Old England: sketches of English history. By E. A. W, author of 'Womanhood' [i.e. Mrs. E. A. Walker], etc

Preface

. This little book does not profess to be a History of England. It is only, as its name imports, a series of sketches from English History. It is designed for those who have not leisure to read large volumes. The ambition of the author will be satisfied if it finds a place in our Free and Parish libraries, and if it is welcomed sometimes in the cottage of the peasant, and in the home of the day labourer. Possibly, also, it may be of use to refresh the memories of some who have failed to keep up their early studies of History. Every Englishman and every Englishwoman should know the history of their own country. This manifestly true a.xiom is doubly important in these days, when political power is becoming so widely extended. For no one can be a good or safe politician who has not studied the history of his native land.

It is at least as dangerous for a nation as for an individual to neglect the experience of the past. Many useful lessons may be learnt from the mistakes and from the wisdom of our forefathers, from their vices and from their virtues, from their failures and from their successes. We may avoid their errors. We may copy their virtues. We may notice where they expended labour for objects which ultimately proved valueless. We may observe that some institutions which once seemed of value were so only for a time ; while, on the other hand, others remain for ever of the same importance. Time tests all things, and we, who live only for a day, cannot afford to disregard the verdicts obtained of men and things from the past. Not that we are to be slavish imitators of preceding generations. A man does not show that he has profited from his

PREFACE.

. VI childhood by remaining always boyish. Nevertheless, it is from experience that wisdom is obtained which may be brought to bear upon questions both old and new, while principles of right and wrong remain at all times the same. It is greatly to be regretted that the study of History is only permissible, not compulsory, in our schools. Hence there are many in which it is entirely untaught, and multitudes of English boys and girls are growing up ignorant of their ancestors' "brave deeds of old." No wonder if rash hands prove ready to pull to pieces old institutions when the cost at which they have been founded is entirely unknown. But in History we may trace, not only the development of the human mind and its works, but also the gently guiding hand of Pro vidence, leading nations, as it leads individuals, by ways they know not, to ever-widening fields of usefulness and of power.

All power is of God ; and hence, as has been well said, to God all who possess any share of it are responsible for its use. "God is the King over all the earth! He shall inherit all nations." NOTE. It being impossible to give references for all the quotations which form so large a proportion of a compilation like this, it may be well to mention some of the authors consulted, viz. Bede, Sharon Turner, Stow, Freeman, Froude, Clarendon, Pepys, Evelyn, De Foe, Voltaire, Macaulay, Lingard, Roche, Mahon, Jesse, Cassell, Macfarlane, Taswell- Longmead, Yonge, Dollinger, Earle, Hughes, and the works of James I. and letters of Charles I. to Henrietta Maria. CONTENTS. CHAP. PACE I. BRITAIN FROM A TIME UNKNOWN TO B.C. 50, . . . .1 II. ROMAN CONQUEST — FROM ABOUT B.C. 50 TO ABOUT A.D. 85, . .3 III. ROMAN RULE — FROM ABOUT A.D. 85 TO A.D. 4IO, ... 6 IV.

CHRISTIANITY IN BRITAIN, . . . . . . IO V. FROM ABOUT A.D. 410 TO ABOUT A.D. 836 INVASION AND MISERY, . 12 VI. PERIOD: THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES AFTER CHRIST — HOW CHRISTIANITY WAS INTRODUCED AMONGST THE ENGLISH, . 1 5 VII. FROM A.D. 827 TO A.D. IOI7 — EARLY ENGLISH KINGS, . . .20 VIII. HOW OUR FOREFATHERS LIVED — DUNSTAN, . . . .27 IX. FROM A.D. 979 TO A.D. IO42 DANISH RULE, . . . .30 X. A.D. IO42 TO A.D. 1066 EDWARD THE CONFESSOR — GODWIN — HAROLD, 33 XI. HAROLD AND WILLIAM THE NORMAN CONQUEROR, A.D. 1066, . . 36 XII. NORMAN RULE WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, A.D. I066 WILLIAM THE RED, 1087 HENRY I., IIOO — STEPHEN, II35, . . -39 XIII. HENRY II., A.D. 1154 RICHARD I., I189 GROWTH OF THE NATION THE CRUSADES, ....... 42 XIV. A.D. 1 199-I2 16 KING JOHN, THE POPE, AND THE BARONS, . . 48 XV. HENRY III., A.D. 1216-1272 THE KING AND THE BARONS' WAR, . 53 XVI.

