mitchell Kemble's 1839–48 Codex Diplomaticus Aevi Saxonici (also reissued in this series), which had been the first attempt to publish all the surviving Anglo-Saxon charter texts. Like Kemble, Birch organised his collection chronologically. Volume 1 covers the fifth to the mid-ninth century, and includes an introduction describing developments in Anglo-Saxon studies since Kemble's day and the resources available to Birch.

Walter de Gray Birch (1842–1924) worked in the Department of Manuscripts at the British Museum from 1864 to 1902 and published extensively in Anglo-Saxon studies. He is best known for this collection of over 1300 charters, in Latin and Old English, originally published in thirty-two parts between 1883 and 1893 and now reissued in three volumes. The funding for Birch's project eventually ran out, and the work ends at 975 CE. However, for the period covered, Birch's edition, which drew extensively on recent Victorian scholarship, superseded John Mitchell Kemble's 1839–48 Codex Diplomaticus Aevi Saxonici (also reissued in this series), which had been the first attempt to publish all the surviving Anglo-Saxon charter texts. Like Kemble, Birch organised his collection chronologically. Volume 2 covers the century from 839 to 947, and, alongside grants of lands and privileges, includes documents about corrupt bishops, pagan rites, decorated manuscripts and church treasures.

Walter de Gray Birch (1842–1924) worked in the Department of Manuscripts at the British Museum from 1864 to 1902 and published extensively in Anglo-Saxon studies. He is best known for this collection of over 1300 charters, in Latin and Old English, originally published in thirty-two parts between 1883 and 1893 and now reissued in three volumes. The funding for Birch's project eventually ran out, and the work ends at 975 CE. However, for the period covered, Birch's edition, which drew extensively on recent Victorian scholarship, superseded John Mitchell Kemble's 1839–48 Codex Diplomaticus Aevi Saxonici (also reissued in this series), which had been the first attempt to publish all the surviving Anglo-Saxon charter texts. Like Kemble, Birch organised his collection chronologically. Volume 3 focuses mainly on the tenth century. Together with grants of lands and privileges, it records several manumissions, and the regulations for the repair of a bridge.

Walter de Gray Birch (1842–1924) worked in the Department of Manuscripts at the British Museum from 1864 to 1902 and published extensively in Anglo-Saxon studies. He is best known for this collection of over 1300 charters, in Latin and Old English, originally published in thirty-two parts between 1883 and 1893 and now reissued in three volumes. The funding for Birch's project eventually ran out, and the work ends at 975 CE. However, for the period covered, Birch's edition, which drew extensively on recent Victorian scholarship, superseded John Mitchell Kemble's 1839–48 Codex Diplomaticus Aevi Saxonici (also reissued in this series), which had been the first attempt to publish all the surviving Anglo-Saxon charter texts. Like Kemble, Birch organised his collection chronologically: Volume 1 covers the fifth to the ninth centuries, Volume 2 contains material from the ninth and tenth centuries, and Volume 3 focuses mainly on the tenth century.

Originally published for the Record Commissioners in 1840, this two-volume work remains a standard source for scholars of Anglo-Saxon and early Norman legal history. Benjamin Thorpe (1781?–1870) was a respected and prolific scholar and translator of Old English, whose publications in the field earned him a civil list pension in 1835. Trained in Copenhagen under Rasmus Rask, Thorpe advocated a scientific approach to philology, and this is reflected in the thoroughness of the notes, commentary, and concordance appended to the sources reprinted here. The preface to the text places the laws in their historical and geographical context, notes where there are unavoidable gaps in the evidence, and offers a descriptive analysis of the original documents. There is a parallel translation of the Anglo-Saxon text, although the original sources in Latin and Norman French remain untranslated.

Originally published for the Record Commissioners in 1840, this two-volume work remains a standard source for scholars of Anglo-Saxon and early Norman legal history. Benjamin Thorpe (1781?–1870) was a respected and prolific scholar and translator of Old English, whose publications in the field earned him a civil list pension in 1835. Trained in Copenhagen under Rasmus Rask, Thorpe advocated a scientific approach to philology, and this is reflected in the thoroughness of the notes, commentary, and concordance appended to the sources reprinted here. The preface to the text places the laws in their historical and geographical context, notes where there are unavoidable gaps in the evidence, and offers a descriptive analysis of the original documents. Volume 1 contains the secular laws issued from the reign of Æthelberht to that of Henry I, with a parallel translation of the Anglo-Saxon text, although the sources in Latin and French remain untranslated.

