Abridgment of the History of England

Front matter

I

8 mil o

ABRIDGMENT

Preface

At no previous period, perhaps, was the study of English history of more importance than at the present ; an abridgment, therefore, of Dr. Lingard's history for the use of schools, cannot prove otherwise than acceptable to those charged with the instruction of youth. A desire has frequently been expressed that such an abridgment might be given to the public ; and to accomplish this object, to furnish a text-book of English history, which may be freely placed in the hands of the young, is the design of the following work.

To speak of the merits of Dr. Lingard's History of England — a work proverbial for its accuracy and impartiality — is deemed superfluous. For more than a quarter of a century this great work has been before the public : it has passed through the fiery ordeal of hostile criticism, yet not a single statement penned by its learned author has been proven to be erroneous. Its style is pure and classical; but in all the higher qualifications of history, in the fulness of its details, in its clear and methodical arrangement, in its deep and patient research, it stands without a rival.

The following Abridgment has been carefully prepared from the last edition of the larger work, published under the supervision of its distinguished author; it will be found to contain all the important and most interesting portions of the original. It embodies the spirit, and retains the language of the original work,

4 PREFACE.

except when the change of a word was found necessary for a proper connection of the different parts.

The Continuation has been compiled by an author long and favorably known to literature. It passes over a period fraught with events of the deepest interest, and faithfully and impartially records the most important transactions.

The Sketch of the British Constitution, the Abstract of Geography of England in Saxon times, the List of Eminent Natives, and the Marginal Notes, will add much to the interest of the work, and will be found useful to the student by way of reference. The Questions, which have been added to the work, will greatly facilitate the labor of the pupil, and will be found exceedingly convenient for the teacher.

Baltimore, January, 1855.

Contents

Sketch of the Constitution of the British Empire page 15

Distinguished Natives of Great Britain and Ireland 19

Geography of England under the Saxons 21

CHAPTER I.— Roman Britain

Caesar twice invades Britain — The British Tribes — Their Manners — Religion — Government — Gradual Conquest of Britain by the Romans — Its state under the Emperors — Conversion of the Natives to Christianity — The Romans abandon the Island: A. C. 55 to A. D. 449 Page 25-3S.

CHAPTER II.— Anglo-Saxons

The Saxons found eight distinct Kingdoms — The Natives retire to the Western Coast — The reigns of the Saxon Bretwaldas, and of other Saxon Kings, down to Alfred — Account of the writers Bede and Alcuin — Foundation of the English Monarchy under Egbert. A. D. 449 to 871. ..Page 38-42.

CHAPTER III.— Alfred the Great

His Birth — Education — Accession to the Throne — His Contests with the Danes — His Reverses — His Success — His "Victories — His Labors in favor of Literature— His Death. A. D. 849 to 901 Page 43-51.

CHAPTER VIII.— William the First

William is crowned — Goes to Normandy — Returns to England — Subjects and oppresses the Natives — Insurrection of the Normans — Rebellion of Robert, his son — His War with France — His Death and Character. A. D. 1066 to 1087 Page 74-80.

CHAPTER IX.— The Feudal System

Military Tenant — His Duty — The nature of his Fees — Fees of Inheritance — The grievance of Fees — The restrictions when the heirs were Females — Sources of the King's Revenue Page 80-S5.

CHAPTER X.— William the Second

William succeeds— His Wars with his Brother — He invades Scotland — He persecutes Archbishop Anselm — His Death and Character. A. D. 1087 to 1100 Page 86-90.

CHAPTER XL— Henry the First.

Accession of Henry — England invaded by Robert — Henry invades Normandy —Takes Robert prisoner. A. D. 1100 to 1135 Page 91-110.

CHAPTER XII.— Stephen

Accession of Stephen — Invasion of the Scots — Battle of the Standard — Matilda lands in England — Stephen is taken prisoner, and released — Matilda leaves the kingdom — Henry asserts the claim of his Mother — Death of Stephen. A.D. 1135 to 1154 Page 110-118.

CHAPTER XIIL— Henry the Second.

Accession of Henry II. — The rise of Thomas a Becket — War in Wales- Dispute between Henry and the Primate — The Assassination of the Archbishop — Conquest of Ireland — Rebellion of the King's Sons — His Death and Character. A. D. 1154 to 1189 Page 118-145.

