Front matter
I LIE EAR! OF CONGRESS.*;
w ■ w
^ %i\x.vl^%.. lopTjrigM ?\'o %
Section I. The Ancient Britons Page 11
2. Oi" England under the Saxona 13
3. The lieptarchy 13
4. England under the Anglo-Saxon Kings. — A. D. 827 l(j
6. Edward, Athelstan, Edmund 21
6.- Edward, Ethelred, Edmond, Sweyn 24
7. Canute, Harold, Hardicanute, Edward 25
CHAPTER ir. — THE NORMANS; BLOIS.
Section Jl. William the Conqueror. — A. D. 1066 28
2. William Rufus. — A. D. 1087 30
4. Stephen. — House of Blois. — A. D. 1135 36
CHAPTER HI. — PLANTAGENET&
Section 1. Henry II. — A. D. 1155 37
2. Henry II., contmued 40
9. Richard II — A.D. 1377 62
CHAPTER IV.— HOUSES OF LANCASTER AND YORK.
Section 1. Henry IV. — A. D. 1399 65
5. Edward V. — A. D. 1483 ; Richard III. — A. D. 1483 73
CHAPTER v. — HOUSE OF TUDOR.
Section 1. Henry VII. — A.D. 1485 75
2 Henry Vill. — A.D. 1509 77
3. Henry VI H., continued 80
4. Henry VIII., continued 84
7. Mary, continued 92
9. Elizabeth, continued 96
10. Elizabeth, continued 98
11. Elizabeth, continued , 103
CHAPTER VI. — HOUSE OF STUART.
Section 1. James I. — A. D. 1603 105
2. James I., continued 107
4. Charles I., continued 112
Vm CONTENTS.
Section 5. Charles I., continued ...,,..,,.., « , < 114
6. Charles I., continued , , v. ., 117
7. Charles I., continued 120
8. The Commonwealth.— A. D. 1649 124
9. The Commonwealth, continued 126
10. Richard Cromwell 129
12. Charles II., continued 132
13. Charles II., continued 134
14. Charle.s II., continued 136
17. James II., continued 143
18 William III. and Mary. — A. D. 1688 147
19. William and Mary, continued 150
21. Anne, continued 156
CHAPTER VII. — HOUSE OF BRUNSWICK.
Section 1. George I. — A. D. 1714 158
2. George I., continued 161
4. George II., continued 165
HISTORY OF SCOTLAND.
Chapter 1. Ancient Inhabitants 195
2. David II 197
3. Mary. Queen of Scots, &c 201
4. James VI 203
5. On the Ancient Constitution of the Scottish Government 206
HISTORY OF WALES.
Chapter 1. Ancient Britons 207
2. Roderic Moehvynoc 212
3. Jeuav and Jago, Howel Dha 213
4. Trahaearn, Gryffydh, Owen . 215
6. Llewelyn, David 217
HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Chapter 1. The original inhabitants 220
2. Evidences of iis antiquity 223
3. Ollamh Fodlila : 225
4. Tnathal, Keidlim, Con 227
5. Pelagius, St. Patrick 229
6. Brien Boiroimhe 2.S2
7. Edward I. and II., Richard II 237
8. Henry IV.andV 239
9. The doctrines in the Irish church 241
10. Elizabeth, James 1., Charles I., &c 243
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Landing of Julius Cassar .- Page 2
Alfred in the Neatherd's Hut 19
William I. wounded by his Son 31
Richard I. in Palestine 43.
Henry III. entering the Armed Parhament 61
Great Naval Engagement off Sluys 59
Execution of Anne Bullen 82
Elizabeth haranguing her Troops at Tilbury 100
Exficulion of Charles I 122
Landing of the Prince of Orange at Torbay 145
Death of Sir Ra.*^ Abercrombie 179
Mary, Queen of Scots, embarking for Scotland 198
Caractacus before Claudius 207
Dermot MacMurrough carrying off the Princess Dovergilda 231
HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAPTER I.
SECTION I.
Among all the ancient historians, but little light has been shed on Britain, till Julius Caisar, fifty-five years before Christ, attempted the conquest of it; except that the Britons were of Gauiic or Celtic origin, that they enjoyed a free government, and were remarkable for their ferocity and barbarism. Those of them, however, that inhabited the south-east part of the island, had become acquainted with agriculture ; and the southern coast, opposite Gaul, was frequented by merchants, who traded thither for such commodities as the natives were able to produce. The other inhabitants maintained themselves by pasturage, removing perpetually their seats, and raising temporary huts in their forests and inarslies.
