The Crown History of England, etc

Front matter

THE CROWN HISTOEY OF ENGLAND BEING OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY FROM THE EARLIEST RECORDS OF THE KINGDOM, TO OUR OWN TIMES. ABRIDGED FROM CHAKLES KNIGHT'S POPULAR HISTORY OF ENGLAND, UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF ITS AUTHOR. " The Flood Of British Freedom, which to the open sea Of the world's praise fi-om dark antiq«iity Hath flowed." Wordsworth. LONDON : BRADBURY, EVANS, «fc CO., 11, BOUVERIE STREET. 1870. [The Right of Translation is reserved.] LONDON : BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTER?, WHITEFRIARS. PKEFACE. This Volume is an abridgement of my " Popular History of England" in eight octavo volumes, and is executed by a member of my family, under my general superintendence. In the Introduction to the " Popular History," speaking of Gold smith's admission that " the very name of abridgement implies imperfection," I said — " It is not the mere want of space that constitutes the inherent defect of an abridgement ; it is that the scale of its composition is not uniform."

This defect, I believe, will not be discovered in the present book. It has been the continuous labour of nearly three years, not accom plished by making entire extracts of the most striking pas sages of a larger history, and holding them together by short connecting threads of narrative ; but by recasting the whole upon a scale of composition which, aiming at uniformity, enables the several parts to retain their just proportions. Thus, I may venture to state that there is no important fact of our political and social progress therein omitted. Space is gained, without leaving awkward gaps in a story which has no long intervals in which the historian can say " all is barren." The " Popular History " was entitled a " History of Society and Government." The " Crown History " embraces, in the same way, the State History and the Domestic. In a few cases, there are separate chapters on the National Industry, on Literature, on the Arts ; but in every period will be found

Preface

. some notice of these important characteristics of the advance of a people, politically and intellectually. The growth of our Constitution, through nineteen hundred years, in which the Roman, the Saxon, and the Norman institutions became blended in our system of representative government and municipal administration, was always accompanied, through many a struggle for personal liberty and security of property, by the general progress of the people in knowledge and in dustry. Instruction in History has ceased to mean the learning by rote the dates of prominent events, which fade from the memory in the absence of all interesting associations with the regnal periods to which they belong. For the boy or the girl, the young man or the young woman, whose training has been such as to make the history of their country something more than a dry catalogue of names, this Volume may suffice for the period of their pupilage.

It perhaps may be sufficient as a preparatory book for the class-examination of young can^ didates for employment. But, whether for public or domestic instruction, it will open the way to the study of more elaborate works, on the subject upon which, of all others, it most behoves the youth of a free country to be well informed. CHARLES KNIGHT. August, 1870. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

E.C. 5I>— A.D. 409. — BRITONS — ROMANS. PACK The Druids — Cæsar's Invasions — Cassivelaunus — Cunobelin — Claudius in Britain — (Jaractacus taken prisoner to Rome — Mona, or Anglesey, taken — Londinium, Canialodunum, and Verulam destroyed — Queen Boadicea is defeated, and dies by poison — Agricola defeats the Caledonians — Hadrian — Antoninus — Severus— Carausius usurps the imperial authority — Constantine — Christianity in Britain — Alban, the British proto-rnartyr — Picts and Scots— The Roman Prefects expelled 1

Chapter II

A.D. 409 — 901. — SAXONS — ETHELBERT — EDWIN — EGBERT— ETHEL WUU — ETUKLBALD — ETHELBERT — ETHELRED I. — ALFRED. Ilengist and Horsa — The Angles land in Britain — Gregory the Great and the Angles in captivity at Rome — Arrival of Augustin — Conversion of Ethelbert— Massacre at Bangor — Ethelbert's Code of Laws — Edwin converted by Paulinus —Battle of Ellundune — Ravages of the Northmen — Youthful days of King Alfred — Tho Danes in Mercia and East Anglia — Conflicts of Danes and Saxons — Death of Guthrum— Alfred creates a Navy — Progress of improvement uuder Alfred ]4

