EssaysinEnglishMediaevalHistorybyPaulVinogradoff1892
　　PrefaceAforeigner’sattempttotreatofdifficultandmuchdisputedpointsofEnglishhistoryrequiressomejustification。WhyshouldaRussianscholarturntothearduousstudyofEnglishmediaevaldocuments？Canhesayanythingofsufficientgeneralinteresttowarranthisexplorationofsodistantafield？
　　Thefirstquestioniseasiertoanswerthanthesecond。
　　TherearemanyreasonswhyweinRussiaareespeciallykeentostudywhatmaybecalledsocialhistory——theeconomicdevelopmentofnations，theirclassdivisionsandformsofco-operation。Wearestilllivinginsurroundingscreatedbythesocialrevolutionofthepeasantemancipation；manyofoureldercontemporariesrememberboththeperiodofserfdomandthepassagefromittomodernlife；somehavetakenpartintheworkingoutandputtingintopracticeoftheemancipatingacts。
　　QuestionsentirelysurrenderedtoantiquarianresearchintheWestofEuropearestilltopicsofcontemporaryinterestwithus。
　　Itisnotonlythecivilprogressofthepeasantrythatwehavetonotice，butthetransformationandpartialdecayofthelandedgentry，theindirectinfluenceoftheeconomicconvulsionsonpolitics，ideas，andmorality，and，inamorespecialway，theinfluenceoffreecompetitiononsoilandpeoplethathadbeenfetteredforages，thepassagefrom’naturalhusbandry’tothemoneysystem，thesubstitutionofrentsforlabour，aboveall，theworkingofcommunalinstitutionsundertheswayofthelordandintheirmodernfreeshape。Governmentandsocietyhavetodealevennowwithproblemsthatmustbesolvedinthelightofhistory，ifinanylightatall，andnotbyinstinctgropinginthedark。Allsuchpracticalproblemsvergetowardsonemainquestion：howfarlegislationcanandshouldactuponthesocialdevelopmentoftheagrarianworld。Areeconomicagenciestosettleforthemselveswhohastotilllandandwhoshallownit？
　　OrcanwelearnfromWesternhistorywhatistobeparticularlyavoidedandwhatistobeaimedat？Idonotthinkthatanybodyislikelytomaintainatthepresentday，that，forinstance，astudyoftheformationanddissolutionofthevillagecommunityintheWestwouldbemeaninglessforpoliticiansandthinkerswhohavetoconcernthemselveswiththeactuallifeofthevillagecommunityintheEast。
　　Anotherpowerfulincitementcomesfromthescientificdirectionlatelyassumedbyhistoricalstudies。Theyhavebeenforalongtimeverycloselyconnectedwithfineliterature：
　　theiraimwasalifelikereproductionofthepast；theyrequiredartisticpower，andstirredupfeelingsaswellasreflectivethought。Suchliteraryhistoryhasanaturalbenttowardsnationaltradition，forthesamereasonthatliteratureisattractedbynationallife：theartistgainsbybeingpersonallyintouchwithhissubject；itismoreeasyforhimtocasthismaterialintotherightmould。Ancienthistoryhardlyconstitutesanexception，becausetheelementsofclassicalcivilisationhavebeenappropriatedbyEuropeannationssoastoformpartoftheirownpast。WhatIcallliteraryhistoryhasbynomeansdoneallitswork。Thereistoomuchintheactionsofmenthatdemandsartisticperceptionandevendivinationonthepartofthehistorian，toallowthismodeoftreatmenttofallintodecay。
　　Butnobodywilldenythathistoricalstudyisextendingmoreandmoreinthedirectionofwhatisnowcalledanthropologyandsocialscience。Historiansareinquestoflawsofdevelopmentandofgeneralisationsthatshallunravelthecomplexityofhumanculture，asphysicalandbiologicalgeneralisationshaveputintoorderourknowledgeofthephenomenaofnature。
　　Thereisnosubjectmorepromisingfromthispointofviewthanthehistoryofsocialarrangements。Itbordersonpoliticaleconomy，whichhasalreadyattainedascientificstanding；partofitsmaterialhasbeenfashionedbyjuridicaldoctrineandpracticallaw，andtherebymouldedintoaclear，well-definedshape；itdealswithfactsrecurringagainandagainwithmuchuniformity，andpresentinggreatfacilitiesforcomparison；theobjectsofitsobservationarelesscomplexthanthephenomenaofhumanthought，morality，orevenpoliticalorganisation。Andfromthepointofviewofthescientificinvestigatortherecanbenootherreasonfortakingupaparticularepochornation，butthehopeofgettingagoodspecimenforanalysis，andofmakinguseofsuchanalysisforpurposesofgeneralisation。