The Britons, addicted to war, and jealous of their liberty, were divided into small nations, under the government of kings, or rather of chieftains, who possessed a precarious authority ; but in great and imminent dangers, a commander-in-chief was chosen by common consent, in a general assembly. Of their mode of warfare, Caesar gives a description ; and their dexterity in managing their war-chariots he ascribes to constant use and incessant exercise ; thereby intimating that the Britons were perpetually engaged in intestine wars.
The priests, whom they called Druids, were the guardians of their religion, and enjoyed the greatest influence in their States. The ascendant they obtained tliey had procured by the terrors of superstition. Exempted from taxes and from military service, intrusted witii the education of their youth, the judges of all matters, civi) or criminal, and respected as oracles, they punished the refractory by terrible penalties. Among their religious tenets they maintained the eternal transmigration of souls, and human sacrifices and other barbarous rites made a part of tiie religion which they inculcated. That the s-'perstition of the
What was the probable origin of the '"ritnns? — What their employment ? — What their government ? — What their mode of warfare? — Who the guardians of their jeiigion ?
Druids was of singular force, we may easily conceive, since the Romans employed against it the rigour of penal laws.
Impelled by the love of glory, Csesar attempted the invasion of Britain, and obliged the inhabitants to promise submission, which they violated the moment his departure allowed them an opportunity to resume their arms. The next year he returned, with a greater army, and exacted from them new acknowledgements. It was not, however, till the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius, nearly a century after the first landing of CiEsar, that the Romans possessed any real dominion over the Britons. Claudius made an expedition in his own person to Britain, and the brave Caractacus was led captive to Rome.
Suetonius Paulinus, under the reign of Nero, gave the Britons a severe blow by attacking Mona, now Anglesey, the principal retreat of the Druids. He destroyed their altars and consecrated groves ; but no sooner was he removed to a distance, than they returned to hostilities imder the conduct of Boadicea, queen of the Iceni ; a heroine, whom the indignities offered ,to her person by the Romans, had stimulated to revenge. London, then a considerable colony, she reduced to ashes, and put the Romans there, with all other strangers, to the sword. Suetonius in his turn gained a decisive victory; and Boadicea, that she might not tall into his hands, put an end to her life by poison.
The glory of subduing Britain was reserved for Julius Agricola, of whom Tacitus, his son-in-law, has immortalized the virtues and the talents. This great man governed it during the reigns of Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian *. Having first subjugated the southern parts of the island, Agricola advanced northward, driving before him the fiercer tribes ; and having chased them into the mountains of Caledonia, he erected a rampart to set bounds to their violent incursions. He introduced among them the arts of peace, and reconciled them to more cultivated manners. Adrian, Antoninus, and Severus added new fortifications to the wall of Agricola, and the country enjoying during a long period an uninterrupted peace, its inhabitants seem to have relinquished the hope, if not the desire, of independence.
The Roman empire had at length grown feeble under the weight of its conquests. A deluge of barbarians pouring from the north attacked a power that oppressed the world, and it was necessary to recall the legions who were defending the frontier provinces; on which the Picts and Scots broke over the wall of separation, and ravaged the fields of their effeminate neighbours.
The Britons implored the protection of the Romans, who sent them a single legion. This force was suflncient to disperse the enemy ; but, immediately on its departure, they returned to distress the Britons.
But the Romans, in the reign of the Emperor Valentinian, after encouraging the Britons to defend themselves, and assisting them to rebuild * Tliese emperors reigned between the years a.d. 70 and 96.
What their influence? — What was effected by Julius Caesar? — By Claudius? — What did Suetonius effect? — Who was boadicea? — Who fullysubdued the Britons ? — And in whose reigns ? — What oc'/nsioned the recal of the Roman legions from Britain ? — What were the last acts of the Romans in Britain ? — What followed their departure ?
SAXONS. 13
the wall of Sev'erus, bade them a final adieu, a. d. 448. The pusillanimous Britons soon became a prey to the rapacity of the Scots and Picts, and by the advice of Vortigern, one of their princes, they despatched an embassy to Germany, and invited over the Saxons, a people that were soon to enslave them.
Section 2. Of England Under The Saxons
The Saxons inhabited the north and north-western parts of Germany. They were possessed of great martial ardour, and nothing could be more acceptable to them than the deputation of the Britons. Hengist and Horsa, two brothers, respectable from their birth and authority, arrived with fifteen hundred men and landed on the Isle of Thanet. They were soon followed by five thousand more, and being joined by the British forces, they gained a complete victory in Lincolnshire over the Picts and Scots, a. d. 450.