Chapter III

A. D. 901 — 1066. — EDWARD THE ELDER — ATHELSTAN — EDMUND I. — EDRKD — EDWY — EDGAR — EDWARD II. — ETHELRED II. — EDMUND IRONSIDE — SWEVN — CANUTE — HAROLD J. AND HARDICANUTE— EDWARD THE CONFESSOR — HAROLD II. Vigorous administration of Athelstan — Battle of Brunanburh — Edmund assassinated — Dunstan chief adviser of Edred — Monastic System — The kingdom divided between Edwy and Edgar — Clerical revolt against Dunstan's severities — Murder of Edward 11.— The Danegelt — Massacre of the Danes — Sweyn acknowledged in the West as king — Ethelred II. takes refuge in Normandy — Canute survives Edmund Ironside, and is sole king — Hardicanute — Edward the Confessor—Influx of Normans — William of Normandy claims the Crown — Battle of Hastings— Death of Harold II 28

Chapter IV

A.D. 1066— 1135.— WILLIAM I.— WILLIAM II.— HENRY I. William the Conqueror — Domesday Survey — William's domestic disquietudes — His death — William Ruf us— Troubles in Normandy and Scotland — Duke Robert joins the first Crusade — Death, of William II. — Henry Beauclerc crowned king, and marries Maud, daughter of Malcolm of Scotland — Duke Robert and Edgar Atheliug taken prisoners at Tinehenbrai — Prince William drowned off Normandy—Death of Henry 1 . VI CONTENTS.

Chapter V

A.D. 1135 — 11S2— STEPHEN— HENRY II. PAGE Stephen crowned— Matilda's claim — Battle of the Standard— Power of the ecclesiastics — Stephen imprisoned in Bristol Castle— Matilda reigns ten months —Restoration of Stephen— Siege of Oxford— Departure of Matilda — Stephen's quarrel with the Church — Accession of Henry II., first Plantagenet king- Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, xirges the demands of the Church — "The Constitutions of Clarendon "—Murder of Becket — State of Ireland — Rebellion of Henry's Sons — Peace with Scotland — Trial by jury — Troublous close of Henry's reign 56

Chapter VI

A.D. 1182 — 1216. — RICHARD I.— JOHN. Richard joins the third Crusade —Marries Berengaria— Longchamp deposed— Prince John chief justiciary— Richard imprisoned in the Tyrol — Blondel the Minstrel— Release of Richard— He settles affairs in England, and proceeds to Normandy, where John submits and Philip is defeated— Burdens of the people of England — Death of Richard I. — Mysterious fate of Prince Arthur — John's fiefs in France forfeited— The kingdom under the Pope's interdict — John submits to the Pope — Magna Charta — Death of John TO

Chapter VII

A.B. 1216—1307. — HENRY III.— EDWARD I. Pembroke regent— De Burgh regent— First English Statute — Foreign favourites — Parliament refuses supplies — The Pope's encroachments — Famine— The Barons gain the Battle of Lewes — Free Parliament — Civil war — Death of De Montfort at the Battle of Evesham — Prince Edward in Palestine — Death of Henry III., and accession of Edward I. — Llewellyn and the Welsh — The "Statutes for Wales" — Death of the "Maid of Norway" — Edward favours Balliol's claims — Sir William Wallace beheaded at London— Robert Bruce and Scottish independence S4

Chapter VIII

A.D 1307 — 1377.— EDWARD II.— EDWARD III. Battle of Bannockburn — Combination against the king's favourites — Lancaster put to death — War with Scotland — Defeat of Edward II., followed by a truce — War with France — Murder of Edward II. — Independence of Scotland recognised — Edward III. marries Pbilippa — Execution of Mortimer — Halidon Hill — Edward III. claims the throne of France — Battle of Creasy — King David of Scotland taken prisoner — Pestilence— Battle of Poitiers — Peace of Bretigny — Death of the Black Prince, and of Edward III 99

