increasing the general credulity, since it was the basis upon which their own authority was built.

By the operation of these causes, the history of Europe became corrupted to an extent for which we can find no parallel in any other period. That there was, properly speaking, no history, was the smallest part of the inconvenience; but, unhappily, men, not satisfied with the absence of truth, supplied its place by the invention of falsehood. Among innumerable instances of this, there is one species of inventions worth noticing, because they evince that love of antiquity, which is a marked characteristic of those classes by whom history was then written. I allude to fictions regarding the origin of different nations, in all of which the spirit of the Middle Ages is very discernible. During many centuries, it was believed by every people that they were directly descended from ancestors who had been present at the siege of Troy. That was a proposition which no one thought of doubting.58 The only question was, as to the details of so illustrious a lineage. On this, however, there was a certain unanimity of opinion; since, not to mention inferior countries, it was admitted that the French were descended from Francus, whom every body knew to be the son of Hector; and it was also known that the Britons came

58 In Le Long's Bibliothèque Historique de la France, vol. ii. p. 3, it is said, that the descent of the kings of France from the Trojans was universally believed before the sixteenth century: "Cette descendance a été crue véritable près de huit cent ans, et soutenue par tous les écrivains de notre histoire; la fausseté n'en a été reconnue qu'au commencement du seizième siècle." Polydore Vergil, who died in the middle of the sixteenth century, attacked this opinion in regard to England, and thereby made his history unpopular. See Ellis's Preface to Polydore Vergil, p. xx. 4to, 1844, published by the Camden Society. "He discarded Brute, as an unreal personage. In 1128, Henry I., king of England, inquired from a learned man respecting the early history of France. The answer is preserved by an historian of the thirteenth century: 66 Regum potentissime, inquiens, sicut pleræque gentes Europæ, ita Franci a Trojanis originem duxerunt." Matthæi Paris Hist. Major, p. 59. See also Rog. de Hov. in Scriptores post Bedam, p. 274. On the descent of the Britons from Priam and Æneas, see Matthæi Westmonast. Flores Historiarum, part i. p. 66. Indeed, at the beginning of the fourteenth century, their Trojan origin was stated as a notorious fact, in a letter written to Pope Boniface by Edward I., and signed by the English nobility. See Warton's Hist. of English Poetry, vol. i. pp. 131, 132; and Campbell's Lives of the Chancellors, vol. i. p. 185.

from Brutus, whose father was no other than Æneas himself.59

Touching the origin of particular places, the great historians of the Middle Ages are equally communicative. In the accounts they give of them, as well as in the lives they write of eminent men, the history usually begins at a very remote period; and the events relating to their subject are often traced back, in an unbroken series, from the moment when Noah left the ark, or even when Adam passed the gates of Paradise.60 On other occasions, the antiquity they assign is somewhat less; but the range of their information is always extraordinary. They say, that the capital of France is called after Paris, the son of Priam, because he fled there when Troy was overthrown.61 They also mention that Tours owed its name to being the burial-place of Turonus, one of the Trojans ;62 while the city of Troyes was actually built by the Trojans,

59 The general opinion was, that Brutus, or Brute, was the son of Æneas; but some historians affirmed that he was the great-grandson. See Turner's Hist. of England, vol. i. p. 63, vol. vii. p. 220.

In the Notes to a Chronicle of London from 1089 to 1483, pp. 183-187, edit. 4to, 1827, there is a pedigree, in which the history of the bishops of London is traced back, not only to the migration of Brutus from Troy, but also to Noah and Adam. Thus, too, Goropius, in his history of Antwerp, written in the sixteenth century: "Vond zoowel de Nederlandsche taal als de Wysbegeerte van Orpheus in de ark van Noach." Van Kampen, Geschiedenis der Letteren, 8vo, 1821, vol. i. p. 91; see also p. 86. In the thirteenth century, Mathew Paris (Historia Major, p. 352) says of Alfred, "Hujus genealogia in Anglorum historiis perducitur usque ad Adam primum parentem." See, to the same effect, Matthæi Westmonast. Flores Historiarum, part i. pp. 323, 324, 415. In William of Malmesbury's Chronicle (Scriptores post Bedam, p. 22 rev.) the genealogy of the Saxon kings is traced back to Adam. For other, and similar, instances, see a note in Lingard's History of England, vol. i. p. 403. And Mr. Ticknor (History of Spanish Literature, vol. i. p. 509) mentions, that the Spanish chroniclers present an uninterrupted succession of Spanish kings from Tubal, a grandson of Noah."