It is related that Hengist derived singular advantage from the charms of his sister, Rowena, who had drawn to her the affections of Vortigern.
Hengist, with the recruits he received from Germany, spread rapidly his conquests. The Britons, in great numbers, fled to Armorica, now Brittany. After the death of Vortimer, Amhrosius was promoted to the chief authority, but his courage, and the efforts of his unfortunate countrymen, were unable to expel the usurpers. — -Hengist founded the kingdom of Kent, His success drew over other adventurers from Germany, and the Britons, after several defeats, took refuge in the inaccessible mountains of Cornwall and Wales.
Ella, a Saxon chief, arrived in a. d. 477, and having established himself on the southern coast, became King of Sussex. Cerdic, another Saxon conqueror, was opposed with more vigour. The famous King Arthur, whose achievements have given occasion to so many fables, and who is celebrated in romances, as the founder of the Round Table, defeated him in several battles,
Cerdic, however, assisted by his son Kenric, established the kingdom of Wessex, comprehending the counties of Hants, Dorset, Wilts, Berks, and the Isle of Wight. About the same time were established the kingdom of the East Angles, that of Mercia, and that of Essex. The kingdom of Northumberland was not founded till the year 547.
In this manner was the Heptarchy, or the seven Saxon kingdoms, established in Britain ; and, having subdued their common enemy, the Britons, they soon began to turn their arms against each other,
Section 3. % The Heptarchy
' Kent. — The two immediate successors of Hengist chose to enjoy his conquests, rather than imitate his example. Ethelbert, his grand-
Who were the Saxons ? — Who were their leaders ? — Where did the Britons flee for refuge ? — Who opposed the establishments of the Saxon chiefs ? — What Saxon kingdoms were finally established ? 2 son, seems, liowever, to have inherited his valour and his ambition. The event which particularly distinguished the reign of this prince was the introduction of Christianity into his kingdom ; though this system of faith had, long before this period, been embraced by the Britons. The Saxons had lived in the grossest idolatry : their principal deity was Woden, whom they considered as presiding over war ; and from whom they conceived their ancestors were descended. The hope of being admitted into his hall or palace, in recompense for their valour, and of drinkmg ale from the skulls of their enemies, induced them to expose themselves to the greatest dangers. But the example of the Franks, Burgundians, and other German nations who had been converted to the Christian religion, had already contributed to produce in them a contempt of pagan superstitions.
Gregory, surnamed the Great, sent Augustin on a mission to Britain, but so great was the stupidity of the Saxons, that Ethelbert, afraid lest these foreign priests should employ magic and sorcery against him, received them in the open air, in order to interrupt the force of their enchantments. Augustin explained the truths of the gospel, and obtained permission to preach them publicly. The austerities of his life confirmed his doctrines. The king allowed himself to be baptized, and a great number of his subjects followed his example. Augustin was afterwards consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury.
Northumberland. — This kingdom, which comprehended the northern counties of England, was originally divided into two independent governments, the Deiri and the Bernici. Adelfrid, king of the latter, possessed himself of the former. This conquest rendered him formidable to the Picts and Scots. The Welsh also were bold enough to attack him near Chester; and a body of monks from the monastery of Bangor accompanied the army. Adelfrid, perceiving them at some distance from the field of battle, enquired the meaning of so unusual an appearance. He was told that a body of priests were come out to pray against him. "Then," said he, "they are as much our enemies as those who fight against us ;" and he sent a detachment to cut in pieces the monkish battalion. The Welsh, seized with consternation, took flight; Chester was taken, and the monastery of Bangor demolished.
The young Edwin, whom Adelfrid had dispossessed of the crown of Deiri, afterwards recovered it by the assistance of Redwakl, King of the East Angles, who, marching against Adelfrid, defeated and slew him. Edwm, becoming King of Northumberland, distinguished himself by the strict execution of justice. The arguments of Paulinus induced him to renounce idolatry, and both king and people opened their eyes to the light of the gospel. Paulinus was the first Archbishop of York.
