A short history of England, from the earliest times to the present day

Preface

The aim of this History of England is to give a short narrative of the growth of the British Empire and Constitution from the earliest times to the present day, in such a form and within such limits as shall supply the wants of middle and upper forms at schools, candidates for university and civil service examinations, and for the army and navy, pupil and assistant teachers at elementary schools, and students in training colleges, and also shall give a clear and intelligible account of those events and institutions a knowledge of which is so much needed by the student of modern political life.

To attain all these ends within the space of 450 pages has been a most difficult task, and a rigid censorship has been needed, both in choosing the subjects and events to be mentioned, and in allotting an appropriate space to each. In deciding what subjects to admit, I have had with great regret to omit all references to the manners and customs of the people, except where they have borne directly upon political events ; on the other hand, greater space has been given to the working of economic causes than has been usual in a book of this size.

vi Preface.

Again, I have omitted all reference to literature except where strictly connected with history, partly because I am led to think that the mere facts boys learn on this subject are of little use, and also because the teaching of literature is happily being made a separate department from the teaching of history. In allotting space, I have been guided by the following considerations. If any event, such as the death of Charles I., or the crusade of Richard I., is certain to have been pathetically or graphically described in the first history put into a child's hands, whatever that may be, I have contented myself with a mere statement of fact ; if an event, and especially a constitutional event, was likely to be new to my readers, I have spared no pains to make it intelligible and vivid. Everywhere I have been guided by what I have learnt, as a practical teacher, of the difficulties which most readers find hardest to surmount, and I have tried to bear in mind that the object of teaching history is not to cram with facts and dates (useful, and indeed necessary, as these, are), but to awaken thought, and especially to teach the habit of thinking intelligently about the political events of our own and other countries.

The history is divided into nine books, according to dynasties, and each chapter contains, as a rule, the reign of one king. At the beginning of each book are placed genealogies of the royal families, and pedigrees to illustrate special points are given in the notes. At the head of each reign is a list of the notable characters to whom attention is to be directed. Numerous maps and plans are given, with tables of

Preface. vii

the chief events, and a complete analysis is provided by the table of contents.

The style aims at being simple, but not childish. In spelling, I have in the earlier part of the work followed that given by Dr. Stubbs in his " English Constitutional History." With him I have rejected the use of such forms as Alfred for Alfred, and Eadward for Edward, believing that no good is gained by such accuracy comparable to the injury done by accentuating in a boy's mind the idea that our ancestors were not men like ourselves. In other cases I have followed the modern spelling, and have called men and places by the names by which they have been familiar to many generations of Englishmen.

In dealing with the later history I have not attempted to do more than give such connecting links as shall enable the reader to carry on the thread of the narrative to the time when his own memory begins to serve him, carefully keeping clear of party questions by confining myself to simple statements of facts, and throughout I have taken pains not to use expressions which would be likely to wound the feelings of any religious body, or of any of the peoples who are now united with Englishmen in a single kingdom.

The Skeleton History of England,* published in 1882, by Mr. A. H. Dyke Acland and myself, may be used as a companion to this book, and teachers will

* "A Skeleton Outline of the History of England," being an abridgment of " A Handbook in Outline of the Political History of England." By A. H. Dyke Acland, M.P., and Cyril Ransome, M. A. i^. 6^/.

viii Preface.

find in the larger handbook * summaries of many matters which will be useful for oral instruction. Excluding the tables and maps, the period B.C. 55 to 1837 is comprised in about 400 pages, which will make the work, if used as a text-book, lend itself best to a two years' course, but a private student or a form which can give more than one hour a week will have no difficulty in mastering its contents in a much shorter time.

In conclusion, I can only add that I am as conscious as any one can be of the many shortcomings of the book. I have done my best to get rid of mistakes, with the aid of friends who have been so good as to help me, among whom I should specially mention Bishop Stubbs, who was good enough to examine a specially difficult constitutional passage ; Professor Creighton ; Mr. George Nutt, of Rugby ; Rev. A. B. Beaven, of Preston ; and Mr. H. Richardson, of Marlborough — to all of whom I owe a great debt of thanks. Some errors, however, are likely to survive the most careful revision, and it will be a great kindness in those who use the book if they will supply me with lists of such as they may find.

C. R.

Leeds, April, 1887.