Chapter IX

A.D. 1377 — 1415. — RICHARD II. — HENRY IV. — BENRY V. Poll Tax — Wat Tyler's insurrection — Persecution of Wycliffe — Richard II. marries Anne of Bohemia — War with France — Disaffection among the Nobles — Battle of Chevy Chase — Richard marries Isabella of France — He puts down opposition — Henry of Lancaster raises au army, forces Richard to resign, and cliims the crown — Richard dies in prison — Owen Glendower — Henry IV. invades Scotland — Revolt and death of Hotspur — Battle of Agineourt 113

Chapter X

A.D. 1415 — 1447. — HENRY V. — HENRY VI. Henry V. invades Normandy, and marches on Paris — Duke of Burgundy murdered — Peace with France— Marriage of Henry with Princess Katheriue — Death of Henry V. — Warwick tutor to Henry VI. — Complicated quanels of the king's relatives — Siege of Orleans — Jeanne d'Arc taken prisoner, and burnt at Rouen — Henry VI crowned at Notre Dame — He is obliged to relinquish Frauce and Normandy — Marries Margaret of Anjou CONTENTS. VII

Chapter XI

A.D. 1447— 14S3. — HENRY VI. — EDWARD IV. — EDWARD V.— RICHARD III. PAGE Jack Cade's insurrection — Incapacity of Henry VI. — Death of Somerset — Duke of York claims the Crown — He falls at the battle of Wakefield — bis son gains the Crown as Edward IV. — Decisive battle of Towton — Edward IV. marries Elizabeth Woodville, Lady Grey — Warwick the " King Maker' — Battle of Barnet — Battle of Tewkesbury — Death of Henry VI. in the Tower — Edward V.— Richard III. — Death of the two sons of Edward IV. in the Tower ...... 139

Chapter XII

A.D. 1483 — 1509. — RICHARD III.— HENRY VII. Richmond and Buckingham plot against Richard III. — Death of Richard, last of the Plantagenets, at Bosworth. Condition of the People — The first Corn Law — General proneness to litigation — Regulation of wages and hours of labour — The Church and the Clergy — Literature. Henry VII. marries Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV. — Lambert Simnel, pretended Earl of Warwick — Henry's foreign policy — Perkin Warbeck, pretended Duke of York — Warwick beheaded — Catherine of Ai-agon— Death of Henry VII . . , 153

Chapter XIII

A.D. 1509 — 1529. — HENRY VIII. Henry VIII. marries Catherine of Aragon — Henry assists the Pope against France — "Battle of the Spurs" — Flodden Field — Wolsey Cardinal, Chancellor, and Legate — " Field of the Cloth of Gold " — Duke of Buckingham beheaded — Henry " Defender of the Faith " — Discontent of the Commons— War with Scotland — Influence of the Res ormati »n on European politics- Decline of Wolsey's power . 167

Chapter XIV

A.D. 1529— 1536.— HENRY VIII. Lord Cromwell's fidelity to Wolsey — Wolsey impeached— Sir Thomas More, Chancellor — Church abuses corrected— Servility of the Commons to Henry— The divorce question — Death of Wolsey — Henry marries Anne Boleyn— Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury — Birth of Princess Elizabeth— Henry renounces the Papal authority— Sir Thomas More beheaded— Anne Boleyn beheaded — Henry marries Jane Seymour 180

Chapter XV

A.D. 1515— 1540.— HENRY VIII. " The English Pale " in Ireland— Feuds between the Earls of Kildare and Surrey —Kildare attainted-The Gcraldine insurrection— Fitzgerald executed for treason — Tho Lincolnshire insurrection— Birth of prince Edward and death of his mother, queen Jane— Cranmer's Bible -Dissolution of Monasteries— The "Six Articles "—The Pope's bull— Countess of Salisbury executed on Tower Hill — Henry marries Anno of Cleves, divorces her, and marries Catherine Howard —Execution of Thomas, lord Cromwell 134

Chapter XVI

A.D. 1540— 1547.— HENRY VIII. Burnings f or heresy, and executions for denying the king's supremacy — Queen Catherine Howard attainted and executed— Henry marries Catherine Parr- War with Scotland— Cardinal Beaton — War with France— The Bible forbidden to "the lower sort " — Persecutions for heresy — Earl of Surrey executed for treason — Death of Henry VIII. — His character. Progress of industry — Insecurity of life and property — Education — Amusements — Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons—Gradual amelioration CONTENTS.

