EDITOR OF

BY

H. A. DOBSON,

AND

THE CIVIL SERVICE HISTORY OF ENGLAND'
ASSISTANT-EDITOR OF 'THE CIVIL SERVICE GEOGRAPHY.'

LOCKWOOD & CO., 7 STATIONERS'-HALL COURT,

6 VERUM EX ME DISCE LABOREM,

FORTUNAM EX ALIIS.'

PREFACE.

MORE THAN THREE YEARS have elapsed since this little Handbook (the scheme of which is fully set forth in the Introduction on page 1) was first projected and announced. In the interval several works similar in subject have appeared, with one or two of which, in point of authority and extent, it could scarcely court comparison. But the field is, nevertheless, a wide one. The present volume had when planned, and has still, its independent purpose, and that it may serve that purpose adequately the Author earnestly desires.

As much with a view to indicate sources of information to the student as upon conscientious grounds, the titles of the works made use of are almost always minutely specified in the foot-notes. But, in addition, the Author desires here to express his obligations generally to Professor Morley's 'English Writers,' and the 'Histoire de la Littérature Anglaise' of M. Taine; to Professor Craik's 'History of the English Language and Literature'; to the 'Essays' of Lord Macaulay and of Messrs. Masson, Forster, and Brimley; to Mr. Arber's excellent 'English Reprints'; to the 'Westminster,' 'Quarterly,' and Edinburgh Reviews'; to the 'Globe Series,' the 'Clarendon Press Series,' Chambers's 'Cyclopædia of English Literature,' and Allibone's comprehensive 'Dictionary.'

The Author trusts that in the foregoing cases, and indeed
in every case, he has done his authorities no wrong in the way
of misrepresentation or misquotation. But the length of the
General Index will give some idea of the multiplied chances
of inaccuracy which are involved where so many statements,
dates, and references are included in a space so limited.
Although strict vigilance has been used, it would be too much
to hope that entire exactness has been attained; and the
Author will, therefore, feel indebted to those among his readers
who will bring to his notice any errors which may have
escaped detection.

May 1874.

INTRODUCTION

A.D.

600-1066

CHAP.

1066-1350

1350-1550

1550-1625

CONTENTS.

PAGE

1

I. FROM A.D. 600 TO THE NORMAN CONQUEST

1. Genealogy of the English Language.-2. Formation

and Progress of the English Language.-3. Periods

of English.-4. The Gaelic and Cymric Literature.-

5. The Literature of the Original English' Period.

-6. The Poets:-(a) Writers in English Metre; (b)

Writers in Latin Verse.-7. The Prose Writers :-(a)

Writers in English; (b) Writers in Latin.

II. FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST TO CHAUCER

8. The Language of the Normans; Langue d'Oyl,

Langue d'Oc.-9. Progress of the English Language.

-10. The Literature of the Anglo-Normans; Trou-

vères, Troubadours.-11. The Arthurian Romances,

the 'Mabinogion.'-12. Writers in Latin.-13. Writers

in French.-14. Writers in English.

III. FROM CHAUCER TO SURREY

15. Progress of the English Language.-16. Langland,

Gower, Barbour.-17. CHAUCER.-18. Mandeville,

Wiclif, Trevisa.-19. Occleve, Lydgate.-20. James

of Scotland.-21. Pecock, Fortescue. - 22. The

'Paston Letters.'-23. The Introduction of Printing.

-24. Hawes, Barklay, Skelton.-25. The Scotch

Poets.-26. Translations of the Bible.-27. Berners,

More. 28. Elyot, Latimer, Cheke.-29. Wyatt,

Surrey.-30. Early Dramatic Writers.-31. Ballad

Poetry.

-

IV. THE AGE OF SPENSER, SHAKESPEARE, AND

BACON

32. Summary of the Period.-33. The Poets: Gascoigne,

Sackville.-34. Sidney. -35. SPENSER. -36. The

Minor Poets.-37. The Growth of the English

Drama.-38. Early English Plays.-39. The Precur-