EDWARD I., A.D. I272 EDWARD II., I307, . . . .56 XVII. EDWARD III., A.D. I327-I377 WARS WITH SCOTLAND AND FRANCE, . 60 XVIII. RICHARD II., A.D. I377-I399 — WICKLIF THE REFORMER THE PEASANTS' REVOLT, ........ 66 XIX. HENRY IV., A.D. 1399 — HENRY V., I413 — HENRY VI., 1422 EDWARD IV., 1461 EDWARD V., 1483 — RICHARD III., I483 HENRY VII., 1485, . 72 XX. HENRY VII., A.D. I485-1509 — DISCOVERY OF AMERICA, . 78 XXI. HENRY VIII., A.D. 1509 THE POPE FINALLY DISOWNED, . . .81 XXII. EDWARD VI., A.D. 1547-1553 — COMPILATION OF THE ENGLISH PRAYER-BOOK, 90 XXIII. MARY, A.D. 1553-1558— POPERY RE-ESTABLISHED, . . 94 XXIV. QUEEN ELIZABETH, A.D. 1558, ...... IOO XXV. QUEEN ELIZABETH, A.D. 1 558 — DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS, . . 104 XXVI. ELIZABETH MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, A.D. 1553-1587, . . . I08 XXVII. THE ARMADA, A.D. 1588, . . . . . . .

CONTENTS. VIII CHAP. PAGE XXVIII. ELIZABETH, A.D. 1558 TO A.D. 1603, ..... Il6 XXIX. JAMES I., A.D. 1603-1625 — HIS ACCESSION — THE GUNPOWDER PLOT, . 120 XXX. JAMES I., A.D. 1603-1625— KING AND PEOPLE AT VARIANCE, . . 125 XXXI. CHARLES I., A.D. 1625-1648 — KING AND COMMONS AT VARIANCE, . 129 XXXII. CHARLES I., A.D. 1629-1638 THE TYRANNY, .... I35 XXXIII. CHARLES I., A.D. 1638-1640 — JOHN HAMPDEN — THE SHORT PARLIAMENT, 140 XXXIV. CHARLES I., A.D. 1640-1648 — THE LONG PARLIAMENT — EXECUTION OF THE EARL OF STRAFFORD, . . . . . 1 44 XXXV. CHARLES I., A.D. 1642-1648 — CIVIL WAR — DEATH OF CHARLES, . 149 XXXVI. OLIVER CROMWELL, A.D. 1649-1658, ..... I56 XXXVII. THE PROTECTORATE, . . . . . . . 160 XXXVIII. CHARLES II., A.D. 1660-1685, ...... 163 XXXIX. JAMES II., A.D. 1685-1688 — A LAST ATTEMPT AT ABSOLUTE RULE, . 169 XL.

JAMES II., A.D. 1685-1688 DOING SOMETHING FOR HIS RELIGION, . 172 XLI. WILLIAM III. AND MARY, A.D. 1689-1702 A SOLDIER KING, . 1 78 XLII. ANNE, A.D. 1702-1714 WARS WITH LOUIS XIV. — WHIGS AND TORIES, 187 XLIII. GEORGE I., A.D. 1714-1727 — THE FIRST PRETENDER — A GREAT PRIME MINISTER, . . . . . . . .194 XLIV. GEORGE II., A.D. 1727-1760 THE YOUNG PRETENDER PITT, EARL OF CHATHAM — THE WEST AND THE EAST, . . . 1 98 XLV. GEORGE III., A.D. I760-182O WAR OF INDEPENDENCE IN AMERICA, . 203 XLVI. GEORGE III. — WARREN HASTINGS, ..... 208 XLVII. GEORGE III., A.D. 1760-1820 WILLIAM PITT THE YOUNGER WAR WITH FRANCE, . . . . . . 214 XLVIII. GEORGE III. — WAR WITH FRANCE BUONAPARTE AND WELLINGTON, . 2l8 XLIX. GEORGE IV., A.D. 1820-1830 — ABOLITION OF ROMAN CATHOLIC DISABILI- TIES WILLIAM IV. ABOLITION OF SLAVERY THE REFORM BILL, . 223 L. A GLANCE AT THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND, . . .228 LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE WINDSOR CASTLE, . . . Frontispiece THE ROMAN BATHS LATELY DISCOVERED AT BATH, 7 ALFRED IN THE DANISH CAMP, . . .24 PETER THE HERMIT PREACHING THE FIRST CRUSADE, 45 KING JOHN SIGNING MAGNA CHARTA, . . 51 QUEEN PHIL1PPA INTERCEDING FOR THE BURGESSES OF CALAIS, . . . .63 WICKLIF REPROVING THE FRIARS, . . 68 THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER, . . .76 PAGE THE GUNPOWDER PLOT— GUY FAWKES, . I23 KING CHARLES I. LEAVING CARISKROOKE CASTLE, 153 THE SEVEN BISHOPS BEING TAKEN TO THE TOWER jje JAMES II. ENTERING DUBLIN AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE, . . .179 LANDING OF WILLIAM III. AT TORBAY, . 184 GIBRALTAR FROM THE QUEEN OF SPAIN'S CHAIR, I9I CALCUTTA AS SEEN FROM THE MUSEUM, .