Chapter XVII

A.D. 1547—1554. — EDWARD VI. — MAJRY. PAGE Edward VI. — Duke of Somerset Protector— Battle of Pinkie— Edward savours the Protestant religion — Execution of Lord Seymour — Insurrections in the West and East — Decline of Somerset's power — The Anabaptists — Princess Mary refuses to conform to the Protestant worship — Somerset beheaded — Death of Edward VI. — Lady Jane Grey proclaimed Queen— Accession of Queen Mary — Carew and Wyat's rebellion— Wyat committed to the Tower 220

Chapter XVIII

A.D. 1554—1561. — MARY — ELIZABETH. Execution of Lady Jane Grey — Numerous executiuns for treason — The Star Chamber—Princess Elizabeth imprisoned — Marriage of Queen Mary with Philip of Spain — Fierce persecution of Protestants — Ridley, Latimer, and Craumer burnt at Oxford— England joins Spain against France — Capitulation of Calais to the French — Marriage of Mary, queen of Scots, with the dauphin of France — Accession of Queen Elizabeth — Restoration of Protestantism — The Reformation in Scotland 234

Chapter XIX

A.D. 1561— 1585.— ELIZABETH. Severe measures against Papists — Marriage of Mary, queen of Scots, with Darnley — Riccio's assassination - Birth of James VI. — Murder of Darnley — Marriage of Mary with Bothwell — Mary is imprisoned in Lochleven Castle— A bdicates — Escapes — her adherents defeated by Murray — Mary takes refuge in England — She is charged with Darnley's murder — Popish insurrections — Protestant refugees in England — Execution of Duke of Norfolk — St. Bartholomew Massacre — Expulsion of Jesuits — The BabiDgton Conspiracy 249

Chapter XX

A.D. 15S5 — 1589.— ELIZABETH. Mary, queen of Scots, declared guilty of treason— Elizabeth signs Mary's death-warrant— Execution of Mary — Popish Crusade against England— Elizabeth at Tilbury— The "Invincible Armada" — English fire-ships— The Armada defeated and dispersed— Death of Leicester — Elizabeth proceeds in State to St. Paul's to offer thanks for deliverance from the Armada — Expeditions against Philip of Spain .... 264

Chapter XXI

A.D. 1589— 1604— ELIZABETH— JAMES I. Puritans expelled from the Established church — Persecution of Independents. Popular Recreations — The Drama— Literature— Tudor Architecture — Schools. Wars of the League — Independent Members of Parliament silenced — Naval expeditions against Spain — Overseers of Poor appointed — Act against Vagrants — Death of Cecil— Death of Philip II. — State of Ireland — Essex beheaded — The '• Gowrie Conspiracy " — Death of Elizabeth — Accession of James I. — Hampton Court Conference — Divine Right 275

Chapter XXII

A.D. 1605— 1625.— JAME8 I. The Gunpowder Conspiracy — Execution of Guy Fawkes and others — James's costly favouritism — Colonisation of North America — Virginia, — Expatriation of the "Puritan Fathers" —East India Company— Plantation of Ulster— Death of Prince Henry — Death of Sir Thomas Overbury — Sir Edward Coke dismissed from office — Raleigh's expedition to Guiana — Execution of Raleigh — War iu Bohemia —Lord Bacon convicted of corruption— Petition against Fopery — Statute against Monopolies — Death of James I CONTENTS. IX