♦ "A Handbook in Outline of the Political History of England." Chronologically arranged. By A. H. Dyke Acland, M.P., and Cyril Ransome, M.A. 6^.

BOOK I. Page

DATE *

England before the Norman Conquest 1-30

CHAPTER I. Britain under the Romans

The English Race 4

The Aryan Family 4

Primitive Inhabitants of Europe . . , 5

B.C. Pytheas' Voyage 5

65, 54. Caesar's Invasion of Britain 6

Physical Geography of Britain 6

Races of Britain . . . , 7

A.D. British Civilization 8

43-81. Conquest of Britain by the Romans 9

Roman Organization, Towns, and Camps 9

Roman Civilization .... 10

Roman Walls 10

410. Roman Evacuation of Britain 1 1

CHAPTER II. English Settlement in Britain

Facts of the Invasion 12

Chief Battles of the Conquest 14

Early English Kingdoms 14

597. Conversion of the English to Christianity iS

Struggle for Supremacy 16

Celtic Missionaries ■ . 17

664. Synod of Whitby 18

668. Organization of the Church by Theodore 18

607. Northumbrian Supremacy begins . . 18

826. West Saxon „ „ 19

Contents.

CHAPTER in.

GOVEENMENT OF THE ENGLISH.

The TownsMp 20

The Hundred 20

The Shire 21

The Fyrd 21

The Witenagemot 21

The King 22

Folkland 22

CHAPTER IV. Invasions op the Nokthmen

The Northmen 23

787. First Period of Invasion begins 23

Ethelwulf, Ethelbald, Ethelbert, Ethelred 1 24

855. Second Period of Invasion begins 24

871. Invasion of Wessex 24

Alfred 24

879. Treaty of Chippenham 25

Effects of the Settlement of the Northmen 25

Alfred's Policy and Reforms 26

901. Edward the Elder 26

910. Conquest of the Dane-law begins 27

Edward's Overlordship , 27

926. Athelstan 27

Dunstan 28

955. Edred and Edwy .' 28

Dunstan's Policy 29

Third Period of Invasion begins 29

980. Ethelred the Unready 29

1016. Edmund Ironside 30

1017. Canute becomes King 31

1036. Harold and Hardicanute 32

CHAPTER V. The Nokman Conquest

1044. Edward the Confessor 33

Fondness for Normans of 33

1051. Visit of William of Normandy 34

Family of Godwin 34

ConteniSo xi

DATE

Page 1066. Harold II 35

— William's Pretext for Invasion 35

— Invasion of Tostig and Harold Hardrada 36

— Battle of Hastings, or Senlac 37

— Election of William 37

CHAPTER I. William the Conquekor (1066-1087)

William's Policy 42

1067-71. Eevolts of the English 42

1071. Abolition of the Great Earldoms 43

Distribution of Property and Castles 44

Normans in the Church 44

Eolations with the Pope and Clergy 45

1074. Eebellions of the Barons 45

1086. Doomsday Book 46

— Salisbury Oath , 46

Feudalism defined 46

1087. Death and Character of William 47

CHAPTEE II.