Originally published for the Record Commissioners in 1840, this two-volume work remains a standard source for scholars of Anglo-Saxon and early Norman legal history. Benjamin Thorpe (1781?–1870) was a respected and prolific scholar and translator of Old English, whose publications in the field earned him a civil list pension in 1835. Trained in Copenhagen under Rasmus Rask, Thorpe advocated a scientific approach to philology, and this is reflected in the thoroughness of the notes, commentary, and concordance appended to the sources reprinted here. In Volume 2, the ecclesiastical laws from the seventh to the tenth centuries are reproduced in the original languages. There is a parallel translation of the Anglo-Saxon text, although the original sources in Latin remain untranslated. This volume also contains a comprehensive glossary to both parts of the book.

Published in six volumes between 1839 and 1848, this was the first collected edition of the surviving corpus of Anglo-Saxon charters, comprising royal diplomas in Latin and a variety of documents (wills, writs, etc.) in the vernacular (Old English), dating from the seventh century to the Norman Conquest. John Mitchell Kemble (1807–57) collected his material from many different places (the British Museum, the Tower of London, cathedral archives, college libraries, and private collections), and arranged it as best he could in chronological order. He believed passionately that he was laying foundations for a new history of the English people, and his research formed the basis for The Saxons in England (1849), also reissued in this series. The Codex includes Kemble's pioneering account of the principles for assessing the authenticity of Anglo-Saxon charters. Volume 1 of this reissue features a new preface by Simon Keynes introducing this landmark work.

William Stubbs (1825–1901), one of the leading historians of his generation, pursued his academic research alongside his work as a clergyman. He was elected Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford in 1866 and appointed a bishop in 1884. Stubbs was a foundational figure in medieval English history, with a special interest in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The three-volume study reissued here, originally published between 1874 and 1878, was one of his most influential works. Nine editions appeared during his lifetime and it was prescribed reading for generations of students. It traces the evolution of English political institutions from the early Anglo-Saxon invasions of Britain to 1485, relying mainly on primary sources. Volume 1, published in 1874, begins with evidence for Germanic administrative systems during the Roman period, and then focuses on the Anglo-Saxon era and the Norman period, ending with the reign of Henry II.

William Stubbs (1825–1901), one of the leading historians of his generation, pursued his academic research alongside his work as a clergyman. He was elected Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford in 1866 and appointed a bishop in 1884. Stubbs was a foundational figure in medieval English history, with a special interest in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The three-volume study reissued here, originally published between 1874 and 1878, was one of his most influential works. Nine editions appeared during his lifetime and it was prescribed reading for generations of students. It traces the evolution of English political institutions from the early Anglo-Saxon invasions of Britain to 1485, relying mainly on primary sources. Volume 2, published in 1875, focuses on the period from Edward I to Richard II, tracing the development of Parliament and the rise of the Commons, and examining the issue of the royal prerogative.

William Stubbs (1825–1901), one of the leading historians of his generation, pursued his academic research alongside his work as a clergyman. He was elected Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford in 1866 and appointed a bishop in 1884. Stubbs was a foundational figure in medieval English history, with a special interest in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The three-volume study reissued here, originally published between 1874 and 1878, was one of his most influential works. Nine editions appeared during his lifetime and it was prescribed reading for generations of students. It traces the evolution of English political institutions from the early Anglo-Saxon invasions of Britain to 1485, relying mainly on primary sources. Volume 3, published in 1878, examines the developing role of Parliament during the Hundred Years' War, as well as considering the changing relationship between church and state towards the end of the Middle Ages.

William Stubbs (1825–1901), one of the leading historians of his generation, pursued his academic research alongside his work as a clergyman. He was elected Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford in 1866 and appointed a bishop in 1884; he also received many honorary degrees and decorations. Stubbs devoted much of his intellectual energy to medieval English history, focusing especially on the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The three-volume study reissued here, originally published between 1874 and 1878, was one of his most influential works. Nine editions appeared during his lifetime. Well-organised and easy to use, it was prescribed reading for generations of students, and provided the foundation for many later analyses. It traces the evolution of English political institutions from the early Anglo-Saxon invasions of Britain to 1485, relying mainly on primary sources, and argues that modern English constitutional liberties owed much to those of the early Germanic tribes.

The Yorkshire-born barrister, banker and economic historian Frederic Seebohm (1833–1912) first came to attention with his work on the Reformation intellectuals Colet, Erasmus and More. In this work, first published and then reissued in 1883, Seebohm's focus is on the agrarian history of medieval England, with special reference to problems of early land tenure and the social system that developed from it. Seebohm stresses the continuity between Roman settlement and English villages, and he regards the manor, whose lands were cultivated by serfs, as the original form of landed property among the Anglo-Saxons and other Germanic peoples. He was the first British historian to provide a detailed description of the structure and economic life of the large manor, based on the unpaid labour of the serfs, and of the relations between the manor and the community. The book remains an influential treatment of the feudal system.