CHAPTER XIV.— Richard the First

The succession of Richard — Massacre of the Jews — Crusade — Conquest of the Island of Cyprus — His Exploits in Palestine — His Return and Captivity — Troubles in England — The King is ransomed — His Death. A. D. 1189 to 1199 Page 145-152

CHAPTER XV.— John

The Accession of John — Captivity and Death of his Nephew — Dispute with Pope Innocent — Interdict — The King's submission — Magna Charta — Civil War— The offer of the Crown to Louis— The Death of John. A. D. 1199 to 1216 Page 153-165.

CHAPTER XVI.— Henry the Third

Coronation of Henry — Departure of Louis — War with France — Controversy between Henry and his Barons — Battle of Lewis — Victory at Evesham — • Death of the King. A.D. 1216 to 1272 Page 166-177,

CHAPTER XVIL— Edward the First.

Edward returns from Palestine — Conquers Wales — Hostilities with Scotland — William Wallace — Conquers Scotland — Royal Exactions — Opposition of the Clergy and Barons — Bruce claims the Crown of Scotland — Edward prepares to invade Scotland— His Death. A. D. 1271 to 1307 Page 178-194.

CHAPTER XVIIL— Edward the Second.

Coronation of Edward — War in Scotland — Battle at Bannockburn — Bruce invades Ireland — Truce with Scotland — War with his Barons — The Queen makes war on the King — The King is deposed and murdered. A.D. 1307 to 1327 Page 195-210.

CHAPTER XIX.— Edward the Third.

Campaign against the Scots — Death of the Earl of Kent — Fall and Execution of Mortimer — Edward claims the Crown of France — Expedition to Flanders — Truce — Renewal of the War ; Victory at Creci — Renewal of the War with France — Victory of Poitiers — Death of the Black Prince — Death of Edward. A. D. 1327 to 1377 Page 211-235.

CHAPTER XX.— Richard the Second.

Coronation of Richard — Insurrection of the people — Wycliffe — Invasion of Scotland — The King goes to Ireland — The despotism of Richard — He proceeds to Ireland a second time — Henry of Lancaster rebels — The King is made prisoner and deposed. A. D. 1377 to 1399 Page 235-258.

CHAPTER XXL— Henry the Fourth.

Coronation of the King — The Death of Richard — Henry invades Scotland — Rebellion of the Percies, and that of Glendower — Transactions with France —The Death of Henry. A. D. 1399 to 1413 Page 258-270.

CHAPTER XXIL— Henry the Fifth.

The Succession of Henry — Invasion of France — Battle of Azincourt — Second Invasion of France — Made Regent of France — His success in France — His Death and Character. A. D. 1413 to 1422 Page 270-281.

CHAPTER XXIIL— Henry the Sixth.

Government during the minority — Siege of Orleans — Joan d'Arc — Charles is crowned at Rheims and Henry at Paris — The King's Marriage — Loss of the French Provinces — Cade's Insurrections — The Duke of York is declared heir to the throne — He is killed in battle — His son Edward is proclaimed King. A. D. 1422 to 1461 Page 282-295.

CHAPTER XXIV.— Edward the Fourth.

Misfortunes of the Lancastrians — Henry VI. is made prisoner — Insurrection — Edward is made prisoner — His release — Clarence and Warwick leave the kingdom, and return — Edward is expelled, and Henry restored — Edward returns — His victory at Barnet — Death of Henry — War with France — Death of the King. A. D. 1461 to 1483 Page 295-305.

CHAPTER XXV.— Edward the Fifth.

The conduct of the Duke of Gloucester — The Duke is made Protector- Penance of Jane Shore — He aspires to the Crown — The Crown is offered to him— He accepts it. A. D. 1483 Page 305-308.

CHAPTER XXVL— Richard the Third.

Coronation of Richard — The death of his two nephews — Conspiracy against him — He raises an army against the Earl of Richmond — Is killed in the battle of Bosworth. A. D. 1483 to 1489 . Page 309-313.

CHAPTER XXVII.— Henry the Seventh.

The Coronation of Henry — The Settlement of the Crown — Insurrection in favor of the pretended Earl of Warwick — War in Bretagne — Imposture of Perkin Warbeck — Marriage and Death of Prince Arthur — Henry's Death and Character. A. D. 1485 to 1509 Page 313-324.

CHAPTER XXVIIL— Henry the Eighth.