Chapter I Britain From

A TIME UNKNOWN TO B.C. 50. Old England, our beloved country, was once upon a time in a very different condition to what it is now. As we travel from place to place now by the trains, we pass towns andcities, and when we come to the seaside, we find large ports full of ships. But if we had visited England two thou sand years ago, we should have seen no cities, no towns, no churches ; no harbours full of ships, no good roads. What then should we have beheld ? We should have seen great forests stretching far and wide, in which prowled wolves and bears, while beavers built their curious dwellings across the lonely rivers. We should have seen broad marshes extending for many miles, and heavy fogs brooding over the damp ground. But it was no desert, unin- A habited land. We should have seen round huts made of twisted osiers filled in with clay, and sometimes clustered together in con siderable numbers.

In these huts dwelt the old Britons. They were a fine, tall race of men, with blue eyes and flowing light hair, but without beards. Brave and fierce, they loved liberty, but they also loved fighting. Many different tribes dwelt in different parts of our island, and these were always quarrelling with each other, and hence England, or Britain, as it was then called, could not become one great nation. Very ignorant were they of many things, and yet they were not savages. Their garments were chiefly of skins. They made themselves boats called coracles, in which they paddled about in the rivers to fish. They trained hounds to help them in hunting. They made chariots in which their chiefs led them to battle. Those who dwelt in the south, specially in Kent and in Cornwall, traded with the people of Gaul, or France, as it is now called, selling them slaves, tin, iron, corn, and cattle, and even some gold, which is said to have been then found in our land.

They were very religious in their way, but a sad dark religion they had ! They worshipped the sun and moon, and the gods of war, beauty, and plenty. They had a mighty order of priests called Druids. It was a great honour to be admitted into this order, and a man would sometimes spend twenty years in preparing for it. In the gloomy depths of the great thick woods might often be seen terrible deeds. There, shut up into wicker baskets, men, women, or children would be killed, or burnt in the flames as sacrifices to the gods ! Woe to any one who offended these stern priests ; and yet they were not altogether bad men. They were learned about many things, and taught the people about the stars, and about mathematics. They built wonderful temples, remains of which you may see now if you go to Stonehenge near Salisbury, or to Avebury, also in Wiltshire.

They loved their country, and we shall see they were ready to fight and to die for it. Such was the state of Old England about the time that our blessed Lord came into the world to be a light to lighten all nations, as well as the glory of His ancient people.

Chapter II. Roman Conquest From About

B.C. 50 TO ABOUT A.D. 85. "Sweet are the uses of adversity!" Men often learn much from troubles, and so do nations. Who knows how long Old England might have remained half savage, wasted with constant wars, and terror-stricken by their gloomy religion, if they had been left for ever to themselves ? But this was not to be, and a strange event happened about fifty years before the birth of Christ which was the beginning of great changes in our land. This event was the invasion and conquest of the country by the Romans. Who were the Romans ? They were one of the most remarkable nations that have ever existed. They were the inhabitants of Italy. Italy had been at one time divided into a number of little States. By degrees the people of Rome conquered them all, and gave their proud name to all the rest.

Their soldiers were trained to be very brave, obedient, and hardy. They were fed chiefly on coarse bread, and on pulse, a thick sort of pottage made of meal, beans, lentils, or peas, and drank a weak kind of native wine, like vinegar. But they were strong and bold, and under their great generals they would march whithersoever they were led. Whither did they not march ? They marched eastward, and conquered. They marched northward, and conquered. They marched over mountains, hills, and dales, and always conquered. They crossed the seas, and conquered Egypt and Palestine, and Greece and Syria and Persia. Spain and France and great parts of Germany, and what are now Belgium and Holland, were conquered one after the other ; and still they were not satisfied, and still they wanted to conquer more.