Chapter XXIII

A.D. 1625 — 1640. — CHARLES I. PAGE Charles marries Henrietta of France — The Commons claim redress of grievances, and impeach Buckingham — The Lords resent the King's interference — Relations with France and Spain — General discontent — " Petition of Right" — Buckingham assassinated — Cromwell's first speech in parliament — Wentworth and Laud in power — Prynne in the Star Chamber — Greed for monopolie — Prosecution of Hampden — Opposition to prelacy in Scotland — National Covenant— General Assembly at Glasgow decrees the abolition of Episcopacy — Covenauters force Charles to a Treaty 303

Chapter XXIV

A.D. 1640 — 1642.— CHARLES I. The Commons impeach Strafford and Laud, Pym arguing that " treason against the people was treason against the throne " — 'Charles tampers with the army — Execution of Strafford —Star Chamber and Court of High Commission abolished — Pacification with Scotland — Insurrection in Ireland — Strong party antagonism — " Roundheads " and " Cavaliers " — The king invades the Houce of Commons, and issues a proclamation to arrest a peer and five commoners — The five members brought in triumph to Westminster — -Charles rejects a Militia Bill passed by parliament—Parliamentary Ordinance for the Militia passed — Preparations for open war — Order maintained — Prince Rupert in command of the Royalist cavalry — Charles sets up his standard at Nottingham — London fortified by parliament . 315

Chapter XXV

A.D. 1642 — 1645. — CHARLES I. Civil war — The king's forces routed in Warwickshire — Engagement at Brentford — Eastern Counties t( Association"— Reading surrenders to Essex — Chalgrove Field — Death of Hampden — Colonel Hutchmson's defence of Nottingham Castle — Bristol surrenders to Rupert — Gloucester besieged by the king, relieved by Essex — Battle of Newbury — Solemn League and Covenant — Charles's Oxford parliament — "Committee of the Two Kingdoms" — Blockade of Oxford— Siege of Lathoin House — Battle of Marston Moor — Laud beheaded for treason — Vacillation of diaries — Battle of Naseby — The "Clubmen" — Bristol surrendered by Rupert — Siege of Basing House

Chapter XXVI

A.D. 1645—1649. — CHARLES I. Montrose's defeat in Scotland — Charles takes refuge in Oxford — His western army dissolved — Ho negotiates with the Scots — Charles at Holmby House — Dissentions between Presbyterians and Independents — The Army takes possession of the king and marches upon London — The Commons adopt the proceedings of the Army — Independents gain ascendancy — Charles at Hampton Court — He withdraws to Carisbrook — Royalist riots — Presbyterians predominant— Conferences with the king — The Commons afraid of the Army — "Pride's Purge" — Charles removed to Windsor— Trial and sentence of the king — He is beheaded . . 339

Chapter XXVII

A.D. 1649 — 1653. COMMONWEALTH. Suppression of House of Lords and office of King— Mutiny in the army suppressed — Charles II. proclaimed King in Scotland and Ireland — Cromwell in Ireland — Execution of Montrose — Cromwell's victory at Dunbar — Charles crowned at Scone — his army defeated at Worcester — He lands at FCcamp — Revival of Commerce — Cromwell breaks up the " Long Parliament" — Council of State— Decisive defeat of the Dutch Fleet by Blake— " Little Parliament" — Cromwell Lord Protector X CONTENTS.

Chapter XXVIII

A.D. 1653— 1660.— COMMONWEALTH — OLIVER CROMWELL, PROTECTOR— RICH ARD CROM- WELL—CHARLES II. PAGE Attempt on the Protector's life — Peace with Foreign Powers— Discussion on form of Government— The Protector absolute— Blake in the Mediterranean— Jamaica taken— The Vaudois— The Protector's second Parliament— Cromwell refuses the Crown— War with Spain— Death of Cromwell— His son Richard proclaimed Protector— Fall of Richard Cromwell— The Council of State and the Army — General Monk's Overtures to Charles II. — Charles proclaimed King — Entry of Charles II. into London 367

