Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (1 of 8): From the Time That It Was First Inhabited, Vntill the Time That It Was Last Conquered: Wherein the Sundrie Alterations of the State Vnder Forren People is Declared; and Other Manifold Observations Remembred
1577
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (1 of 8): From the Time That It Was First Inhabited, Vntill the Time That It Was Last Conquered: Wherein the Sundrie Alterations of the State Vnder Forren People is Declared; and Other Manifold Observations Remembred
1577
Before Shakespeare could write his greatest plays, he read this. Holinshed's Chronicles was the massive, sprawling history that supplied the Bard with the raw material for Macbeth, King Lear, Cymbeline, and his English history plays. This volume traces England's story from its legendary first inhabitants, figures like Samothes and Albion woven through myth, through the Roman arrival, the Saxon kingdoms, Viking raids, and finally the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is not modern history; it is history as understood in 1577, where genealogy bleeds into legend and the boundaries between fact and fable remain porous. You will find kings whose names sound like spells, migrations of peoples across unknown centuries, and the slow accumulation of the English nation from chaos. This is a work of remarkable ambition: one man attempting to contain the entire sweep of a nation's past in prose that feels ancient even when it was new. Reading it is like stepping into the library where Shakespeare's imagination took root.
About Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (1 of 8): From the Time That It Was First Inhabited, Vntill the Time That It Was Last Conquered: Wherein the Sundrie Alterations of the State Vnder Forren People is Declared; and Other Manifold Observations Remembred
Chapter Summaries
- 1
- This chapter delves into the uncertain origins of Britain's first inhabitants, tracing their lineage from Noah through Japhet to the Celts. It discusses whether Britain was originally part of the continent and cites various ancient authors like John Bale and Theophilus on the early peopling of the island after the flood.
- 2
- This chapter details the succession of five legendary Celtic kings: Samothes, Magus, Sarron, Druis, and Bardus, who ruled over Gallia and Britain. It describes their contributions to learning, philosophy (Samothei, Sarronides, Druides), and the arts (Bards), noting that Britain was first named Samothea under Samothes.
- AN APPENDIX TO THE FORMER CHAPTER
- This appendix discusses the end of Celt rule in Britain, their subjugation by the giant Albion, and various opinions on the Celts' origin and arrival in Britain. It emphasizes linguistic and geographical connections between Gallia and Britain to support the idea of their shared heritage.
Key Themes
- Historical Origins and Uncertainty
- The text consistently highlights the doubtful and often 'fabulous' nature of early historical accounts, particularly concerning the first inhabitants of Britain. It grapples with the challenge of discerning 'infallible truth' from 'conjectures grounded upon likelie reasons' when dealing with ancient, pre-written history.
- The Role of Legend and Myth in History
- Many foundational stories, such as Noah's division of the earth, the lineage of Japhet, the giant Albion, and the tale of Danaus' daughters, are presented as historical narratives, yet the authors frequently interject caveats about their certainty or legendary status, illustrating the blend of myth and early historical understanding.
- Cultural Transmission and Influence
- The narrative traces the origins of significant cultural institutions like philosophy (Samothei, Sarronides, Druides) and poetic tradition (Bards) to early British inhabitants, often suggesting their spread from Britain to Gaul or Greece, thereby establishing Britain as a source of ancient wisdom.
Characters
- Raphael Holinshed(author)
- The original author of the larger 'Chronicles' work, of which this 'Historie of England' is a part.
- Abraham Fleming(editor)
- The editor who 'newlie read over, and diligentlie digested' this specific part of the history into books and chapters, adding structure and commentary.
- Noah(supporting)
- The biblical patriarch who, after the flood, divided the earth among his three sons, assigning Europe (and Britain) to Japhet.
- Iaphet(supporting)
- Son of Noah, who received Europe and its Isles, becoming the progenitor of the Celts who first inhabited Britain.
- Samothes(protagonist)
- The legendary first king of the Celts in Britain, credited with introducing learning and giving the island its first peculiar name, Samothea.
- Magus(supporting)
- The second king of Celtica, son of Samothes, associated with town-building and the origin of the Magi.