East Anglia. — This kingdom comprehended the provinces of Cambridge, Suffolk, and Norfolk. A long catalogue of obscure and contemptible princes, who were either expelled or murdered, tills the annals
What is said of F.thelbert's reign? — Wlio was the principal deity among ihe Saxons ? — Whom did Gregory send on a mission to Britam ? — What was his snccess?"-^How did Adelfrid treat ihe monks of Bangor? — What followed ? — Whom did Paulinus, Archbishop of York, convert to Christianity? — What provinces did East Anglia comprehead ?
SAXONS. 15
of this kingdom. The last of these princes, Ethelbert, was assassinated by Offa, King of the Mercians, a. d. 792.
Mercia. — This kingdom, the most extensive of the heptarchy, incUided all the interior counties of England. Offa, the most distinguished of the Mercian princes, ascended the throne in a. d. 755, but the lustre of his victories was tarnished by the murder of Ethelbert, King of East Anglia, who had come to his court to espouse his daughter, and he then possessed himself of his dominions. Remorse for his crime induced him to enrich the cathedral of Hereford, to erect a magnificent monastery at Verulam, to undertake a pilgrimage to Rome, with other like acts. Moral excellence in those times was deemed less meritorious than the founding of religious houses and the exterior practices of devotion.
This prince died a. d. 794. He was acquainted with Charlemagne. The other Kings of Mercia are not worthy of particular notice.
Essex and Sussex were the most inconsiderable kingdoms of the heptarchy. That of Essex, or the East Saxons, was but of small extent ; and that of Sussex, or the South Saxons, contained only the provinces of Sussex and Surrey. The annals of both the one and the other are barren and defective.
Wessex. — This kingdom, which lay westward of the principalities of Kent and Sussex, had its name from the people who founded it. Continual wars fostered their military genius. Ceaulin, their third king, oppressed the ancient Britons who had taken shelter in Cornwall, and was ambitious to extend his conquests over the heptarchy. Becoming odious to his subjects, he was expelled from the throne, and died in exile and in misery.
Ina, one of his successors, deserves to be mentioned with honour. He united in his person the civil and military virtues. Having conquered the Britons in Somerset, he treated them with humanity, permitted them to retain possession of their lands, incorporated them with his subjects by intermarriages and equal laws. After a glorious reign of thirty- ' seven years, he went on a pilgrimage to Rome, and then retired to a cloister ; a species of devotion then very common.
The immediate successors of Ina were obscure and undistinguished, and we pass from them to Egbert, after making mention of Brithric, who, with a title inferior to that of Egbert, possessed himself of the throne in 784. He was taken off by poison, which the jealousy of his queen had prepared for another.
Egbert was called to the vacant throne. Great objects opened themselves to his ambition. The royal families, in all the kingdoms of the heptarchy, had become entirely extinguished. Devotion had buried many of them in cloisters, and the rivalship of many princes had led to the extermination of others; so that Egbert was the sole descendant of those princes who first subdued Britain; and he enhanced his authority by claiming a pedigree from Woden.
What did Of!a to atone for the murder of Ethelbert? — What is worth}' of note in Essex, Sussex, and Wessex ? — Relate the characters of Ina and his successors. — What prospects opened to Egbert's ambition ?
The Mercians, who at that time possessed great power, attacked him and were defeated. The kingdoms of Kent, Essex, and East Anglia, had become tributary to him ; and two successful battles put him in possession of Mercia. Then marching towards Northumberland, that people, tired of anarchy, came out to do him homage. Thus the heptarchy was consolidated into one kingdom called England, from the name of one of the Saxon tribes who, four hundred years before, had made a settlement in this country.
Section 4. I
ENGLAND UNDER THE ANGLO-SAXON KINGS.
A. D. 827.
Under Egbert, a king powerful and warlike, and the only remaining descendant of the founders of the heptarchy, England seemed likely to be formidable to its neighbours, and to remain undisturbed by foreign incursions. But the North of Europe was ever producing numerous armies of barbarians, whom the desire of settlements, or the hopes of plunder, urged to the invasion of countries more fertile than their own. After having overrun the North of France, they threw themselves upon England. Their first inroads into this country were made as early as the year 787, in the decline of the Saxon Heptarchy; and they renewed their visits in the reign of Egbert. Nor were they discouraged, though defeated by this prince in a great battle. They penetrated into Devonshire, and were again vanquished. But Egbert died too soon for his people ; leaving the crown to his son, who was but little able to sustain its weight.
