New-York tribune., 1906-04-04

- D innes svo. pp xix. 81. O. p futnsm's
sons
ENGLAND UNDER THE. sTuARrs. BY O. M
Trevelysn- svo. pp xvi. sss c. P. Putnsn's
Sons
Authors and publishers seem 10 have awakened
simultaneously 20 the need OF a standard his
cory OF England which shall for the twentieth
century take the place OF Lingard Stubbs
Green ana Gardner in the nineteenth. II is no
ionrer 10 be expected that any individual his
,or5au win again undertake a continuous his
tory OF England from Roman times 10 the end
OF the nineteenth century. With the enormous
,--rease IN the mass Of material available and
she consequent increase in the labor and re-
sssroh REQUESTS for the work. no one man In
me future can hope 10 be equally authority
on saxon and Tudor times: on the Angevin
-nonarchs and the Hanoverians. The only way
,,ovrs6avs OF securing a continuous and authori-
,e.,ve history is by the collaboration of men,
zach OF whom IS an expert as regards his special
period Without such collaboration. have
continually put forth new monographs and
special histories Of short. periods. which are
TOO detailed for the OF the general reader,
and which lack continuity and breadth Of out
look TO I'll the need which is thus obvious,
two English histories are now being published
.The Political History OF England" edited by
,hs Rev. William Hunt. IN twelve volumes: and
oman, in six volumes. three OF which now lie
before Us CThe three volumes OF the Political
History OF England" which have thus far ap
rearee. have already been reviewed in The
rrribuue} That these are not rival histories. but
are intended 10 ~ different needs IS indicated
by the fact that the editor and author OF the
frst volume OF the shorter series is the author
OF one volume-l377 TO l4S5-which is TO appear
IN the longer scheme. In each series the
volumes are Of about equal length and the first
volume Of each history covers the same period
from the beginning until 1866. In the Political
History of England" there remain eleven
volumes 10 cover the period from 1066 70 1901;
while in Professor Oman's series. five volumes
suffice; but the history stops at 1915. Evidently
II has been felt that while history OF England
in twelve volumes VIII satisfy many serious
students and readers there is still room for
one which shall not exceed half that length.
The division Of "A History OF England" into
periods Is convenient and easily understood
The first volume ends with the Norman Con-
quest; the second with the accession OF Ed
vvsrd 7; the third with the death OF Richard III
on the field Of Bosworth; the fourth and fifth
comprise the reigns Of the Tudors and the
Stuarts: while the sixth carries the Hanoverian
dynasty as far the battle Of Waterloo OF
these six volumes, the second, fourth and fifth
land Under the Normans and Angevins," is the
work Of AIr. II. ". c. Davis. Of Balliol College,
Oxford the author Of a monograph on Charlie
magne. BIS attitude toward the elements out OF
which the future English nation 10 emerge
Is evident on the very first page Of his history,
when he asserts that the Norman Conquest was
The outcome OF a struggle between a handful Of
Gdventurers and a decadent nation lying on the
outer fringe OF European politics" In the Nor
man invaders GIr. Davis sees the power OF the
old Roman Empire, which stormed the strong
hold OF Teutonic laws and Institutions; and he
has little sympathy for the Saxon liberty and
democracy which had resulted in weakness, dis
organization, and anarchy. In his presentation
O. the history OF this period. Mr Davis takes
little wider scope than that covered in the two
volumes Of Professor Adams and Professor Tout,
which treat Of the same period in the Political
History Of England" He gives many picturesque
glimpses into social usages and customs both in
the life Of the bsr0ns and in that Of their de-
pendents; in church life. and in the life OF the
boroughs. lie pays considerable attention TO the
condition Of learning and the arts in the nation;
although much Of the period which he treats was
50 given up 10 anarchy and misrule that little
progress could be recorded. During the reigns
Of the stronger Norman and Angevin sovereigns,
however there was good peace IN England:
rapid progress was made first in the Auglicizing
OF the Normans. so Ear as language and national
feeling were concerned, and then in bringing
England up 10 the Continental level in scholar
ship. The development Of law and its admin
istration; of the boroughs, their government and
their trade; Of the economy of the manor and
the status Of the villein OF the English Church
and It's relation 10 Rome; If the arts and sci
ences-all this many sided development Of Eng
lsh life is brought into easy and readable com
pass. Viewed from M Davis's standpoint.
which has already been indicated. this volume is
q conscientious and serNIceable piece Of work
England Under the Tudors" is from the pen
OF Ar Arthur D. Innes. Of Oriel College. oxford
the author Of several works treating of British
colonial development 1t is written in a swift.
vigorous style, and makes extremely interesting
reading the nature a. the subject-the dramatic
rise of England 10 a commanding position in
Europe and The large share in the history Of
the century taken by women including Gather
Inc de Medici. Mary Of Guise and the three
British Queens, Mary Of England. Mary OF
Scotland and 3lizabeth-contributing greatly,
a. course 20 this result 1t is impossible within
the compass Of 500 pages 10 treat thoroughly
every phase OF this full ard diverse era Mr.
lanes gives a clear and not too elaborate ac-
count II the relations Of England 20 foreign
countries during the Tudor reigns These rela-
uons were close. complex. and Of enormous i'm
porl 10 the development of the country; and il
cannot be counted a fault that they occupy so
large proportion OF Mr.. Innes's pages. Ire
land IL treated, perhaps. fully as be
expected within the limitations of space; though
the relations Of Poynngs, the Lord Deputy,
with the Irish Parliament. and the occasion
and intention OF Poyningss Law, which had so
great an influence on later Irish history. might