Home > Ranulf Higdon

Higdon was the author of a long chronicle, one of several such works based on a plan taken from Scripture, and written for the amusement and instruction of his society. It closes the long series of general chronicles, which were soon superseded by the invention of printing. It is commonly styled the Polychronicon, from the longer title Ranuiphi Castrensis, cognomine Higdon, Polychronicon (sive Historia Polycratica) ab initio mundi usque ad mortem regis Edwardi III in septem libros dispositum. The work is divided into seven books, in humble imitation of the seven days of Genesis, and, with exception of the last book, is a summary of general history, a compilation made with considerable style and taste.

It seems to have enjoyed no little popularity in the 15th century. It was the standard work on general history, and more than a hundred manuscripts of it are known to exist. The Christ Church manuscript says that Higdon wrote it down to the year 1342; the fine manuscript at Christ's College, Cambridge, states that he wrote to the year 1344, after which date, with the omission of two years, John of Malvern, a monk of Worcester, carried the history on to 1357, at which date it ends.

According, however, to its latest editor, Higdon's part of the work goes no further than 1326 or 1327 at latest, after which time it was carried on by two continuators to the end. Thomas Gale, in his Hist. Brit. &c., scriptores, xv. (Oxon., 1691), published that portion of it, in the original Latin, which comes down to 1066Events January 6 Harold II is crowned King of England the day after Edward the Confessor dies. Tostig Godwinson and Harald Hardraada of Norway invade England. September 25 Harold II defeats Tostig and Harold Hardraada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, kil.

Three early translations of the Polychronicon exist. The first was made by John of Trevisa , chaplain to Lord Berkeley , in 1387, and was printed by CaxtonWilliam Caxton (c. 1491) was the first English printer. He was born in Kent, and came to London as apprentice to a mercer, a dealer in cloth. In 1446, he departed for Bruges, where he was successful in business and became governor of the Merchant Adventur in 1482; the second by an anonymous writer, was written between 1432 and 1450; the third, based on Trevisa's version, with the addition of an eighth book, was prepared by Caxton. These versions are specially valuable as illustrating the change of the English language during the period they cover.

The Polychronicon, with the continuations and the English versions, was edited for the Rolls Series (No. 41) by Churchill BabingtonChurchill Babington ( 11th March, 1821- 1889) was an English classical scholar and archaeologist, born at Roecliffe, in Leicestershire. He studied under Charles Wycliffe Goodwin, the orientalist and archaeologist, entering St John's College, Cambridge in (vols. i. and ii.) and Joseph Rawson Lumby (1865-1886). This edition was adversely criticized by Mandell CreightonMandell Creighton ( July 5, 1843 January 14, 1901) was an English historian and Bishop of London. He was born at Carlisle, the eldest son of Robert Creighton, a well-to-do upholsterer. He was educated at Durham grammar school and at Merton College, Oxford in the Eng. Hist. Rev. for October 1888.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911 Britannica