Ethelwolf, the successor of Egbert, in 838, had the virtues of a monk, not those of a king. He began his reign by dismembering the monarchy, by delivering to his eldest son, Athelstan, the provinces of Essex, Kent, and Sussex. The Danes took advantage of his weakness ; and though they were sometimes defeated by the valour of the English, the kingdom was yet laid waste and ravaged. Their small vessels ran easily up creeks and rivers, and spreading themselves on the coast, they carried off men and cattle and their moveable possessions. They exercised their rage against churches, priests, and monks, and hastening to their ships, they immediately disappeared. When chased from one place, they presented themselves in another. Inquietude and terror became general over the whole island ; every season of the year was dangerous. A fleet of 350 sail having brought them a strong reinforcement, they advanced from the Isle of Thanet, burnt the cities of London and Canterbury, and penetrated into Surrey. Ethelwolf 's ineffectual opposition, or partial victories, afforded but a short interruption to their devastations.
In the midst of these dangers, this weak prince set out on a pilgrimage to Rome, and his liberality to the Romish Church was great; on
How was the heptarchy consolidated, and by whom? — What people disturbed the country in the time of Egbert? — Who succeeded him? — Describe the ravages of the Danes.
ALFRED. 17
his return home, he married the daughter of Charles the Bald. About the same time this prince conferred a donation on the clergy, which has been entailed on posterity. The Jewish law, which had bestowed a tenth of all the produce of the land on the Levites, was universally regarded by the clergy as obligatory on Christians; and they were inclined to extend it to the tenth of all industry, merchandize, wages of labourers, and pay of soldiers. After much resistance from the laity, Ethel wolf granted their request; and the States of the kingdom consented to the establishment of tithes.
The king died in 857, two years after this concession, and his will divided the kingdom between his sons, Ethelbald and Ethelberl ; but the reign of these princes was short, and much molested by the irruptions of the Danes. They were succeeded by their brother, Ethelred, in 866, who, several times, assisted by his brother Alfred, signalized himself by his valour against these pirates. He died of a wound received in another action with the enemy. Alfred, his successor, was the fifth son of Ethelwolf ; and was born to support the tottering throne, and to establish the felicity of his nation.
Alfred, in 872, and when twenty-two years of age, was called to the exercise of royalty. Ethelred left issue, but the vows of the whole nation, and the distresses of the kingdom, required an arm of known prowess to wield the sceptre ; and the order of succession was not nicely observed, in these times, provided the prince was of the royal line.
We are assured that in a journey to Rome, whither his father had sent him, he had received the royal unction from the hands of Leo IV. Parental indulgence had suffered him to pass his twelfth year without instruction ; but, the hearing of some Saxon poems read, which recounted the praise of heroes, awaked his genius, and made him emulous to attain to the like fame.
The study of the Latin tongue opened to him more abundant sources of improvement, and the early taste he discovered for works which inspired him with heroic sentiments, prognosticated his future greatness.
In Alfred's first encounter with the Danes, they were discomfited, and became bound never to return to the kingdom. But oaths could not bind men who had never submitted to laws. They soon renewed their depredations, and Alfred was again under the necessity of opposing their ravages. In one year he fought eight battles against them, and having reduced them to the utmost extremity, he made them an offer of a settlement in England, if they would defend it against the incursions of future invaders; but, while deliberating concerning it, being reinforced by new bodies of their countrymen, they proceeded to exercise their usual depredations.
The courage of the English sunk under this new misfortune ; and in their distress many abindoned their country, and others submitted to servitude. The king, finding himself without troops and without hope, dismissed his attendants, and in the disguise of a peasant, concealed
When and by whom were tithes first established ? — Name the sons and successors of Kthelwolf" — Describe the characterof Alfred. — The events of his childhood. — What engagement took place between hirn and the Danes? — What occurred to him, in the disguise of a peasant? 2* lO HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
himself in the house of a neatherd, whose wife exacted his assistance in her domestic affairs. Finding an opportunity to collect a number of his partisans, he retired to an inaccessible morass in the county of Somerset, and erected a fortification. From these he made frequent and unexpected sallies upon the barbarians, who felt the vigour of his arm, but Icnew not from what quarter they received the blow.
The news that the Earl of Devonshire had obtained a victory over the enemy, and had even got possession of their enchanted standard, drew this hero from his retreat, and in order to assure himself of the probability of success, he entered the camp of the enemy in the disguise of a harper. He was introduced into the tent of their prince, Guthrum, where he remained several days. Observing their negligence and supine security, he returned to his followers with the hopes of a certain victory.