The Accession and Marriage of Henry — War with France — Defeat of the Scots at Flodden — The Rise and Power of Wolsey — Execution of the Duke of Buckingham — Wolsey aspires to the Papacy — Peace with France — Origin of the Reformation — Henry writes against Luther — Is declared Defender of the Faith — Anne Boleyn — Disgrace of Wolsey — The rise of Cromwell — The King marries Anne Boleyn — Cranmer — The King assumes the title of Head of the Church — Papal Bull against Henry — Dissolution of the Monasteries — Death of Queen Catherine — Marriage with Anne of Cleves — Fall of Cromwell — Marriage with Catherine Howard — The King's last illness — His Death and Character. A. D. 1509 to 1542 Page 325-370.

CHAPTER XXIX.— Edward the Sixth.

Hertford made Protector — Progress of the Reformation — The Lord Admiral arrested and beheaded — Troubles with Lady Mary — Foreign Preachers — Somerset arrested and executed — Death of the King. A. D. 1547 to 1553 Page 370-385.

CHAPTER XXX.— Mary.

Lady Jane Grey proclaimed Queen — Execution of Northumberland — The Queen restores the ancient service — Elizabeth conforms — Insurrection — Elizabeth sent to the Tower — Mary's marriage with Philip — Reconciliation with Rome — Persecution of the Reformers — Departure of Philip — Death of Gardiner — War with France — Victory of St. Quintin's — Loss of Calais — Death and Character of Mary. A. D. 1553 to 1558 Page 386-412.

CHAPTER XXXL— Elizabeth.

Accession of Elizabeth — Abolition of Catholic worship — War in Scotland — Return of Mary Stuart — Elizabeth's suitors — Penal statutes — Thirty-nine Articles — Queen of Scotland marries Darnley — Assassination of Rizzio: of Darnley — Mary marries Bothwell — The misfortunes of Mary — She seeks an asylum in England — Persecution of the Puritans : the Catholics — Plots for the liberation of Mary Stuart — Proceedings against Mary — Her trial and execution — Philip of Spain determines to invade England — The sailing of the Armada — Transactions in Ireland — Rebellion of Tyrone — Declining health of the Queen— Her Death and character. A. D. 1558 to 1603.

CHAPTER XXXIL— James the First.

Accession of James — His Coronation — Severity against the Catholics — The Gunpowder Plot — Arabella Stuart — The King's Favorites — Disgrace of Coke — The affairs of Ireland — Persecution of the Catholics — The Puritans — Bacon — Buckingham — Sir Walter Raleigh — Marriage treaty with France — Death of the King A. D. 1603 to 1625 Page 470-498.

CHAPTER XXXIIL— Charles the First.

The King's marriage — He meets his Parliament — War with France — Third Parliament — Assassination of Buckingham — Discontent in England and Ireland — New Service-book — Covenant — Riots — Impeachment of Stafford — His Trial and Execution — Rebellion in Ireland — Remonstrance of the Commons — Impeachment of the Bishops — Impeachment of Members — Parliament levies an army — Charles sets up his standard — Battles of Edgehill and Newbury — Solemn League — Battle of Marston Moor — Defeat at Naseby — Surrenders to the Scottish Army — Is delivered up by the Scots — The King escapes — He is again taken — His Trial and Execution. A. D. 1625 to 1649 Page 498-541.

CHAPTER XXXIV.— The Commonwealth.

Council of State appointed — Charles II. proclaimed in Scotland — Success of Cromwell in Ireland — Charles lands in Scotland — Battle at Dunbar — Battle of Worcester — The Escape and Adventures of Charles — Reduction of Ireland and Scotland — Cromwell dissolves the Long Parliament, and expels its members — Calls a new Parliament — Makes himself Protector — Aspires to the title of King — His Death and Character — His son Richard proclaimed Protector— He resigns the office. A. D. 1649 to 1660.. Page 541-566.

CHAPTER XXXV.— Charles the Second.

Charles calls a new Parliament — Affairs in Ireland — War with the Dutch — ■ Plague in London — The Great Fire — War with Holland — The " Test Act" — Oates's Plot — Bill of Exclusion — Rye-House Plot — Death and Character of Charles. A. D. 1660 to 1685 Page 566-580.

CHAPTER XXXVL— James the Second.

The King succeeds to the Throne — His intentions regarding religion — The Rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth — The Revolt suppressed — Jeffreys commissioned to try the prisoners — James determines to grant liberty of conscience — The King's contest with the Bishops — The Prince of Orange lands in England — The King deserted even by his children — He escapes to France — Meeting of the Convention — The Bill of Rights — William and Mary proclaimed. A. D. 1685 to 1689 Page 580-593.

