Page:English Historical Review Volume 35.djvu/272

 264 REVIEWS OF BOOKS April produces worse consequences. On page 2, for instance, we find ' preter- quam ' where ' postquam ' is required by the sense. On page 6 ' Indelawe ' occurs instead of * Ludelawe ' ; and on other pages occur such perverse forms as ' Manuesun ' (p. 7), ' Straworthin ' (p. 8), ' Meiuill ' (p. 97), ' Calno Monte ' (p. Ill), ' Kemes ' (p. 170) for ' Keines ', ' Amlers ' (p. 214) and ' Aumlers ' for ' Auilers ', ' Letheworth ' for ' Lecheworth ' (p. 228), ' Eugaine ' (p. 312) for ' Engaine ', ' Duneliz ' (p. 335) for * Duveliz ', and ' Almgeneya ' (p. 340) for ' Alinegeya '. This is, of course, not meant for a complete list of errata, and no doubt excellent arguments could be adduced in defence of the palaeo- graphical correctness of most of these readings ; for Dr. Cannon was clearly a skilful reader, and had a good knowledge of medieval Latin. It is only occasionally that he trips in these respects. One singular error, indeed, occurs when he prints ' ance ' for * auce ' (p. 125) ; and a more serious misconception runs through the book. By some curious chance he was unacquainted with the existence of the writ of ' pone ' and he unfor- tunately jumped to the conclusion that it was ' an elliptical form for " possessione " ' (p. 7), a strange view in support of which he refers to Madox. It need scarcely be said that Madox did not share in this quaint belief. Such blunders are rare with Dr. Cannon, though on page 263 he has failed to see that his printed ' salmarum ' conceals the existence of salt-works on the coast of Hampshire. For the most part these per- versities will trouble the experienced reader but little. In a few cases he may be puzzled, and not readily understand that the mention of Richard (pp. 11, 184, 297), earl of Chester, who was drowned in the White Ship, is due to a hasty extension of the R. of the roll ; and he may not at once see that the mysterious ' Limmig' comes de Cestria ' of the index is an obscure hamlet in Huntingdonshire, which belonged to the earl of Chester, as, indeed, the text (p. 242) suggests. He will only smile over ' Mauricio filio Regine Andegavensis ' (p. 50) and reflect that few are they who have never confused ' Reginaldus ' and ' Regina ' one way or the other, if not both. But he will regret that the index of persons and places should be even less critical than the text, and that no attempt has been made to identify and gather together the names of persons and places there men- tioned. On the other hand the ' Index Rerum ' is well planned, well executed, and very useful. These remarks may suggest that there are many faults in the book. It is possible to admit this and yet to pronounce the book to be a valuable and useful one, and its defects excusable. The editor worked under great difficulties. Part only of the work was done in London ; for the remainder rotograph copies were used. An even more serious disadvantage was that Dr. Cannon had not and could not have that innate sense of topography, which is part of the heritage of a man born and bred in any country, and which those who have it not by birthright must painfully acquire by slow degrees. English students who have won their way to a knowledge of Prance will know the effort it has cost them. But more than this may be said. It is much to have at our disposal the text of a pipe roll at a new point in history. If ever a new editor shall print the next roll, he will find his task the lighter, and discover how much he can omit as mere