Chapter XXIX

A.D. 1660— 166S — CHARLES II. Revenue of the Crown— Reduction of Land and Sea Forces— The Regicides brought to trial - Coronation of Charles II. — Solemn League and Covenant burnt by the Common Hangman — Two thousand clergymen ejected for Non-conformity — Marquis of Argyle beheaded — Charles marries Catherine of Braganza — Great Plague of London— Five Mile Act— Dutch Fleet driven off— Great Fire of London— Profligacy of the Court— The Dutch Fleet in the Medway— Lord Chancellor Clarendon exiled— The Triple Alliance 383

Chapter XXX

A.D. 1668—1680. — CHARLES II. Duke of York a Roman Catholic— Cabal Ministry— Secret Treaty of Charles II. with Louis XIV.— Conventicle Act — Coventry Act — Attack on the Duke of Ormond— Monetary Panic— War with Holland— The Test Act— Dissatisfaction of the Commons— Charles pensioned by Louis XIV. — Marriage of Prince of Orange with Princess Mary — Alleged Conspiracies of Jesuits — Charles's intrigues with France — Habeas Corpus Act passed— Covenanters in Scotland — Battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge — Whigs and Tories 396

Chapter XXXI. Ad

16S0— 16S5. — CHARLES II. — JAMES II. Influence of Duke of York at Court — Popularity of Monmouth — Execution of St ifford— Sevm days' Parliament at Oxford — " No Popery " — Grand Jury ignore bill against Shaftesbury — Religious Persecution in Scotland — Rye-House Plot — Lord William Russell and Algernon Sidney executed — Death of Charles II. from apoplexy — Accession of James II. — Foundation of Pennsylvania — Earl of Argyle executed — Duke of Monmouth 's Rebellion— Execution of Monmouth . 40S

Chapter XXXII

A D. 16S5 — 16SS. — JAMES II. — WILLIAM AND MARY. Opposition of Parliament to the king's measures — Jesuit influence at Court — Dismissal of Judges — Ecclesiastical Commission — James favours' Roman Catholicism — Protestant Fellows of Magdalen Cullege, Oxford, expelled— Declaration of Indulgence — James receives the Papal Nuncio in Sta^e — Trial of the Seven Bishops — Landing of William, Prince of Orange — Abdication of James H. — Accession of William and Mary 420

Chapter XXXIII

A.D. 1G89 — 1742. — WILLIAM AND MARY — ANNE— GEORGE 1. — STATE OF INDUSTRY. Woollen Manufactures in the West — Iron and Copper Mines — Birmingham iron-ware — Fire-arms — Staffordshire Potteries — Glass — Hosiery — Cotton and Linen fabrics— Yorkshire woollen manufactures — Norwich stuffs — Sheffield cutlery — Hull and Liverpool Shipping — Agriculture - Markets for Corn — Commerce of Port of London -Commercial, Banking, and Insurance Companies — Improved .style of living — Condition of Towns — Education — Amusements — Public Health — The Essayists — Female politicians — Rise of a reading public — Poetry — Copyright — Habits of Society — Clubs — Science and Art CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XXXIV

A.D. 1688 — 1690. — WILLIAM AND MARY. PAGE Personal character of William III. — State of Parties — Nonjurors — Toleration Act — Standing Army — Mutiny Bill— Coronation of William and Mary — Jacobite rising in Ireland— Siege, heroic defence, and relief of Londonderry — Scotland accepts the Revolution — Battle of Killiecrankie— Death of Claveihouse — James's Parliament in Dublin — Intrigues of Princess Anne — Act of Grace— Battle of the Boyne — French Fleet in the Channel— Spirited conduct of Queen Mary . . 442

Chapter XXXV

A.D. 1690 — 1693. — WILLIAM AND MARY. Escape of James— Siege of Limerick abandoned — Marlborough in Ireland— Confederacy against France— William stipulates for tbe liberties of the Waldenses — Jacobite plots — Surrender of Limerick, and defeat of Jacobites in Ireland — Massacre of Glencoe — Dismissal of Marlborough- Decisive naval victory at La Hogue — The disaster of Steinkirk- Commencement of National Debt — Triennial parliaments — Partial administration of justice by the Peers .... 455

