England

Michael Glover investigates the early modern sources of the English reputation as the most indefatigable writers of letters in the world.

‘The pleasure of books possessed me from childhood’ wrote this twelfth-century historian. Among other work, William of Malmesbury, writes J.J.N. McGurk, produced an Historia Novella, extending until 1142.

In the thirteenth century, writes Diana E. Greenway, one of the Bishops in the important see of Winchester was a rich and noble monk; the second a warrior accountant turned prelate.

A.L. Rowse describes how the centre of administrative life in Cornwall has enjoyed a varied history, from Plantagenet to modern times.

Francis J. Bremer introduces a true Renaissance man; Thomas Hariot, man of action and ideas.

Reginald Watters offers a profile of one of the founding-father of modern journalism; Thomas Barnes brought tremendous dash and energy to the conduct of his long professional career.

Morton’s revels upset the Pilgrim Settlers; Larry Gragg describes how he was twice deported to England and three times imprisoned.

K.R. Dockray introduces a West Riding family of Percy retainers, whose land-holdings suffered from the Wars of the Roses and from legal disputes.

Margaret M. Byard describes the Bedford Memorials and the course of a eventful family history, from 1585 to 1607.

Disastrous battle raged on the Somme from July until November, 1916; John Terraine describes how it marked the ‘ruddy grave’ of the German field army.