Policy of William 48

1088. Eebellion of the Barons 49

1090. Invasion of Normandy 49

Policy towards Scotland and Wales 49, 50

Eanulf Flambard 50

Feudal Dues 50

Exactions from Clergy 51

1097. Quarrel with Anselm 51

1096. First Crusade 51

1100. Death of William 52

CHAPTER III. Charter granted 53

1102. Marriage with Matilda 53 xii Contents,

DATE Pa^g^

"War with Robert of Belleme 53

1104:. War with Robert of Normandy 55

1106. Battle of Tenchebrai 55

1107. Quarrel with Anselm ahout Investitures settled 55

Constitutional Reforms 56

Roger of Salisbury 56

Magnum Concilium and Curia Regis 56

Question of Succession 57

1135. Henry's Death and Character 57j 58

CHAPTER IV. Unpopularity of Matilda 59

1135. Election and Character of Stephen 59

1138. Invasion of the Scots 60

1139. Quarrel with Roger of Salisbury 60

Matilda's arrival 61

Civil War and State of the Country 61

Henry of Anjou 61

1153. Treaty of Wallingford 62

1154. Death of Stephen 62

CHAPTER I. Character of Henry 11 67

Henry's Reforms 68

1150. War of Toulouse 68

Institution of Scutage 68

1162. Becket made Archbishop of Canterbury 69

Trial of Clergy 69

1164. Constitutions of Clarendon 70

1170. Quarrel with Becket . 70

Murder of Becket 7c

Reform of the Shire-Moot 71

Origin of the Grand Jury 71

Origin of the Petty Jury , 71

Contents. xiii

Origin of the Civil Jury 72

State of Ireland in the Twelfth Century 72

1169. Invasion of Ireland by the Normans 73

1174. Barons' Eising 73

— Treaty of Falaise with Scotland 74

Development of the Curia Kegis 74

1181. Assize of Arms 74

1187. Capture of Jerusalem by Saladia. , 75

1188. The Saladin Tithe 75

CHAPTEE II.

1189. Preparations for a Crusade 76

— Persecutions of the Jews 76

1191. Siege of Acre 77

1193. Eichard's Captivity 77

1195. Eebellion of William Fitz-Osbert 78

1199. Death of Eichard 78

CHAPTEE III.

John (1199-1216).

1200. Divorce and re-marriage of John 80

1203. Death of Arthur of Brittany 80

1204. Loss of Maine, Normandy, Anjou, and Touraine 80

1205. Election of an Archbishop 80

1209. John excommunicated 81

1214. War in Poitou and Flanders 82

— Battle of Bouvines 82

1215. Struggle with the Barons 82

— Magna Carta (The Great Charter) 83

— John's attempt to annul Magna Carta 84

— Barons call on Louis of France 84

1216. John's Death 84

CHAPTEE IV.

Heney IH. (121G-1272)

Henry's Prospects 85

1217. Defeat of Louis at Lincoln and Sandwich 85

Magna Carta republished 86

Turbulent Nobles put down 86

Papal Exactions , . , 86 xiv Contents.

DATE p^^g

1232. Fall of Hubert de Burgh, the last Justiciar 87

Henry's Government 87

1236. Henry marries Eleanor of Provence 88

Greediness of Foreign Favourites 88

1254. Henry accepts the Crown of Sicily for his Son 88

1242. Useless Expeditions to France go

Kise of Simon de Montfort 89

1258. Provisions of Oxford oq

1264. Arbitration of Louis IX 00

— War between the King and the Barons gi

1264. Battle of Lewes 91

1265. De Montfort's Parliament ........* 91

-- Fall of Simon de Montfort \ 02

— Battle of Evesham 02

Eesults of de Montfort's Actions 02

1272. Death of Henry 92

BOOK lY.

The Later Angevin Kings, sometimes called Plantagenets o^-i ^ ^

CHAPTER L Edwaed L (1272-1307)..

Commercial Treaty with Flanders 05

Great Statutes of the Keign 07 08

Eegulation of the Law Courts 08

The Jews in England pg

1290. Their expulsion qq

Attempt to annex Wales and Scotland go

1282. Wales conquered jqq

England and Scotland jqq

1291. Scottish Succession Question joq

1294. Difficulty about Guienne , jqj

1295. Model Parliament summoned 102

Heavy Taxation jq2

Clergy compelled to contribute to the Revenue 103

1297. Refusal of Barons to invade France by themselves 103

— Rebellion of the Barons jq^

— Confirmatio Cartarum (Confirmation of the Charters) ...*.' 103

Contents. xv

1297. Eebellion of Wallace 104

— Battle of Camhuskenneth 104

1298. Battle of Falkirk 104

1299. Comyn's Rebellion 104

1306. Rebellion of Robert Bruce 104

1307. Death of Edward 104

CHAPTER II. Character of Edward II 105

Piers Gaveston 105

Thomas of Lancaster leads the Opposition 106

1310. Barons appoint the Lord Ordainers to govern the Country . 106

1312. Death of Gaveston 107

1314. Invasion of Scotland, defeat at Bannockburu 107

1315. Irish Insurrection helped by the Scots 107

1318. Invasion of England by the Scots 107

Rise of the Despensers 108

1323. Defeat of Lancasterat Boroughbridge, and fall of the Barons 108

— ■ Commons gain a Share in Legislation 108

1325, Queen Isabella goes to Guienne and conspires with Mortimer 109

1326. Execution of the Despensers 109

1337. Dethronement and Death of Edward . , 109

Chapter III

1338. Invasion of the Scots 1 1 1

— Edward takes the Government m

1333. Attempt of the Barons to make Edward Balliol King of

Scotland 112

1333. English Invasion of Scotland 112

— Battle of Halidon Hill 112

1336. Scots receive help from France 112

Question of the French Succession 112

1333. Separation of Parliament into two Houses 113

1337. Edward assumes Title of King of France 113

1339. Failure of the Invasion of France 114

1340. Battle of Sluys 114

1341. Quarrel with Archbishop Stratford 114

1346. Invasion of France by way of the Seine I15

— Passage of the Somme 116 xvi Contents.