　　NowIthinkthattherecanbenobetteropportunityforstudyingearlystagesofagrariandevelopmentthanthataffordedbyEnglishmediaevalhistory。Thesourcesofinformationarecomparativelyabundantinconsequenceofthepowerfulactionofcentralauthority；fromfarbackinthefeudaltimewegetlegalandfiscaldocumentstoenlightenus，notonlyaboutgeneralarrangementsbutevenaboutdetailsinthehistoryoflandedpropertyandofthepoorerclasses。AndthetaskofstudyingtheEnglishlineofdevelopmentisrenderedespeciallyinterestingbecauseitstandsevidentlyincloseconnexionwiththevariationsofthesameprocessonthecontinent。Scandinavian，German，French，Italian，andSpanishhistoryconstantlypresentpointsofcomparison，andsuchdifferencesastherearemaybetracedtotheiroriginsjustbecausesomanyfactsareincommontostartwith。Ithinkthatalltheseconsiderationsopenagloriousvistafortheenquirer，andtheinterestexcitedbysuchpublicationsasthoseofFusteldeCoulangesprovesthatthepublicisfullyalivetotheimportanceofthosestudiesinspiteoftheirdrydetails。
　　WhatcouldIpersonallyundertaketofurtherthegreatobjectsofsuchinvestigation？Thegroundhasbeensurveyedbypowerfulminds，andmanycontroversiesshowthatitisnotaneasyonetoexplore。Twomaincoursesseemedopeninthepresentstateofthestudy。Apromisingmethodwouldhavebeentorestrictoneselftoadefiniteprovincialterritory，togetintimatelyacquaintedwithalldetailsofitsgeography，localhistory，peculiaritiesofcustom，andtotracethesocialevolutionofthistractoflandasfarbackaspossible，withoutlosingsightofgeneralconnexionsandanalogies。HowinstructivesuchworkmaybecomemaybegatheredfromLamprecht’smonumentalmonographontheMoselland，whichhasbeenrightlycalledbyitsauthor’DeutschesWirthschaftslebenimMittelalter。’Orelse，onemighttrytogatherthegeneralfeaturesoftheEnglishmediaevalsystemasembodiedinthenumerous，onemightalmostsayinnumerable，recordsofthefeudalperiod，andtoworkbackfromthemintotheimperfectlydescribedpre-feudalage。Suchenquirywouldnecessarilyleaveoutlocalpeculiarities，ortreatthemonlyasvariationsofgeneraltypes。Fromthemethodicalpointofviewithasthesamerighttoexistenceasanyotherstudyof’universalities’whicharealwaysexemplifiedbyindividualbeings，althoughthelatterarenotmadeupbythem，butappearcomplicatedineverysinglecasebyadditionalelements。
　　Beingaforeigner，Iwasdriventotakethesecondcourse。I
　　couldnottrustmyselftobecomesufficientlyfamiliarwithlocallife，evenifIhadthetimeandopportunitytostudyitclosely。
　　IhopesuchinvestigationsmaybetakenupbyscholarsineverypartofEnglandandmayprosperintheirhands；thegaintogeneralhistorywouldbesimplyinvaluable。AndIwasnotsorryofthenecessityofgoingbythesecondtrack，becauseIcouldhopetoachievesomethingusefulevenifIwentwrongonmanypoints。EveryyearbringspublicationsofCartularies，Surveys，Court-rolls；theimportanceoftheselegalandeconomicrecordshasbeendulyrealised，andhistorianstakethemmoreandmoreintoaccountbythesideofannalsandstatutes。Butsurelysomeattemptoughttobemadetoconcentratetheresultsofscatteredinvestigationinthisfield。TheCartulariesofRamsey，Battle，BurySt。Edmunds，St。Paul’s，theHundredRolls，theManorialRecordsofBroughtonandKing’sRipton，giveusmaterialofoneandthesamekind，which，forallitswealthandvariety，presentsgreatfacilitiesforclassificationandcomparison。1*
　　Ihaveseenagoodmanyofthesedocuments，bothpublishedandinmanuscript，andIhopethatmybookmaybeofsomeserviceinthewayofconcentratingthisparticularstudyofmanorialrecords。I
　　amconscioushowdeficientmyworkisinmanyrespects；butifbythehelpofcorrections，alterations，additions，itmaybemadetoservetosomeextentforthepurpose，Ishallbegladtohavewrittenit。Imaysayalsothatitisintendedtoopentheway，byacarefulstudyofthefeudalage，foranotherworkontheoriginsofEnglishpeasantlifeintheNormanandpre-Normanperiods。
　　Onepleasantresultthetoilexpendedonmediaevaldocumentshasbroughtmealready。IhavecomeintocontactwithEnglishscholars，andIcansaythatIhavereceivedencouragement，advice，andsupportineverycasewhenIhadtoapplyforthem，andinsolargeandliberalameasureasIcouldhardlyhopefororexpect。Oftwomen，nowdead，Ihavetorepeatwhatmanyhavesaidbeforeme。HenryBradshawwasthefirsttolayanEnglishMS。cartularybeforemeintheCambridgeUniversityLibrary；andinallmytravelsthroughEuropeanlibrariesandarchivesIneveragainmetsuchaguide，soreadytohelpfromhisinexhaustiblestoreofpalaeographical，linguisticandhistoricallearning。