66

61 Monteil, in his curious book, Histoire des divers Etats, vol. v. p. 70, mentions the old belief " que les Parisiens sont du sang des rois des anciens Troyens, par Pâris, fils de Priam." Even in the seventeenth century this idea was not extinct; and Coryat, who travelled in France in 1608, gives another version of it. He says, "As for her name of Paris, she hath it (as some write) from Paris, the eighteenth king of Gallia Celtica, whom some write to have been lineally descended from Japhet, one of the three sons of Noah, and to have founded this city." Coryat's Crudities, 1611, reprinted 1776, vol. i. pp. 27, 28.

62 Erat ibi quidam Tros nomine Turonus Bruti nepos. .. De nomine ipsius prædicta civitas Turonis vocabulum nacta est; quia ibidem

as its etymology clearly proves.63 It was well ascertained that Nuremberg was called after the Emperor Nero ;6 and Jerusalem after King Jebus, 65 a man of vast celebrity in the Middle Ages, but whose existence later historians have not been able to verify. The river Humber received its name because, in ancient times, a king of the Huns had been drowned in it.66 The Gauls derived their origin, according to some, from Galathia, a female descendant of Japhet; according to others, from Gomer, the son of Japhet.67 Prussia was called after Prussus, a brother of Augustus.68 This was remarkably modern; but Silesia had its name from the prophet Elisha,—from whom, indeed, the Silesians descended;69 while as to the city of Zurich, its exact date was a matter of dispute, but it was unquestionably built in the time of Abraham.70

sepultus fuit." Galfredi Monumet. Hist. Briton. lib. i. cap. xv. p. 19. And Mathew of Westminster, who wrote in the fourteenth century, says (Flores Historiarum, part i. p. 17): "Tros nomine Turnus. De nomine verò ipsius Turonorum civitas vocabulum traxit, quia ibidem, ut testatur Homerus, sepultus fuit."

63 "On convient bien que les Troyens de notre Troyes sont du sang des anciens Troyens." Monteil, Divers Etats, vol. v. p. 69.

64 Monconys, who was in Nuremberg in 1663, found this opinion still held there; and he seems himself half inclined to believe it; for, in visiting a castle, he observes, "Mais je ne sçai si c'est un ouvrage de Néron, comme l'on le dit, et que même le nom de Nuremberg en vient." Voyages de Monconys, vol. iv. p. 141, edit. Paris, 1695.

65 66 Deinceps regnante in ea Jebusæo, dicta Jebus, et sic ex Jebus et Salem dicta est Jebussalem. Unde post dempta 6 littera et addita r, dicta est Hierusalem." Matthæi Paris Historia Major, p. 43. This reminds me of another great writer, who was one of the fathers, and was moreover a saint, and who, says M. Matter, "dérive les Samaritains du roi Samarius, fils de Canaan." Matter, Hist. du Gnosticisme, vol. i. p. 41.

66 Humber rex Hunnorum ad flumen diffugiens, submersus est intra ipsum, et nomen suum flumini reliquit." Matthæi Westmonast. Flores Historiarum, part i. p. 19.

67 These two opinions, which long divided the learned world, are stated in Le Long, Bibliothèque Historique de la France, vol. ii. pp. 5, 49.

68 See a curious allusion to this in De Thou, Hist. Univ. vol. viii. p. 160; where, however, it is erroneously supposed to be a Russian invention.

69"The Silesians are not without voluminous writers upon their antiquities; and one of them gravely derives the name and descent of his country from the prophet Elisha." Adams's Letters on Silesia, p. 267, Lond. 8vo, 1804.

70 In 1608, Coryat, when in Zurich, was "told by the learned Hospinian that their city was founded in the time of Abraham." Coryat's Crudities, vol. i. Epistle to the Reader, sig. D. I always give the most recent instance I have met with, because, in the history of the European intellect, it is

It was likewise from Abraham and Sarah that the gipsies immediately sprung." The blood of the Saracens was less pure, since they were only descended from Sarah,in what way is not mentioned; but she probably had them by another marriage, or, may be, as the fruit of an Egyptian intrigue.72 At all events, the Scotch certainly came from Egypt; for they were originally the issue of Scota, who was a daughter of Pharaoh, and who bequeathed to them her name.73 On sundry similar matters, the Middle Ages possessed information equally valuable. It was well known that the city of Naples was founded on eggs ;74 and it was also known, that the order of St. Michael was instituted in person by the archangel, who was himself the first knight, and to whom, in fact, chivalry owes its origin.75 In regard to the Tartars, that

important to know how long the spirit of the Middle Ages survived in different countries.

"They were "seuls enfants légitimes" of Abraham and Sarah. Monteil, Divers Etats, vol. v. p. 19.