Emissaries being despatched, the soldiers flocked to his standard, and the enemy was surprised and routed. The fugitives he besieged in a fortified town, to which they had retired. The Danes, oppressed by famine, submitted to the victor. The conditions of Alfred were accepted, one of which was that they should embrace the doctrines of Christianity ; and the kingdom was not for many years infested with the ravages of the Danes.
This interval of tranquillity he employed in restoring order to the State, and in establishing salutary institutions. His prudence suggested to him the most proper expedient for uniting the English and the Danes. He governed them by equal laws, and made no difference between them in the administration of civil or criminal justice. The cities which had been desolated, were repaired ; and that of London in particular, which became the capital of the kingdom. A regular and formidable militia was judiciously stationed throughout the country for the national defence. But of all his establishments, the most useful were his naval preparations. A hundred and thirty vessels of war, stationed along the coast, kept at defiance those fleets of pirates which had before invaded the island without opposition. He instructed his subjects in the art of navigation. Who would have thought that an art at that time so little known in England, was one day to be the foundation of its power !
These wise expedients, however, conld not secure the tranquillity of the kingdom. Hastings, the celebrated Danish pirate, having ravaged a part of France, prepared to invade England, with a fleet of three hundred and thirty sail. The terrible outrages they committed served to augment the glory of Alfred. After a g-reat slaughter the rebels were defeated and put to flight, and tranquillity was again restored.
He divided the kingdom into counties, subdividing the counties into hundreds, and these again into tithings. In cases of great moment, the hundreds assembled, and twelve freeholders were chosen. This proceeding gave rise to juries, calculated for the security of liberty, and the equal administration of justice. Alfred appointed also a sheriff in each
In what disguise did Alfred enter the Danish camp? — What followed ? — ^To what terms did the Danes submit?— -Describe Alfred's government, — What Danish pirate committed great outrages ? — How did Alfred divide and subdivide the country ?
ALFRED.-'— ED WAED. ATHELSTAN. 21
county. He framed a body of laws for the magistracy, and reformed and extended previous institutions. He invited learned men from every part of Europe ; and established schools for the instruction of youth. He either founded, or at least rebuilt the University of Oxford, and endowed it with many privileges.
I This great prince divided his time into three equal portions; one he dedicated to study, and the exercises of piety ; another to the despatch of business; and a third to the refection of his body. He measured his hours by burning tapers of equal length. By such a regular distribution of time, he became one of the most learned men of his age. He translated into the Saxon language the Fables of ^Esop, the History of Bede, and other works. He composed parables and short poems, to communicate the duties of morality to a people not yet susceptible of speculative instruction.
The attention of Alfred was extended to every object interesting to society. He encouraged the mechanic arts, agriculture, navigation, and commerce.
The English began to carry their trade into distant countries, and to import the productions of the Indies. A seventh part of the revenue of the Crown was set apart for the repair of ruined cities, castles, palaces, and churches. In short, the admirable institutions he put in execution, during a reign of no great length, cannot be enumerated in the compressed limits of this work ; they are beyond all eulogiums. No king had ever a better title to the surname of Great.
Alfred died in the fifty-second year of his age. a. d. 900.
Section 5
Edward, surnamed the Elder, because he was the first king of England of that name, was the second son of Alfred ; and though he was inferior to his father in mental accomplishments, he equalled him in military skill and conduct. Ethelwald, his cousin-german, disputed with him the succession to the throne, but in a terrible battle fought in Kent he perished. Northumberland, East Anglia, and Mercia sent out bands of robbers, who desolated the kingdom. Edward entered the field against them, and defeated them. During the whole of his reign he was engaged in wars, either with the Danes, who had settled in England, or with those bands whose object was plunder; and he had the good fortune to subject the former, and to expel the latter. He died in 925.
Athelstan, his natural son, succeeded him, (the legitimate offspring of the last king being too young for the cares of government,) his illegitimacy not being in those times a sufficient obstacle to exclude him from the succession. The Danes in Northumberland were constantly in a disposition to revolt, but Athelstan successfully opposed them, and thjus gave tranquillity to the kingdom. The valour and the ability of this prince, have procured him the highest encomiums. He encouraged commerce by promulgating a law, " that every merchant who had made
The opening of the book is shown; the full text loads in the reader.
Loading the full text…
The end
You’ve reached the end of History of England : with separate historical sketches of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland : from the invasion of Julius Cæsar until the accession of Queen Victoria to the British throne : drawn from the most authentic sources, and designed for the use of schools : illustrated by numerous engravings : with questions for examination.