From France the Romans looked across the water, and could sometimes see white cliffs gleaming in the distance. Those were the cliffs of Old England, and much they wished to cross the water and conquer this far-away island. For they had heard that there were fertile fields in it, and that tin and silver and even sometimes gold were found in its mines, and that the inhabitants were brave and strong. At last, a general called Julius Cæsar, who wanted very much to make himself a great name, determined to conquer Britain. He collected his ships together, and soon they reached the shores. But the soldiers, bold as they were, were frightened by the fierce men who came trooping down the steep cliffs ready to fight them. They hung back, till a brave standard-bearer jumped into the water, and shouted to his comrades to follow.

So they landed, and, being better armed and trained than the Britons, they gained some success. But, a few days afterwards, a great storm came on and injured their ships. So Julius Cæsar thought they had better get away at once, and they went back to Gaul. This was the first invasion of the Romans, but it was only a little threatening of what was to come by and by. Next year Julius Cæsar came again with eight hundred ships, two thousand horsemen, and a great army of soldiers. What could the poor Britons do against such a force ? They knew they could not stand against them, so they fled to their woods. But still they had no idea of being beaten, and whenever the Romans came up to them, they sought them bravely, and the Druids led them on with desperate courage to the fight. But it was no use.

Unfortunately their different chiefs had been so in the habit of fighting with each other that they were not ready to join hand to hand against the foreign enemy. So again and again they were overcome, until at last, in later years, the Romans, under their general Agricola, marched onward and onward through the land, reached the far north, and even went far into Scotland. Amongst those who fought most bravely against the invaders was a king named Caractacus (a.d. 50), and a queen named Boadicea (a.d. 62). Caractacus ruled in the midland of our country. He was brave, ROMAN CONQUEST. 5 persevering, and intelligent. Far and wide his name was known and honoured, and the hopes of the Britons rested on him. But he was conquered, and with his wife and children was carried to Rome. A long dreary journey it must have been to the fallen chief.

Many hardships must the poor captives have suffered. But the spirit of Caractacus was not broken, and when he and his wife were brought in chains before the great Emperor Claudius, he defended himself, and said that by fighting in defence of his country he had brought glory to himself, and made the emperor more glorious who had conquered him. The Romans treated him kindly, and took the chains from his arms, and some say they let him return to Old England again, and rule a small part of it under them. They behaved much worse to the proud, brave Queen Boadicea. When she complained of some lands being unjustly taken from her, they whipped her, and insulted her fair young daughters. No wonder, then, that, stung with rage, she roused up her people to defend her. At first she seemed successful. London, which was quite a Roman town, was burned, and seventy thousand Romans are said to have been put to death.

Boadicea herself, " dressed in a long mantle, a chain of gold round her waist, and her long hair flowing to the ground," led them to another battle. But now she had to meet ten thousand Roman soldiers, advancing with all the skill of practised legions. She was defeated, and eighty thousand Britons were left dead on the ground. Rather than be taken captive, the unhappy queen took poison and died. Thus at last the Romans became lords over all the land, and the Britons, no longer free to wander at will through their forests, were completely subdued.

Chapter III. Roman Rule From About

A.D. 85 TO A.D. 4IO. The Romans had conquered all Britain. What did they do with it ? They held it about three hundred and twenty-five years, and during that period they wonderfully altered its condition, and in many ways improved it. First, they made great roads from end to end of the land. There were four in particular of much importance, known as Watling Street, the Foss, Icknield Street, and Ermyn Street. Watling Street went from London to Shropshire, and thence passed into Wales. The Foss went from Devonshire to Lincoln. The Icknield road passed from Bury in Suffolk to Gloucester, and Ermyn Street ran through the Fens from London to Lincoln, and so on to the south of Scotland. There were many other roads, but these were the four chief. They formed great encampments, remains of which may be seen to this day.