1346. Battle of Orecy ii6, 117

— Siege of Calais and Capture (1347) 118

— Invasion of the Scots and Battle of Nevill's Cross 118

1349. The Black Death 119

The Manorial System 119

Else of Copyholders 120

Effect of the Black Death 120

1355. Invasion of France by way of Gascony 120

1356. Battle of Poitiers 120

1360. Peace made at Bretigny 122

Kesults of the War 122

— Treaty with Scotland 122

1367. Expedition to Spain 122

1369. Kenewal of the War 123

1372. Defeat of the English off Kochelle 123

Statutes of Provisors (1351), Praemunire (1353), and

Unpopularity of the Pope and Clergy 125

Rise of the Lollards 125

John of Gaunt 125

1371. John Wycliffe 126

— Clerical Officers dismissed 126

1376. The Good Parliament 126

— Impeachment 126

— Death of the Black Prince 126

1377. Death of Edward III 126

Chapter IV

Marriages of Edward Ill's. Family 127

Formation of a Council 128

1381. Rising of the Peasants 128

1388. The Peace and War Parties 129

— Fall of Suffolk and De Vere 129

Richard assumes Power 130

1389. The Lollards 130

1397. Fall of Gloucester and his Friends 130

1398. Parliament of Shrewsbury 131

— Quarrel of Hereford and Norfolk 131

1399. Confiscation of John of Gaunt's Property 131

— Lancaster's Revolt 132

— Richard Dethroned 132

Contents. xvii

BOOK Y.

The York and Lancaster Kings 135-168

Chapter I

1400. Rebellion in favour of Richard 138

1401. Act De Heretico Comburendo 138

1400. Glendower's Rebellion 139

— War with. Scotland 139

1402. Battles of Nesbit Moor and Homildon Hill 139

1103. Rebellion of the Percies 139

— Battle of Shrewsbury 140

1405. Rebellion of Scrope and Mowbray 140

— Capture of James of Scotland 141

Armagnacs and Orleanists 141

Constitutional Rule of Henry IV 141

Retainers 141

1413. Death of Henry 142

CHAPTER 11.

1413. Persecution of the Lollards 143

1415. French War renewed 144

— Conspiracy of Cambridge 144

— Siege of Harfleur 144

— March to Calais 145

' — Battle of Agincourt 146, 147

1419. Murder of the Duke of Burgundy 147

1420. Treaty of Troyes 148

1421. Battle of Beauge 148

1422. Death of Henry Y 148

CHAPTER ni.

Arrangements for the King's Minority , 149

Policy of Bedford 149

1423. Battles of Crevant and Verneuil (1424) 150

1428. Siege of Orleans 150

Jeanne Daro 151 xviii Contents,

1435. Death of Bedford 151

Quarrels between Gloucester and Beaufort 152

1445. King's Marriage 153

1447. Death of Gloucester 153

1449. Loss of France 154

1450. Fall of Suffolk 154

— Cade's Eebellion 154

Yorkist Party formed 155

1453. Battle of Chatillon 156

— Illness of Henry and Protectorate of York 156

— Birth of a Prince of Wales 156

1455. Wars of the Eoses begin 156

— First Battle of St. Alban's 156

1459. Battles of Bloreheath and Nortliamptcn (1460) 157

1460. York acknowledged as Heir 158

— Battles of Wakefield, Mortimers Cross (1461) 158

1461. Second Battle of St. Alban's 158

CHAPTER IV.

1461. Battle of Towton 159

1464. Battles of Hedgeley Moor and Hexham 159

The Yorkist and Lancastrian Parties 160

1464. Edward's Marriage 160

1469. Conspiracy of Warwick and Clarence 160

1470. Alliance between Margaret and Warwick 161

— Expulsion and return of EJward 161

1471.- Battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury 161

— Death of Plenry VI 162

1475. Invasion of France 162

1483. Death and Policy of Edward IV 162

CHAPTER V.