72 Mathew Paris, who is apprehensive lest the reputation of Sarah should suffer, says: "Saraceni perversè se putant ex Sara dici; sed veriùs Agareni dicuntur ab Agar; et Ismaelitæ, ab Ismaele filio Abrahæ." Hist. Major, p. 357. Compare a similar passage in Mezeray, Histoire de France, vol. i. p. 127: "Sarrasins, ou de la ville de Sarai, ou de Sara femme d'Abraham, duquel ils se disent faussement légitimes héritiers." After this, the idea, or the fear of the idea, soon died away; and Beausobre (Histoire Critique de Manichée, vol. i. p. 24) says: "On dérive vulgairement le nom de Sarasins du mot arabe Sarah, ou Sarak, qui signifie effectivement voleur." A good example of a secular turn given to a theological etymology. For a similar case in northern history, see Whitelocke's Journal of the Swedish Embassy, vol. i. pp. 190, 191.

73 Early in the fourteenth century, this was stated, in a letter to the Pope, as a well-known historical fact. See Lingard's Hist. of England, vol. ii. p. 187: "They are sprung from Scota the daughter of Pharaoh, who landed in Ireland, and whose descendants wrested, by force of arms, the northern half of Britain from the progeny of Brute."

74 Mr. Wright (Narratives of Sorcery, 8vo, 1851, vol. i. p. 115) says, "The foundation of the city of Naples upon eggs, and the egg on which its fate depended, seem to have been legends generally current in the Middle Ages;" and he refers to Montfaucon, Monumens de la Mon. Fr. vol. ii. p. 329, for proof, that by the statutes of the order of the Saint Esprit, "a chapter of the knights was appointed to be held annually in castello ovi incantati in mirabili periculo."

75" The order of Saint Michael, in France, pretends to the possession of a regular descent from Michael the Archangel, who, according to the enlightened judgment of French antiquarians, was the premier chevalier in the world; and it was he, they say, who established the earliest chivalric order in Paradise itself." Mills's Hist. of Chivalry, vol. i. pp. 363, 364.

people, of course, proceeded from Tartarus; which some theologians said was an inferior kind of hell, but others declared to be hell itself.76 However this might be, the fact of their birth-place being from below was indisputable, and was proved by many circumstances which showed the fatal and mysterious influence they were able to exercise. For the Turks were identical with the Tartars; and it was notorious, that since the Cross had fallen into Turkish hands, all Christian children had ten teeth less than formerly; an universal calamity, which there seemed to be no means of repairing.77

Other points relating to the history of past events were cleared up with equal facility. In Europe, during many centuries, the only animal food in general use was pork; beef, veal, and mutton, being comparatively unknown.78 It was, therefore, with no small astonishment

76 The etymology of Tartars from Tartarus is ascribed to the piety of Saint Louis in Prichard's Physical History, vol. iv. p. 278; but I think that I have met with it before his time, though I cannot now recover the passage. The earliest instance I remember is in 1241, when the saint was twenty-six years old. See a letter from the emperor Frederick, in Matthæi Paris Historia Major, p. 497: "Pervenissent dicti Tartari (imo Tartarei),” &c.; and on the expression of Louis, see p. 496: "Quos vocamus Tartaros ad suas Tartareas sedes." Since the thirteenth century, the subject has attracted the attention of English divines; and the celebrated theologian Whiston mentions "my last famous discovery, or rather my revival of Dr. Giles Fletcher's famous discovery, that the Tartars are no other than the ten tribes of Israel, which have been so long sought for in vain." Memoirs of the Life and Writings of William Whiston, p. 575. Compare, on the opinions held respecting the Tartars, Journal Asiatique, I. série, vol. vi. p. 374, Paris, 1825.

77 Peignot (Dict. des Livres, vol. ii. p. 69, Paris, 1806) says, that Rigord, in his history of Philip Augustus, assures his readers " que depuis que la vraie croix a été prise par les Turcs, les enfans n'ont plus que 20 ou 23 dents, au lieu qu'ils en avaient 30 ou 32 auparavant." Even in the fifteenth century, it was believed that the number of teeth had diminished from 32 to 22, or at most 24. See Sprengel, Hist. de la Médecine, vol. ii. pp. 481, 482, Paris, 1815. Compare Hecker on the Black Death, pp. 31, 32, in his learned work, Epidemics of the Middle Ages, published by the Sydenham Society.

78 In the sacred books of the Scandinavians, pork is represented as the principal food, even in heaven. See Mallet's Northern Antiquities, p. 105. It was the chief food of the Irish in the twelfth century: Ledwich, Antiquities of Ireland, Dublin, 1804, p. 370; and also of the Anglo-Saxons at an earlier period: Turner's Hist. of England, vol. iii. p. 22. In France it was equally common, and Charlemagne kept in his forests immense droves of pigs. Note in Esprit des Lois, in Euvres de Montesquieu, p. 513. In Spain those who did not like pork were tried by the Inquisition as suspected Jews : Llorente, Hist. de l'Inquisition, vol. i. pp. 269, 442, 445. Late in the six