Chapter XXXVI

A.D. 1693 — 169S. — WILLIAM AND MARY — WILLIAM III. Battle of Landen — Cabinet Council — Bank of England — Repulse of the Allies at Brest — Death of Queen Mary from small-pox — Extensive Corruption in Parliament — Siege and Capture of Naniur — "Seven barren years " — New Coinage — Associations in support of Protestant Constitution — Jacobite Conspiracy — Monetary Crisis — Treaty of Ryswick — St. Raid's opened for Worship — Thanks giving for Peace — Reduction of the army — Christian Knowledge Society — Restrictive Commercial policy — Disasters of tbe Darien Colonists .... 467

Chapter XXXVII

A.D. 1698-1703.— WILLIAM 111. — ANNE. Spanish Succession — Partition Treaties — Pai'liament insists on reduction of the army, and dismissal of the Dutch troops — Irish forfeitures and Crown revenues — Intolerant spirit of the Tories — Death of the King of Spain— Protestant Succession Act— Party dissensions — League against France — Foreign States- Death of James II — Parliament votes Land and Sea Forces — Death of William III. — Accession of Anne — Marlborough, Captain -General — War with France — Occasional Conformity Bill— Foreign policy of England — "Queen Anne's Bounty" 482

Chapter Xxxviii

A.D. 1704— 1706.— ANNE. Marlborough in Germany — Entrenched Camp of the Schellenberg taken by Storm — Battle of Blenheim — Siege and Capitulation of Landau — Popularity of Marlborough— Occasional Conformity Bill defeated— Capture of Gibraltar — Indecisive Naval Battle of Malaga— Peterborough's exploits in Spain— Snpineness of Charles of Austria, king of Spain — Maryborough in the Netherlands — Party feeling in England — Church in Danger — Decisive victory of Ramilies . 495

Chapter XXXIX

A.D. 1706— 1710.— ANNE. Articles of Union with Scotland — Commissioners for Union — Discussions in Scotland — Act for Union — Unsuccessful attack on Toulon — First Parliament of Great Britain — Abortive attempt of the Pretender — Marlborough defeats the French at the passage of the Scheldt — Death of Prince George of Denmark— Siege of Lillo and of Tourn ay —Battle of Malplaquet — Trial of Dr. Sacheverel . . CONTENTS.

Chapter XL

A.D. 1710 — 1714.— ANNE. PAGE Surrender of Douay— Decline of Marlborough's influence at Court — The Allies defeated in Spain— Political partisanship — Attempt upon Harley*s life by a French spy— Bouchain surrenders to Marlborough— Charles of Austria elected Emperor— Violent party disputes— Marlborough dismissed from all his employments—Siege and surrender of Quesnoy— The Alliance abandoned by England — Treaty of Utrecht— Dispute between Oxford and Bolingbroke— Death of Queen Anne

Chapter XLI

A.D. 1714 — 1727.— GEORGE I. Accession of George I.— Civil List— Whig Ministry— Bolingbroke, Oxford, and Ormond impeached — Riot Act passed— Jacobite Rising in Scotland— Surrender of Highland forces at Preston— Battle of Sheriffmuir— Flight of Pretender— Derwentwater and Kenmure beheaded— Septennial Act — Hanoverian complications—Alliance with France and Holland— Spanish political intrigues— The Quadruple Alliance— South Sea Bubble— Attainder of Atterbury— Ale Duty in Scotland — Peace with France and Holland— Death of George I

Chapter XLII

A.D. 1727 — 1745. — GEORGE II. Accession of George II. — Walpole in power — Civil List — Sagacity of the Queen — State of prisons for debtors — Walpole's financial measures defeated — The Porteous riot in Edinburgh — Quarrels of the king and the prince of Wales — Death of queen Caroline — Right of Search — Capture of Porto Bells* — Blundering attack on Carthagena — Unpopularity of Walpole — his fall — King George's victory at Dettingen — Battle of Fontenoy 543