They built upwards of a hundred towns, the principal of which were London, Colchester, Bath, Gloucester, York, Chester, Lincoln, and Chesterfield. Remains of their work may be seen to this day in many a strong old wall and gateway. At Bath we see remains of the grand baths they built in which to enjoy the healing " Waters of the Sun," as they called them. Near Brading in the Isle of Wight may still be seen ruins of a villa which some Roman built long ago. It had a court or portico, with a dozen rooms, one being a fine chamber of considerable size, in which a handsome mosaic pavement still remains. Think of that ! These Roman hands did no slack work. Whatever they undertook, they accomplished in the best fashion possible, and they did it all to last ! x 1 Silchester, in Hampshire, was an important Roman town, the plan of which has been THE ROMAN BATHS LATELY DISCOVERED AT BATH, ROMAN RULE. 9 Traces are still plain of Roman mining operations in lead, copper, iron, and coal in various English counties, and pottery kilns with Roman letters on vessels are found in Somersetshire, Worcestershire, Northamptonshire, and Essex.

Glass was also manufactured, and ornaments of jet. A traffic went on with distant Rome, and foreign lu.xuries were brought to our shores. In fact, the Britons must have gazed with surprise at all the wonderful things accomplished by their new lords. But, after all, it was only "like a piece of new cloth on an old garment." The Romans despised the Britons, and lived quite aloof from them. But our forefathers saw what comfort and civilisation were, and could never again be satisfied with their former semi barbarous life. By and by the great Empire of Rome began to fall to pieces. The people became corrupt and self-indulgent. The wild tribes of Germany and Hungary poured in upon Italy. Then their soldiers were called back from foreign lands, amongst others from England. Again they entered their ships, and left for ever the island which never more would bow beneath the yoke of Rome ! recently revealed.

We read that " the wall still remains, and the position of its four gates has been ascertained. The circuit was about a mile and a half, and within this have been traced not only the lines of streets, and the course of the main roads, but the forum has been uncovered, and also the remains of temples, as well as of houses with their tesselated floors. The forum, or court, was in the centre of the city. . . . There was an amphitheatre outside the walls, of which formerly the ranges of seats could be traced. ... A bronze Roman eagle was discovered. . . . The oldest coin discovered is one of Augustus, date about A.D. 50." I;

Chapter IV. Christianity In Britain

We often hear of missionary meetings. We see clergymen and ladies ready to go to India, China, Japan, or Africa, to tell the heathen about the blessed Saviour. Do we remember that our own Britain was once a heathen land, and needed missionaries to come and preach the gospel ? When and how did Christianity come to Britain ? It is not unlikely that some Roman soldiers in the armies of the Cæsars may have been the first Christians to tread on our shores. Some say, however, that the great Apostle Paul himself came here, according to what his friend Clement wrote of him, that " he came to the farthest limits of the West." Then, again, there is a curious old story that Joseph of Arimathea landed on the south-west coast of England, and that he miraculously planted his thorn-staff and made it grow and blossom at Glastonbury !

We need not believe this fable, but of course it is possible that either Joseph or Paul came. One would like to think that the great Apostle of the Gentiles, the pattern of all missionaries, was here, but it cannot be proved. Another pretty story is that Bran, Claudia, and Tenus, father, daughter, and son of Caractacus, became Christians in Rome, and on returning from captivity brought the gospel with them. But one thing seems pretty certain. Many missionaries came to England from Gaul, who had themselves been taught about Christ by unknown believers who had travelled from the East. We know this, because the early British Christians used to keep Easter at the same time as did the Greek Church, and not as did the Romans. Certain it is that Christianity spread rapidly throughout our land, and by the beginning of the CHRISTIANITY IN BRITAIN. 11 fourth century after Christ it was so firmly established that three English bishops were sent to a council held at Aries, in Gaul.

But the early Roman emperors hated Christianity. They were accustomed to be honoured themselves as gods, and were very unwilling to acknowledge the crucified Jesus as King, and as the Son of God. They persecuted the Christians, therefore, even in their most distant provinces, and some were put to death here in England. There was a brave and wealthy Roman named Alban, who one day kindly sheltered a Christian priest who was being pursued by the soldiers. From him Alban learned the truth as it is in Jesus. To Christ he gave his whole heart, and was ready to die rather than give him up. He was seized. He was commanded to burn incense to the heathen gods. He refused. He was tortured, but would not obey. Then he was dragged outside the city, "to a hill called Holmhurst, adorned, or rather clothed, with all kinds of flowers, having its sides neither perpendicular nor even craggy, but sloping down into a most beautiful plain, worthy from its lovely appearance to be the scene of the martyr's suffering.