This monumental 1849 publication was the first detailed analysis to compare Anglo-Saxon institutions with those of other Germanic peoples. The philologist and historian Kemble (1807–57) was born into a renowned family of actors, trained at Cambridge for both the bar and the church, but devoted his career to Germanic philology and Old English. His studies resulted in several books including a Beowulf edition (1833), a pioneering six-volume edition of Anglo-Saxon charters (Codex Diplomaticus Aevi Saxonici, 1839–48), and the posthumous Horae Ferales (1863), together with articles and translations in periodicals. He also corresponded for many years with Jacob Grimm. The Saxons drew heavily on Kemble's work on the charters. Volume 1 argues for the early presence of the Saxons in Britain and investigates their laws and institutions. Volume 2 addresses their impact on social institutions and power structures in post-Roman Britain.

This monumental 1849 publication was the first detailed analysis to compare Anglo-Saxon institutions with those of other Germanic peoples. The philologist and historian Kemble (1807–57) was born into a renowned family of actors, trained at Cambridge for both the bar and the church, but devoted his career to Germanic philology and Old English. His studies resulted in several books including a Beowulf edition (1833), a pioneering six-volume edition of Anglo-Saxon charters (Codex Diplomaticus Aevi Saxonici, 1839–48), and the posthumous Horae Ferales (1863), together with articles and translations in periodicals. He also corresponded for many years with Jacob Grimm. The Saxons drew heavily on Kemble's work on the charters. Volume 2 discusses how England changed under the Saxons, focusing on the powers and functions of the king, the ruling elite and the clergy, the role of the urban and rural population, and the situation of the poor.

This monumental 1849 publication was the first detailed analysis to compare Anglo-Saxon institutions with those of other Germanic peoples. The philologist and historian Kemble (1807–57) was born into a renowned family of actors, trained at Cambridge for both the bar and the church, but devoted his career to Germanic philology and Old English. His studies resulted in several books including a Beowulf edition (1833), a pioneering six-volume edition of Anglo-Saxon charters (Codex Diplomaticus Aevi Saxonici, 1839–48), and the posthumous Horae Ferales (1863), together with articles and translations in periodicals. He also corresponded for many years with Jacob Grimm. The Saxons drew heavily on Kemble's work on the charters. This, the first of two volumes, argues for the early presence of the Saxons in Britain and investigates their laws and institutions, emphasising the relationship between land ownership and rank in the Anglo-Saxon social order.

Edward Augustus Freeman (1823–1892) was Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford, and one of the pre-eminent historians of his generation. Politics was a constant interest for Freeman, who was also a regular contributor to the Saturday Review. While he wrote on a variety of historical topics, from ancient Greece to the German Federation, and had a great interest in architecture, this six-volume work, published between 1867 and 1879, was his magnum opus. Freeman reconsiders how the history of the Conquest is understood and examines its causes and results, beginning with the Anglo-Saxon conquest of England, and how the following centuries set the scene for the arrival of the Normans in 1066. He examines the Conquest itself, and the reigns of William I, William II, Henry I and Stephen, to assess the degree of change in life and culture experienced by the English during this period.

This work by Augustin Thierry (1795–1856) on the Norman conquest of England was first published in French in 1825, the two-volume translation into English following in 1847. Thierry employed a relatively new technique in historiography, as he consulted only original texts and documents, and insisted upon interpreting the sources in as much detail as possible. He was adamant that the events, ideas and political positions he chronicled should be interpreted in their own terms and not subjected to a limited nineteenth-century perspective. Volume 1 is divided into seven parts and traces the aboriginal populations of Britain from the period 55 BCE, closing with the death of William the Conqueror and an account of the last efforts of the English to overthrow the Norman yoke in 1137. The author also shares some of his reflections on the challenges of writing history with his readers.

This work by Augustin Thierry (1795–1856) on the Norman conquest of England was first published in French in 1825, the two-volume translation into English following in 1847. Thierry employed a relatively new technique in historiography, as he consulted only original texts and documents, and insisted upon interpreting the sources in as much detail as possible. He was adamant that the events, ideas and political positions he chronicled should be interpreted in their own terms and not subjected to a limited nineteenth-century perspective. In Volume 2, Thierry widens his scope, and while his main focus continues to be on England in the period 1137 to 1196, he also considers the consequences of the Norman Conquest on Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France. The volume contains a number of fascinating appendices, ranging from the correspondence of Thomas Becket to a popular ballad telling of the birth of Robin Hood.

This work by Augustin Thierry (1795–1856) on the Norman conquest of England was first published in French in 1825, the two-volume translation into English following in 1847. Thierry employed a relatively new technique in historiography, as he consulted only original texts and documents, and insisted upon interpreting the sources in as much detail as possible. He was adamant that the events, ideas and political positions he chronicled should be interpreted in their own terms and not subjected to a limited nineteenth-century perspective. Volume 1 briefly outlines English history in the Roman and Viking period before concentrating on the period 1048–1137. The author also shares some of his reflections on the challenges of writing history with his readers. Volume 2 deals with England in the period 1137 to 1196, but also considers the consequences of the Norman conquest on Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France.