Chapter XLIII

A.D. 1745 — 1746. — GEORGE II. LaDding of the Young Pretender — Charles Edward at Perth — James VIII. proclaimed at Edinburgh — Sir John Cope defeated at Prestonpans — Charles Edward invades England — He occupies Derby — The Pretender's army retreats — Indecisive battle near Fa! kirk — B «ttle of Culloden — Execution of Lords Kilmarnuck and Balmerino — Charles Edward escapes to France 557

Chapter XLIV

A.D. 1746 — 1760. — GEORGE II. Pelham administration — Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle — Heritable Jurisdictions in Scotland abolished— Sheriff Courts — Reform of the Calendar — Regency Bill — Act for Preventing Robberies — Marriage Act — Disputes with French Colonists in America and East Indies — North American Colonies — Seven years' war in Germany— Byng shot for alleged cowardice — Mr. Pitt's administration — Lord Clive's rule in Indian — Continental wars — General Wolfe's victory and death at Quebec —Death of George II 569

Chapter XLV

A.D. 1760—1768. — GEORGE III. Lord Bute's influence — Civil List— Bribery at Elections — Marriage of George III. Attack on Belle-Isle — War with Spain — Capture of French and Spanish West India islands — Treaty of Peace— Bute prime minister, succeeded by Grenville — John Wilkes expelled from Parliament — Taxing American Colonies — Rockingham Ministry — Riots in Boston — Congress at New York — Repeal of the (Colonial) Stamp Act— General Warrants— Pitt created Earl of Chatham . . . CONTENTS. XIII CHAPTER XLArI. A.D. 1763 — 1775. — GEORGE III. PAGE Wilkes re-elected a third time — Letters of Junius — Colonial protest against Taxation — Colonists pledge themselves not to import British merchandise— Riot in Boston— Parliamentary Reform — Freedom of the Press— French annexation of Corsica — Partition of Poland — Jesuits suppressed by Clement XIV. — Royal Marriage Act -Tea cargoes emptied into Boston harbour — Boston Port Act, and other coercive measures — First Congress held at Philadelphia — Arming of the Colonists 596

Chapter XLVII

A.D. 1775 — 1780. — GEORGE III. Congress of Delegates of thirteen States— Washington Commander-in-Chief — Battle of Bunker's Hill — The "Olive Branch " petition unanswered — Attack upon Quebec — Declaration of Independence — Battle of Brooklyn — Washington's success at Trenton — Weakness of the British Navy — Retreat of Burgoyne from the United States — Chatham denouncers the employment of Indians — Death of Chatham — War with France — Exploits of Paul Jones — Economical Reform — Parliamentary Reform — No-Popery riots — Major Andre" executed as a spy , . 610

Chapter XLVIII

A.D. 1780—1783. — GEORGE III. New parliament favourable to the Court — War with Holland — Operations in Carolina and Virginia — Capitulation of Lord Cornwallis — Resignation of Lord North's Ministry — The French Fleet defeated by Rodney — Partial Administrative Reform — Alarming state of Ireland — Mr. Grattan in the Ir.sh Parliament — Repeal of statute of Geo. I. which asserted the dependence of Ireland — Protracted siege of Gibraltar — Sinking of the Royal George at Spithead — Peace with America, France, Spain, and Holland 625

Chapter XLIX

A.D. 1760—1783. — GEORGE III.— STATE OF INDUSTRY. Productive power of the country — Increase of population — Improvement of agriculture — Dairy produce — Sheep farming — Increase of cultivation — Drainage of fens and marshes— Farming operations of George III. — Farming in Scotland and Ireland — Engineering works — Inland navigation— Cotton manufactures — Arkwright's spinning-machine — Crompton's spinning-mule — Cartwright's power-loom — Dr. Roebuck's works for Mn^lting and manufacturing iron — Porcelain manufacture — Steam-engine — Watt and Boulton 639