AND TRADITIONS OF GREAT FAMILIES Illustrative of English History. BY JOHN TIMBS, F.S.A., AUTHOR OF NOOKS AND CORNERS OF English life,' ETC. F LONDON: GRIFFITH AND FARRAN, SUCCESSORS TO NEWBERY AND HARRIS, CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD. MDCCCLXIX. PREFACE. T HE Ancestral Histories of the Great Families of of Thought and Action, such as are the mastersprings by which the world is moved. The gravity of History has been estimated as 'Philosophy teaching by example.' In this long lesson, how intricate is the chequer-work of success and defeat, of light and shade; yet how interesting to those who delight to seek out the motives of human action in the lives of masterminds, their rise and fall! In the Histories of Great Families, which are the nooks and byeways of History proper, are to be found garnered many records of change, which sometimes make men giddy by looking too long upon their wheels. In the present volume an attempt is made to focus some of these Scenes and Stories from English History, and the parts which the leaders of Great Families have played in the grand drama of our country's fame: in its Monastic and Castle Life; its Traditions and Legends; its Domestic Tragedies; its Battles and Sieges; as well as its 'trivial fond records' of Private Life, and its abode of quiet contentment. The inner life of the people, as well as of their rulers, has been here glanced at, with their habits and modes of living, as well as the great changes by which they have been influenced. In the preparation of this volume the general aim has been to present such a book as, by seizing salient points in our History, should supplement narratives of striking events of domestic interest, which are already popular, and thus add to their attractiveness as well as completeLocalities and love of country have not been overlooked, but studied for the charm with which they invest scenes and circumstances, and people the historic page with actual life. ness. It is now the Author's grateful duty to acknowledge how much he has, in preparing the present volume, availed himself of the valuable historical, genealogical, and heraldic works of Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King-at-Arms, who has devoted a lifetime to studies in these classes of literature; and although the Author's quotations are in most instances specially indicated, he feels it due to Sir Bernard Burke here to refer to the extent of the obligation in the spirit as well as the letter. He should further state that his extracts can nowise, and are not at all intended to interfere with the necessary perusal of Sir Bernard's popular books, and especially of his charming series, The Vicissitudes of Families. |