　　WalfordSelbywasaninvaluablefriendtomeattheRecordOffice——alwayswillingandabletofindexactlywhatwaswantedformyresearches。
　　ItwouldbeimpossibletomentionallthosefromwhomIhavereceivedhelpinonewayoranother，butIshouldliketospeakatleastofafew。IhavethepleasantdutyofthankingtheMarquisofBathfortheloanoftheLongleatMS。ofBracton，whichwassentformyusetotheBodleianLibrary。LordLeighwaskindenoughtoallowofmycomingtoStoneleighAbbeytoworkatabeautifulcartularyinhispossession，andtheHon。MissCordeliaLeightookthepainsofmakingformesomeadditionalextractsfromthatdocument。SirFrederickPollockandMrYorkPowellhavegonethroughtheworkofreadingmyproofs，andIowetothemmanysuggestionsforalterationsandimprovements。IhavedisputedsomeofMrSeebohm’sopinionsonmediaevalhistory；butIadmitfreelythatnobodyhasexercisedastrongerinfluenceontheformationofmyownviews，andIfeelproudthatpersonalfriendshiphasgivenmemanyopportunitiesofadmiringtheoriginalityandwidthofconceptionofonewhohasdonegreatthingsfortheadvancementofsocialhistory。AsforF。W。
　　Maitland，Icanonlysaythatmybookwouldhardlyhaveappearedatallifhehadnottakeninfinitetroubletofurtheritspublication。HehasnotonlydoneeverythinginhispowertomakeitpresentabletoEnglishreadersinstyleandwording，butastothesubject-matter，manyafriendlysuggestion，manyacriticismIhavehadfromhim，andifIhavenotalwaysprofitedbythem，theblameistobecastentirelyonmyownobstinacy。
　　PaulVinogradoffNOTES：
　　1。MissLamond’seditionofWalterofHenleydidnotappearuntilthegreaterpartofmybookwasintype。IhadstudiedtheworkinMS。SoalsoIstudiedtheCartularyofBattleAbbeyinMS。
　　withoutbeingawarethatithadbeeneditedbyMrScargillBird。
　　HadMrGomme’sVillageCommunitiescometomyhandsatanearlierdateIshouldhavemademorereferencestoit。
　　IntroductionWhenthetimecomesforwritingahistoryofthenineteenthcentury，oneofthemostimportantandattractivechapterswillcertainlybedevotedtothedevelopmentofhistoricalliterature。
　　Thelastyearsofagreatagearefastrunningout：greathasbeenthestrifeandtheworkintherealmofthoughtaswellasinthematerialarrangementoflife。Thegenerationsofthenineteenthcenturyhavewitnessedamightyrevivalofreligiousfeeling；theyhaveattemptedtosetupphilosophicalsystemsasbroadandasprofoundasanyofthespeculationsofformertimes；
　　theyhaveraisedthestructureoftheoreticalandappliedsciencetoaheightwhichcouldhardlyhavebeenforeshadowedsometwohundredyearsago。Andstillitistohistoricalstudythatwehavetolookasthemostcharacteristicfeatureoftheperiod。
　　Medievalasceticisminitsdesperatestruggleagainsttheflesh，andPuritanismwithitssenseofindividualreconciliationwithGod，werebothmorevigorousformsofreligiouslifethanthemodernrestorationsoffaithandChurch，socuriouslymixedupwithhelplessness，surrenderofacquiredtruth，hereditaryinstincts，andutilitarianreflection。Inphilosophy，Hegel’smetaphysicaldialectic，Schopenhauer’stransformationofKant’steaching，andtheattemptsofEnglishandFrenchpositivismatencyclopaedicalsciencemaybecomparedtheoreticallywithPlato’spoeticalidealismorwiththerationalisticschoolsoftheseventeenthandeighteenthcenturies。Butitwouldbedifficulttodeny，thatinpointofinfluenceonmen’sminds，thoseoldersystemsheldamorecommandingpositionthanthese：
　　Hegelseemstooarbitraryandphantastical，Schopenhauertoopessimistic，positivismtooincompleteandbarrenastoultimateproblemstosuitthepracticalrequirementsofphilosophy；andpeoplearealreadycomplainingofthedecayofphilosophicalstudy。Inscience，again，theageofDarwiniscertainlysecondtonone，butithastoshareitsglorywiththeageofNewton，anditmaybereasonablydoubtedwhethertheastronomer，followinginthefootstepsofGalileoandKepler，wasnotactuatedbyevengreaterthirstandprideofknowledgethanthemodernbiologistorgeologist。Itisotherwisewithregardtohistory。