Florus, end of first century.

This

He has left us an Abridgment of Romar History. work is an extract, not merely from Livy, but from many other ancient historians, no part of whose works any longer remain. It is less a history than a eulogium on the Roman people, written with elegance, but, at the same time, in an oratorical style, and not without affectation.-Anthon."

Best edition is that of Duker, Lugd. Bat., 1722 and '44, 2 vols. 8vo.

Justinus, second century.

He made an Epitome of the History of Trogus Pompeius. To judge from the epitome, there were many errors in the work, especially in the Jewish history; but this epitome, which corresponds to the original in its title and arrangement, has obtained a considerable reputation, and even now is often used in schools. The style is, on the whole, elegant and agreeable, but it is destitute of that noble simplicity and classical correctness which distinguish the work of a master. Best edition is that of Hearne, Oxford, 1705.

Dion Cassius, A.D. 155.

He wrote the Roman History in eighty books, of which only those from the thirty-sixth to the fifty-fourth are extant complete. He gives an impartial account of events which he witnessed, but is often influenced by jealousy or servility. His style is too rhetorical for history.

Herodianus, 240 A.D.

We see the importance of his work in its forming a grave, and almost solitary chronicle of a part of Roman history; for the writers of the Augustan age, who lived long after him, hardly do more than copy his narrative. His style is plain and unaffected, and his narrative, in general, seems written in a spirit of sincerity, but it has no claims to philosophical or critical art. His greatest fault is having neglected chronology.

The best edition is that of Becker, Berlin, 1826, 8vo.

Scriptores Historia Augusta.

Spartianus, Capitolinus, Trebellius Pollio, Flavius, Vopiscus, are collectively called by that name.- -Eschenburg.

Ammianus Marcellinus, 4th century.

No writer was ever more entitled to praise for candour and impartiality. He understood well the art of clearly showing

the connexion of events, and of painting in striking colours the characters of those individuals whom he introduces into his narrative. He is one of the principal sources that we have for the geography and history of ancient Germany.—

Anthon.

Best edition, Gronovius, Lugd. Bat., 1693, 4to.

Aurelius Victor, 380 A.D.

His History of the Origin of the Roman People, according to its title, from Janus until the tenth consulate, under Constantine, but, as we have it, only to the first year after the foundation of Rome, contains many circumstances not mentioned by others, or, at least, not so minutely.-Anthon. Best edition is that of Arntzenius, Amst., 1733, 4to.

Eutropius, 4th century.

He wrote an abridgment of the Roman History. It is a brief and dry outline, without either elegance or ornament, yet containing certain facts which are nowhere else mentioned.-Anthon.

Best edition, Tzschucke, Leipzig, 1797, 8 vols.

(B.) MEDIEVAL.

Gregory of Tours, 593.

His "Historiæ Eccles. Francorum Libri X.," which, notwithstanding its marvellous tales and want of method, has much interest, as being the only historical work of the time. -Enc. Am.

Opera, ex edit., Theod. Ruinart, Parisiis, 1699, fol., $6 50.

Bede, 672.

The writings of Bede were numerous and important, considering the time in which they were written. His English Ecclesiastical History is the greatest and most popular of his works, and has acquired additional celebrity by the translation of King Alfred.-Enc. Am.

Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, carefully revised and corrected from the translation of Mr. Stevens, by the Rev. J. A. Giles, 8vo, $2 62, London, 1840.

P

Eginhardt, about 790.

He is the oldest German historian, and we have from him a full and well-written History of the Life of Charlemagne, which was published by Schmink, 1711, 4to, with illustrations and biography. His letters, which are of much importance as contributions to the history of his age (Frankfort, 1714, fol.), are still extant.-Enc. Am.

Gulielmus Tyrius, 12th century.

One of the best historians of the Crusades, having been an eyewitness of a part of the events which he relates. An edition of his works was published by Henrico Pantaleone, Basil, 1564, in folio.

Geoffrey of Monmouth, 12th century.

Among his various productions, his Chronicle, or History of the Britons, is the only one which requires notice. It contains a pretended genealogy of the kings of Britain from the time of the fabulous Bruce. The wonderful stories told of King Arthur also take their rise in this work.—Enc. Am. His history was published by Commeline, Heidelberg, 1587, folio, Latin. An English translation by Aaron Thompson, London, 1718, 8vo.

