William of Newburgh: History of English Affairs I/Medieval Latin

211 Pages·1987·11.47 MB·English

by  P. G. Walsh, M. Kennedy (editor)

WILLIAM OF NEWBURGH

Aris And PhilliPs ClAssiCAl TexTs
WILLIAM OF NEWBURGH
The History of English Affairs
Book I
P. G. Walsh & M. J. Kennedy
Aris & Phillips is an imprint of Oxbow Books
First published in the United Kingdom in 1988. Reprinted 2011, 2015 by
OXBOW BOOKS
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© The authors P. G. Walsh & M. J. Kennedy
Paperback Edition: ISBN 978-0-85668-305-3
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CONTENTS
Editors' Preface vii
Abbreviations ix
Introduction
I. William of Newburgh 1
11. The History of English Affairs 5
Ill. Background and Sources 16
IV. William's Latinity 18
V. The Text 19
Notes to the Introduction 20
HISTORY OF ENGLISH AFFAIRS Book I
Text and translation 25
Commentary 135
Index 193

EDITORS' PREFACE
In compiling this edition we have had two types of reader in mind.
We have been primarily concerned to encourage students of medieval
history with a modicum of Latin to read one of the most attractive of
twelfth- century English historians in the original. At a time when the
study of Latin is declining throughout the schools and universities of
Europe, it seems important to offer to aspiring medievalists every
assistance to have recourse to original sources, and our literal translation
has been designed primarily to assist such students to grapple with the
Latin. We recognise, however, that there will be many who wish to
concentrate on content more than on form. For them we have tried to
provide in the notes bibliographical references which will enable them to
compare William's statements and judgments with those of other medieval
chroniclers, and to pursue the discussions of modern scholars writing on
the twelfth century.
The second type of reader which we envisage is the Classical student
who is looking for a medieval text both as relaxation from Classical
studies and as an educational introduction to earlier English history. Such
a reader will be less concerned with the detailed historical notes and more
with the kind of Latin which William writes. Hence many of the notes
are devoted to the linguistic developments characteristic of medieval Latin.
The Introduction is from the pen of M.l.K. The text is basically
that of Howlett in the Rolls series; no attempt has been made here at a
fundamental recension, and there would have been little point in recording
the minor variants for the types of reader which we envisage. The
translation has emerged from cooperative emendation of a preliminary draft
by P.G.W. The historical notes are by M.l.K. and the linguistic ones by
P.G.W., though we have worked over all of them together.
P.G.W., M.J.K.
vii

ABBREVIATIONS
Barlow (1) F. Barlow, The English Church, 1000-10662 (London 1979).
Barlow (2) F. Barlow, The English Church, 1066-1154 (London 1979).
Barlow (3) F. Barlow, William Rufus (London 1983).
Beeler J. Beeler, Warfare in England, 1066-1189 (New York
1966).
C and S Councils and Synods, with other documents relating to
the English Church i, edd. D. Whitelock, M. Brett,
C.N.L. Brooke (Oxford 1981), part 2, 1066-1214.
CSHR Chronicles of the reigns of Stephen, Henry 11 and
Richard I, ed. R. Howlett (4 vols., Rolls Series, London
1884-9).
Cronne H.A. Cronne, The Reign of Stephen 1135-1154: Anarchy
in England (London 1970).
Davis R.H.C. Davis, King Stephen? (London 1976).
Du Cange Glossarium ad scriptores mediae et infimae Latinitatis
(1678).
EHD English Historical Documents ii, 1042-1189,2 edd. D.C.
Douglas and G.W. Greenaway (London 1981).
EHR English Historical Review.
GC The Historical Works of Gervase of Canterbury i, ed.
W. Stubbs (Rolls Series, London 1879).
Gorman John C. Gorman, 'William of Newburgh's Explanatio
sacri epithalamii in Matrem Sponsi', Specilegium
Friburgense vi (1960).
GP William of Malmesbury, De gestis pontificum Anglorum,
ed. N.E.S.A. Hamilton (Rolls Series, London 1870).
GR William of Malmesbury, De gestis regum Anglorum, ed.
W. Stubbs (Rolls Series, London 1887- 9).
Gransden Antonia Gransden, Historical Writing in England c.
550-1307 (London 1974).
GS Gesta Stephani, edd. K.R. Potter and R.H.C. Davis
(Oxford 1976).
HCH Hugh the Chantor, History of the Church of York, ed.
C. Johnson (London 1961).
HCY The Historians of the Church of York and its
Archbishops, ed. J. Raine (3 vols, Rolls Series, London
1879-94).
HE Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, edd.
B. Colgrave and R.A.B. Mynors (Oxford 1969).
RH Henry of Huntingdon, Historia Anglorum, ed. T. Arnold
(Rolls Series, London 1879).
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