CHAPTER XXXVIL— William and Mary.

Insurrection in Scotland — James lands in Ireland — Battle of the Boyne — Treaty of Limerick — Death and Character of the King. A. D. 1689 to 1702 Page 593-598.

CHAPTER XXXVIIL— Anne.

Anne succeeds to the throne — England joins the Grand Alliance — Victories of Marlborough — The Union of England and Scotland — Impeachment of Sacheverell— Treaty of Utrecht — Death of Anne — Her Character. A. D. 1702 to 1714 Page 598-603.

CHAPTER XXXIX.— George the First.

Accession of George the First — Insurrection in Scotland — South Sea Bubble — Death of the King. A. D. 1714 to 1727 Page 603-606.

CHAPTER XL.— George the Second.

War -with Spain — England supports the cause of Maria Theresa — Charles Edward lands in Scotland — Battles of Prestonpans and of Culloden — Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle — War between England and France renewed — Surrender of Quebec — War in the East Indies — Death of the King. A. D. 1727 to 1760 Page 606-615.

CHAPTER XLL— George the Third.

The Accession of the King — War between England and France continued- Treaty of Paris — John Wilkes — Policy of England toward her American Colonies — Stamp Act — Hostilities commenced between England and the Colonies — Declaration of American Independence — Peace between England and the United States declared — Efforts to repeal the Penal Laws — Riots in consequence — The Impeachment of Hastings — England joins the war against France — The success of the British Arms in Spain — War with the United States — England again joins the Allies against Napoleon — Battle of Waterloo—Death and Character of George the Third. A. D. 1760 to 1820.

CHAPTER XLIL— George the Fourth.

Accession of George IV. — Proceedings against Queen Caroline — Coronation of the King — He visits Ireland — Revolt in Greece — Catholic Emancipation —Death of the King. A. D. 1820 to 1830 Page 645-651.

CHAPTER XLIIL— William the Fourth.

His accession to the throne — Affairs in France — The state of Ireland — Death of the King— Chief events of his reign. A. D. 1830 to 1837. ..Page 651-658.

CHAPTER XLIV.— Queen Victoria.

The accession of the Queen — Her marriage and coronation — War in the East Indies — Famine in Ireland — Literature Page 659-662.

SKETCH

OP THE

CONSTITUTION OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

The British Empire consists of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (together with several adjacent small islands), and of colonial possessions of vast extent in different parts of the globe. The constitution is monarchical, but the powers of the sovereign are limited by certain restrictions which tend to preserve the liberty of the subject, and to maintain the balance of power between the different classes in the state. The supreme authority is vested in the Parliament, which consists of the King (or Queen), the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. A queen-consort or prince-consort does not possess, as such, any political power according to law.

The Sovereign alone can summon parliament to meet, and he alone can prorogue or dissolve it. He is at the head of the executive power in the empire, and all magistrates are considered as deriving their authority from him. To him, also, belongs the creation of peers, the appointment of officers in the army and navy, governors of colonies, and all ministers of state. He alone can declare war, make peace, or enter into treaties with foreign nations. It is a maxim among writers on the constitution that "the king can do no wrong;" which means that the law has not provided any tribunal before which he could be tried for any alleged offence. But there are circumstances which would cause the sovereign to forfeit his legal right to the allegiance of the people ; such as levying war upon his subjects, seeking to collect taxes not voted by parliament, or (according to the present laws) ceasing to be a member of the Protestant church. The sovereign is the head of that church in England, and (though a form of election is gone through) appoints the bishops of the establishment.

The Ministry (sometimes called the cabinet) consists of those officers of state to whose hands the sovereign deputes the task of managing the various public departments. Although they are appointed by the crown, they are liable to impeachment for departing from the constitution, and may be legally punished for such misconduct. They seldom continue

