Cambridge Library Collection - Rolls
2 total works
One of the most prolific scholars of his time, John Capgrave (1393-1464) was the author of forty-one historical and theological texts. Today, only twelve survive, and only seven are in English. This work covers the history of the world from the creation of Adam to the year 1417. Beginning with a timeline of Biblical events, including the birth of Cain and the first example of bigamy, he covers Roman myth and history before continuing into accounts of early English monarchs and saints. This scholarly edition, first published in 1858, includes a biography of Capgrave, an introduction to the text and a transcript of The Chronicle. Comprehensive annotations detail points of interest from the manuscript, such as corrections and scribal errors, accompanied by the editor's own marginal notes. Of interest to students of history, this book opens a fascinating window into both early modern and Victorian historiography.
John Capgrave (1393-1464) was the Prior of Bishop's Lynn, and the most learned Augustinian friar of his time. Although he was the author of forty-one scholarly works, only twelve survive. This work was dedicated to King Henry VI and chronicles the lives of other great Henries, including six emperors of Germany and six kings of England (including the dedicatee himself). Largely compilations of other sources, his extensive accounts demonstrate the breadth of the scholarship for which he was known. This annotated edition was commissioned as part of the Rolls Series, a project designed, in an early campaign for ease of access to scholarly material, to put more historical sources into print. Edited by F. C. Hingeston and first published in 1858, it includes Capgrave's full Latin text and a glossary, thorough biographical notes, and chapter-by-chapter summaries, offering a useful resource for students of medieval history.