Here, therefore, his head was struck off, and he received the crown of life which God has promised to those that love Him."1 That youthful martyr can never be forgotten in England. There is now a Bishop of St. Albans, in Hertfordshire, the cathedral and town being called after him. Are there any young men ready to follow now in Alban's steps, and who are not ashamed to own Christ ? Our own brave General Gordon was such a one, to whom we see a beautiful statue erected in Trafalgar Square. The Liturgy, or Church Service, used in the early British Church, was said to have been compiled by the Apostle St. John. Certain it is, it did not come from Rome. What a blessed change from the religion of the Druids to that of the Lord Jesus Christ! No more human sacrifices! no more gloomy rites ! An old Briton might have said, as a Mohammedan lately converted in India said, when he was asked why he embraced Christianity, " I never knew love till I heard of the Lord Jesus ! " 1 See Bede's Ecclesiastical History. Some historians question the truth of this story.

Chapter V. From About

A.D. 4IO TO ABOUT A.D. 836 INVASION AND MISERY. It must have seemed strange to the Britons to see the Romans who had dwelt so long in their land depart from its shores. They were accustomed to obey them almost as if they were a superior order of beings. Under their rule, quiet had been established. No enemies dared to invade them. But now they were gradually leaving them. Legion after legion of soldiers marched to Kent or Sussex, to embark for Italy. From city after city which they had founded, and where they had long dwelt, the stalwart companies came forth, and filed, hundreds by hundreds, down to the ships, mostly, doubtless, rejoicing to leave this distant isle and return to their beloved Italy. How long it took to withdraw them all we cannot exactly say. But soon only a few Romans remained in the land, — civilians who preferred to stay in the towns where they had so long dwelt, a few wealthy men who did not choose to leave the beautiful villas they had built, sick people who were unable to go, however much they desired it.

It was as if, a few years ago, Queen Victoria had called back all the English from India, and left the Hindoos to themselves. Probably the Britons gazed on their departing conquerors with mixed feelings of amazement and pleasure. Yes, they were going, these haughty strangers who treated them all as slaves. Yes, they were going, these people of a different speech to theirs, who never cared to show more than a proud compassion towards them, except in those few instances where an officer or soldier was a true Christian, who then felt every fellow-Christian, be he even a poor Briton, to be his brother. INVASION AND MISER Y. 13 But if the Britons rejoiced to see the Romans leave their shores, and exulted when the sails of their vessels carried the last legions away, their joy did not last long.

Soon the Picts and Scots, fierce tribes who dwelt to the north of England and in Scotland, and who had long been kept off by dread of the Romans, came pouring into the land. They overran large districts with astonishing rapidity. They harried and worried them. They ravaged the country, and carried off the harvests. In despair the Britons sent off a piteous appeal to the Romans, to return and defend them from these wild invaders. This petition was called "The Groans of the Britons." "The barbarians," they wrote, " chase us into the sea ; the sea throws us back upon the shore ; and we have only the choice left us between perishing by the sword or by the sea." But the Romans had enough to do to defend their own crumbling empire, and they turned a deaf ear to the appeal of the far-away islanders.

So the weary warfare went on, till at last one of the British chiefs, called Vortigern, foolishly sent to ask help from some of the tribes who swarmed on the northern coasts of Germany. Jutes, Angles, Saxons, such were the names of these tribes. Heathen, warlike, fierce, despising a settled life and any habits of industry, they roved wherever they could, and lived mostly on plunder. Naturally they were forced to spread farther and farther, and they were only too ready to cross the Northern Sea and leap on British shores. They drove back the Picts and Scots, indeed, but very soon they showed that they themselves had no idea of leaving. The Britons found that to keep out the stream they had let in the ocean ! Too late they roused themselves to endeavour to get rid of these new invaders ! In vain!

Their numbers were endless. Bit by bit the Angles possessed themselves of their land. With reckless cruelty they burnt alike the towns of the Romans, the hamlets of the Britons, the little Christian churches which were dotted over the land. The Britons now fought desperately, for house and home, for the dear life itself. But in vain ! Inch by inch was contested, but the wild strangers, like wolves among a flock of sheep, slew them by thousands. The Britons were almost ■4 utterly destroyed. Those who were left were driven back and back westwards to Somersetshire, Devonshire, Cornwall, and to what is now called Wales, where they even lost their old name of Britons, and were called Welsh or strangers. Meanwhile the rest of our country became known as England, or the land of the Angles, who took possession of more territory than the other invading tribes.