16 SKETCH OF THE CONSTITUTION.

to hold office when defeated on any leading question of public policy ; for, if parliament were opposed to their continuance in power, the supplies (as the taxes are called) could he refused, and the national business brought to a stand-still. The first Lord of the Treasury is generally called the prime minister and sometimes the premier, and is usually, but not always, the leader of his colleagues. The Lord Chancellor presides in the court of chancery, and is the speaker of the House of Lords. The Chancellor of the Exchequer attends to the business of taxation, causing to be prepared estimates of the amount of money required for the public service, and endeavouring to raise such money, by obtaining the sanction of parliament to the various branches of taxation. There are secretaries of state for the home department, the colonies, foreign affairs, and war, upon each of whom, as well as upon several other ministerial officers, important duties devolve. The council, which is called the privy council, consists of all who have been called upon to join in consultation with the sovereign, and they are styled "right honourable." They are, however, now so numerous, and so many are (from ministerial changes) opposed to the policy of those who are in office, that (except on certain occasions) only a few are summoned to take part in deliberation. The sovereign is in Ireland represented by the Lord Lieutenant, under whom there is a secretary of state for Ireland, but no political steps are taken by the Irish portion of the government without the sanction of the ministry in general.

The House of Lords consists of all the English peers, of twenty-eight Irish peers, elected for life, and of sixteen Scotch peers, who are only elected for each parliament. The members of the House of Lords are either spiritual or temporal. The spiritual lords are the archbishops and bishops, those from Ireland sitting in rotation. The sovereign may create peers as often as he pleases, but this prerogative is not frequently used. The House of Lords cannot, according to the constitution, originate bills referring to taxation. There are at present four hundred and forty members of the House of Lords, including twenty-eight peers from Ireland, and sixteen from Scotland. A peer cannot be tried for any crime except by peers. The House of Lords is the highest court of justice, and appeals from other courts are frequently tried there ; but it is seldom that any except the peers who have been connected with the legal profession, take part in the judicial proceedings. A peer may vote by proxy by leaving a written authority with another peer.

The House of Commons consists of six hundred and fifty-eight members, of whom one hundred and five represent Ireland and fifty represent Scotland. The House of Commons is presided over by a chairman, who is called the Speaker ; but when a certain form of debate called committee takes place, some other member occupies the chair. The speaker takes no part in the debates, and only votes when the members in a division are equal. The mode of proceeding adopted, when it is sought to make a new act of parliament, is as follows: The proposer

SKETCH OF THE CONSTITUTION. 17

obtains formal leave to bring in the measure, which, before it becomes law, is called a Bill. The bill is "read" three times, but only a few words are read out, for the members know its contents, as all bills are printed at an early stage. Between the second and third readings, an examination of each clause of the bill takes place, in what is called a Committee of the whole House ; and it is at this period that alterations can be made in the details of the bill. When a bill has received three readings in the House of Commons, it must go through the same process in the House of Lords. Any bill, except one involving taxation, may originate in the House of Lords and receive its three readings there first. If alterations be made in the House of Lords in a bill which has passed the House of Commons (or vice versa), the alterations must be reported to the house where the measure originated ; and, if the changes be not agreed to, the bill drops. This, however, is seldom the case, as a compromise generally takes place between the two houses. The bill, having received three readings in each house, next obtains the royal assent (which may be refused, but seldom is), and then becomes the law of the land, and is termed an Act of Parliament.

Members of parliament are free from arrest, except in criminal cases. They must, with certain exceptions, be legally entitled to £600 a year if representing counties, and £300 if representing boroughs, which respective amounts are termed their qualification. Scotch members, and some others, do not require a qualification. Prorogation of parliament means the closing of the session, and generally takes place in August for about six months ; but the prorogation is nominally for a much shorter period, so that the houses may assemble, if public business should require that course. Each session is opened and closed by a royal speech, either personally delivered by the sovereign, or read by the Lord Chancellor, under a royal commission. A dissolution of parliament takes place when the members are sent back to their constituents (as the electors are called), in order that the opinion of the country may be taken on the question, as to whether the same men ought to continue to constitute the House of Commons. This must, by law, take place each seventh year ; but, in practice, the interval is much shorter.

The revenue is the name given to the sums of money annually raised for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the various public departments. The revenue (not including extraordinary war supplies) is about fifty millions sterling. A large portion of this (about thirty millions sterling) goes to pay the interest on the national debt, which is now about eight hundred millions sterling. The national debt grew up by degrees during the last hundred and sixty years, in consequence of the ordinary revenue of the country not being sufficient to meet the immense expenditure of the numerous wars, in which England was engaged. The revenue is partly obtained by taxes levied on certain articles imported or exported, and this branch of the public income is called the customs. The excise consists of those taxes which are levied on articles manufac-

2*

18 SKETCH OF THE CONSTITUTION.

tured for home use. Large sums are also brought into the national treasury from duties, called stamp duties, imposed on legal documents, and from the direct taxation of certain articles of luxury. At present there is also a tax levied on the property, or income, of all those "who are worth more than £100 a year.