William of Malmsbury, 12th century.

Finding that a satisfactory account of his own country was wanting, he determined to write one. His "De Regibus Anglorum" is a general history of England, in five books, from the arrival of the Saxons, in 449, to the 26th Henry I., in 1126; a modern history. in two books, from that year to the escape of the Empress Maud from Oxford, in 1143; with a Church history of England, in four books, published in Sir H. Savile's collection (1596). He discovers great diligence, good sense, and modesty.-Enc. Am.

Matthew of Westminster, 13th century.

An English chronicler. He compiled a chronicle, commencing from the creation, and extending to the year 1307, which he entitled "Flores Historiarum," Frankfort, 1601.

Giovanni Villani, 13th century.

An Italian historian. He wrote the History of Florence, from its foundation to 1348. This work is extremely valuable; it deserves full credit wherever the author, whose veracity and honesty are everywhere visible, speaks as an eyewitness. It is simple and inartificial, but not without interest, on account of its naïveté and vigour.-Enc. Am. Last edition, 1729, 2 vols. folio.

Matteo Villani.

He continued the work of his brother to 1363. The book treats of contemporaneous events, and is characterized by the same love of truth which is found in the work of Giovanni.

(C.) MODERN.

1. ENGLISH AND AMERICAN.

Thomas Walsingham, fifteenth century.

An English chronicler; he also styles himself royal historiographer. His works are "Historia Brevis," containing the annals of England from the end of Henry III.'s reign, and "Hypodigma Neustrie," giving an account of the occurrences in Normandy from the time of Rollo to the sixth year of Henry V.-Enc. Am.

London, 1574, folio.

Buchanan, 1506.

As an historian, he is considered to have united the beauties of Livy and Sallust as to style; but he discovered a great lack of judgment and investigative spirit, taking up all the tales of the chronicles as he found them, and affording to their legendary absurdities the currency of his own eloquent embellishment.

History of Scotland, translated, &c., &c., $3 00, London, 1831.

Camden, 1551.

His life of Elizabeth is a solid and valuable history.Hallam.

Raleigh, 1552.

Among his valuable works his "History of the World" stands pre-eminent; the Greek and Roman story is told more fully and correctly than by any earlier English writers, with a plain eloquence, which has given this book a classical reputation in our language. The author has intermingled political reflections, and illustrated the history by episodes from modern times, which now, perhaps, are the most interesting passages.-Hallam.

History of the World, folio, $6 00, London, 1614.

Francis Bacon, 1561.

His life of Henry VII. is the first instance, in our language, of the application of philosophy to reasoning on public events in the manner of the ancients. Praise upon Henry is too largely bestowed; but it was in the nature of Bacon to admire too much a crafty and selfish policy, and he thought, also, no doubt, that so rear an ancestor of his own sovereign should not be treated with severe impartiality.—Hallam.

Lord Herbert of Cherbury, 1581.

His History of Henry VIII. ought here to be added to the list, as a book of good authority, relatively, at least, to any that preceded, and written in a manly and judicious spirit.— Hallam.

His "Worthies of England" is a production valuable alike for the information it affords relative to the provincial history of the country, and for the profusion of biographical anecdote and acute observation on men and manners.

His His

tory of the Church is also very interesting.-Enc. Am.

Lyttleton, 1708.

His History of Henry II. contains the elaborate result of the researches and deliberations of twenty years.-Edinburgh Encyclopædia.

5 vols. 4to, $7 50, London, 1767.

Watson, 1710.

He published the History of Philip II. of Spain (2 vols., 1777), and undertook that of Philip III., which, being left imperfect at his death, was completed and published by D. Wm. Thomson, 1783.-Enc. Am.

His laborious History of England contains much historical information properly arranged, and is to be read without difficulty.-Smyth.

12 vols. 8vo, $16 00, London.

Ferguson, 1724.

He composed a History of the Roman Republic. This work is not so much a regular narrative of the events of the Roman history as a commentary on that history; its object is to elucidate the progress and changes of the internal policy of the Roman common wealth, the successive conditions of its social state, as well as the progress of the milita