Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/505

iis.vm,DEc.2o,i9i3.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

499 Many chapters of this volume have been contributed by foreign scholars, English work within this period being scanty. It is not stated whether or no the text of these chapters as we have it is a translation. However this maybe, there is about one or two of them an awkwardness which makes them uncommonly heavy reading. These three hundred years, if in general sombre, include some of the greatest and most striking events, and witnessed the career of some of the most remarkable characters in the whole of European history. It can hardly be said that any one of the writers to whom these have fallen quite rises to the height of his opportunity. Beside Gibbon's their canvas looks tame, and, not in the shallow interest of mere literature, but in that of historical truth, it would be better if it had been otherwise. Yet we would not appear ungracious; we gladly go on to acknowledge our admiration and gratitude for the labour, the erudition, the sound and lucidly imparted information with which this volume is packed. And we are also glad to associate ourselves with the editors in their defence of the repetitions which here, as in the first volume, occasionally occur. Clearly—the plan of the work being what it is—they are entirely inevitable: more than that, they appear to us a positive advantage.

The two chapters on Justinian are by Prof. Diehl—an excellent piece of work. Somewhat greater prominence ought surely to have been given to Belisarius, whose importance could not be truly ascertained from this account by any reader who was not previously well acquainted with it. Dr. Roby's chapter on Roman Law is among the most valuable in the volume: its concise paragraphs give such a survey of the whole development of a vast system as no one since Gibbon has accomplished. Dr. Pfister's 'Gaul under the Merovingian Franks'—first a narrative of events, then an account of the institutions—struck us as especially happy in the delineation and interpretation of character, and in the laiter division of the subject. With Dr. Altamira's 'Spain under the Visigoths' we enter upon a region not commonly familiar to English students, who are indebted to the writer for a very full and scholarly narrative of important events inadequately represented as yet in English historical literature. 'Italy under the Lombards' and 'Imperial Italy and Africa' are dealt with—detail almost too closely heaped on detail—by Dr. Hartmann, who is not to be lured even by Theodolinda from a severe adherence to the chronicling of facts. Archdeacon Hutton follows, relating and discussing very thoroughly the history of 'Gregory the Great.' We think he is right in rating Gregory's influence higher than a subsequent writer is inclined to do. Mr. Norman Baynes in 'The Successors of Justinian' handles in a most capable manner a period of great difficulty. He has incorporated here some original conclusions as to the chronology of events, the justification for which he is shortly about to publish in detail elsewhere.

The next three chapters deal with Mahomet and the Saracen expansion: the outstanding phenomenon of this period. Prof. Bevan on the life of Mahomet is vivid and satisfying, especially as to its external progress; and Prof. Becker, to whom the history of Islam up to the decline of the Saracen power in the West is entrusted, gives us two solid, scholarly chapters, embodying an astonishing amount of close research. Mr. Brooks in 'The Successors of Heraclius to 717' is plunged into the thickest of theological controversy, as into a hopeless succession of wars. The former, especially in so far as Honorius is concerned, has a bearing on later controversies concerning the validity of the Papal claims, which is discreetly ignored.

The next paper—Dr. Peisker's, on the 'Expansion, of the Slavs'—is perhaps the one which will attract the most eager interest. The matter will be, to a great extent, entirely new to many English readers, and it is presented with the lucidity and cogency which those who have admired and profited by Dr. Peisker's contribution to the first volume will have expected with assurance. Keltic and Germanic Heathenism are next dealt with by Prof. Julliau, Sir Edward Anwyl, and Miss B. Phillpotts; and there follows the history of the conversion of the Kelts (the Rev. F. E. Warren) and of the Teutons (Prof. Whitney). Mr. Warren's material is, as we know, comparatively slender; but Prof. Whitney, with Columbanus and Boniface to illuminate his pages, gives us a picture as full and stirring as it is careful and learned. Mr. Corbett's contribution 'England and English Institutions' covers satisfactorily the period from the battle of Heathfield to the days of Alcuin. It was worthwhile to give a short chapter to the career of 'Pepin le Bref' (whose nickname, by the way, Prof. Burr considers to be derived from a later and baseless legend). If outshone by that of Charles the Great, his rule was nevertheless a conspicuous and original attempt towards a new state of things, whilst, less vividly handed down to us, his personality has some qualities which are lacking in his great successor. Dr. Gerhard Seeliger gives us the history of Charles the Great. We confess to a certain disappointment in it—which arises chiefly from the dry externality of treatment, and also from the comparative neglect of Charles's entourage. Dr. Seeliger's later chapter on his legislation and administration is incomparably the better. Prof. Vinogradoff is responsible for a valuable and animated discussion of the origin of feudalism, and Dr. Foakes-Jackson gives the history of the Papacy up to the coronation of Charles the Great.

The Bibliographies—as in the case of the first volume—are one of the most valuable parts of the work. For all practical purposes they are exhaustive. When 'The Cambridge Medieval History' is complete it would be a good deed to issue the series of these separately in a cheap form for the benefit of students who cannot afford to acquire the entire volumes.

have had many rambles over the ground that Christian Tearle traverses in this volume, but never with two such delightful companions as the author and his real or imaginary friend, Mr. James C. Fairfield of Chicago.

London without Dickens would not be London, so we are taken on a quiet Saturday afternoon to Jacob's Island, beyond Dockhead, to have a talk about Oliver Twist. Another quest is to the old church of St. Pancras. On the way there is a halt at Swinton Street, in order that Mr. Fairfield may enlarge on the probable site of Mr. Casby's, where Arthur Clennan called and took "pot-luck."

Our friends take ad vantage of fine spring weather to leave the smoke of London for a trip to