Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/48

 12 Readings in European History takes up in turn the writers dealing with France, espe- cially in modern times. Bury, in the appendices which he has added to his edition of Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, mentions and criticises briefly many sources. Indeed, it is not at all uncommon in modern scientific histories to find similar discussions. By far the most important treatise upon the use of the sources and the methods of historical investigation is that of Bernheim. 1 Every one proposing to devote himself to historical research should be thoroughly familiar with this remarkable work. No other single volume contains such a wealth of valuable information in regard to almost all branches of knowledge which directly concern the historical student. Suggestive, but far less exhaustive than Bernheim' s manual, is the Introduction to the Study of History by Langlois and Seignobos. 2 For an explanation of the many troublesome terms and expressions used in mediaeval writings one should turn to the monumental Dictionary of Mediaeval Latin originally compiled by Du Cange .and first issued in i678. 3 In successive editions, later scholars have added many terms which Du Cange overlooked, but one is still often disappointed not to find words he would like to have explained. For all matters relating to public and private docu- ments, decrees, papal bulls, methods of dating, etc. 1 Lehrbuch der historischen Methode und der Geschichtsphilosophie, mit Nachiveis der wichtigsten Quellen und Hilfsmittel zum Studium der Geschichte, 36 and 4th eds., Leipzig, 1903, M. 17. 2 New York, Henry Holt, $2.25. The French original, however, costs but 3 fr. 3 Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, 7 vols., Paris, 1840-1850. This edition, which may be had for about $40, is preferable to a more recent reprint which appeared 1883-1887.