The civil list is the name given to the expenditure which is allotted for the personal support of the sovereign and household. It is now £385,000, with power to the crown to grant pensions to the amount of £1200 a year.

The army and navy, of course, absorb a large portion of the revenue ; in time of peace about sixteen millions sterling. A standing army is illegal, and, therefore, an act called the " Mutiny Act" is passed annually, to authorize the keeping up of such a force. The army, in time of peace, consists of about 100,000 men.

The religion of the state is Protestant, and the sovereign must, by act of parliament, be of that religion. In England and Ireland, the state church is governed by archbishops and bishops. In Scotland, Presbyterianism is the state church, and there are no prelates. In Lower Canada, the Catholic prelates are paid by the state ; in Malta, the Catholic religion is the state church ; while in the Cape of Good Hope, it is Presbyterianism.

The legal tribunals of the country are guided by the statute law (acts of parliament), and the common law which is not written, but which has been handed down as the custom of several centuries.

The principal court for civil suits is the court of common pleas. The court of king's (or queen's) bench, which was at first only a criminal tribunal, and the court of exchequer, which was designed only to decide in cases concerning the revenue, have become civil courts by means of fictions in their respective modes of procedure. The court of chancery, presided over by the lord chancellor, administers the law of equity. Courts under these designations sit both in Westminster and in Dublin. There are also courts of assize, which, in England, perform six provincial circuits, twice a year. Minor cases, criminal as well as civil, are judged by bodies of provincial magistracy, who meet in every county once every quarter of a year. Besides the civil and criminal tribunals, there are ecclesiastical courts, which have jurisdiction in matters connected with marriage, wills, &c, and adopt the principle of the old canon law. There are also courts of admiralty, which decide questions between persons of different nations, according to the code of civil law recognised throughout Europe.

The law in Ireland and in Scotland differs in detail from the law of England, but the principles are mainly the same.

Such are the leading features of the British Constitution. For minuter details the student must consult the numerous valuable works which have been published on the subject.

DISTINGUISHED NATIVES

OF

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

8^ Century.

Bede, called the Venerable, ecclesiastical historian.

9th Century.

Alfred the Great, legislator, commander, poet, and musician.

1214. Roger Bacon, the father of modern experimental philosophy.

1324. William of Wykeham, munificent ecclesiastic and architect, born at Wykeham, Hants.

1328. Geoffrey Chaucer, the father of English poetry, born in London.

1480. Sir Thomas More, statesman and philosopher, born in London.

1506. George Buchanan, poet, philosopher, historian, and politician, born in Dumbartonshire.

1551. Sir Philip Sidney, writer of romance, poet, statesman, and soldier, born at Pens-

hurst, in Kent.

James Crichton, whose accomplishments of mind and body obtained him the appellation of the "Admirable," born in Scotland.

1552. Sir "Walter Raleigh, poet, statesman, historian, and naval captain, born at Dudley,

in Devonshire.

1553. Edmund Spencer, poet and politician, born at East Smithfield, in London.

1554. Fulk Greville, Lord Brooke, philosopher and statesman, the friend of Sir Philip

Sidney, born in Warwickshire. 1557. George Chapman, dramatic poet, and first English translator of the works of Homer. 1561. Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam, philosopher, born in London.

1563. Michael Drayton, pastoral and descriptive poet, born in Warwickshire.

1564. William Shakspeare, the poet of all nature, born at Stratford-upon-Avon. 1572. Inigo Jones, architect, born in London.

1574. Ben Jonson, the learned comic dramatist, born in Hartshorn-lane, near Charing-

cross. 1576. John Fletcher, dramatic and lyric poet.

1578. William Harvey, discoverer of the circulation of the blood, born at Folkstone, Kent. 1581. Edward Herbert, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, philosopher and biographer, born at

Montgomery Castle.

1584. John Selden, the most learned wit of England, born at Salvington, in Sussex.

1585. Philip Massinger, dramatic poet, born at Salisbury.

1599. Oliver Cromwell, statesman and general, born at Huntingdon.

1600. Samuel Butler, a witty satirist, born at Strentham, in Worcestershire. 1605. Sir Thomas Browne, antiquary, born in London.