Struggle for Power 163

Character of Richard of Gloucester 164

1483, Deposition of Edward V 165

— Popularity of Richard III 165

— iNlurder of the Princes 165

— Buckingham's Rebellion , . 165

1485. Invasion of Henry of Richmond 166

— Battle of Bosworth 167

Contents^ xix

BOOK YI.

DATE Pci-ge

CHAPTER I.

Policy of Henry VII 172

1487. Rebellions of Simnel and Warbeck (1492-1497) 173, 1 74

1497. Cornish Rebellion 174

1494. Poynings' Rule iu Ireland 174

1487. Court of Star Chamber 174

" Morton's Fork " 175

European Alliances 176

1501. Marriage and Death of Prince Arthur 177

1502. Marriage of Margaret to James IV 177

1492. Discovery of the New World 177

Change from Mediseval to Modern Europe 178

CHAPTER II. Policy of Henry VIII 179

1509. Marriage with Katharine 179

1513. Invasion of France 179

— Battle of Guinegaste 179

— Battle of Flodden 180

1514. Marriage of Mary to Louis XII 180

Thomas Wolsey 181

Foreign Policy 182

Difficulty about Succession 183

1521. Execution of the Duke of Buckingham 183

1529. Pope asked to divorce Katharine 183

— Case called to Rome 184

— Act of Praemunire enforced 184

— Parliament called 184

— Fall of Wolsey .,., 184

Connection of the Church of England with Rome 1 84

1534. Authority of the Pope abolished 185

Election of Bishops 185

— Separation from Rome completed 185

Church Discipline igc

1534. Marriage with Anne Boleyu 186

XX Contejits.

1536. Execution of Anne, Marriage with Jane Seymour 187

Thomas Cromwell 187

English Keligious Orders 187

— Dissolution of the Smaller Monasteries 188

— The Pilgrimage of Grace 189

1639. Dissolution of the Greater Monasteries 189

Movement towards Protestantism 190

— The Six Articles 190

1540. Marriages with Anne of Cleves, Katharine Howard (1540),

and Katharine Parr (1543) 190, 191

— Execution of Cromwell 191

1541. Countess of Salisbury executed 191

Debasement of the Coinage 191

1536. Union of England and Wales 192

Policy towards Ireland 192

Wars with Scotland and France 192

1547. Execution of Surrey 193

— Death and Character of Henry YIII 193

CHAPTER III. Arrangements for the Minority 194

Character of Hertford 194

Images and Pictures in Churches defaced 195

1547. Invasion of Scotland and Battle of Pinkie 195

1549. First Prayer-book of Edward VI 196

— Execution of Lord Seymour 196

— Eebellions in Devonshire and Norfolk 197

— Somerset (Hertford) deprived of Power 198

Policy of the Council '. 198

1552. Execution of Somerset 199

Parliament of 1554 , , i^g

Condition of the Country 200

Illness of the King 200

Nortliumberland's Plot in favour of Lady Jane Grey 200

1553. Death of Edward 200

CHAPTER IV. Mart (1553-1558)

Failure of Lady Jane's attempt 201

Execution of Northumberland 202

Contents. xxi

Page

DATE ^

Mary's Advisers, Kenard and Gardiner 202

1554. The Spamsk Matcli 203

— Wyatt's Eebellion, and Execution of Lady Jane 203

— EcclesiasticalPolicyofEdwardVI. and Henry YIII. reversed 203

1555. Persecution of the Protestants 204

1557. War with France and Loss of Calais 205

1558. Death of Mary 206

CHAPTER V. Other Claimants to the Crown 207

Policy towards Philip of Spain 207

1559. Religious Settlement 208

Roman Catholics and Puritans 209

1583. Court of High Commission established 209

Foreign Policy 209

Scotch Alliance proposed 209

The Hugenots and Netherlanders 210

1561. Queen Mary in Scotland 211

1566. Murder of Rizzio and of Darnley 211

1567. Deposition and flight of Mary (1568) 211

1569. Revolt of the North 212

Religious Intolerance 212

Elizabeth's Favourites 212

Plots in favour of Mary 213

The English in the New World 214

1578. Colonization of North America attempted 214

Hostility of the English and Spaniards 214

1587. Execution of Mary Queen of Scots 215

1588. The Spanish Armada 216

— The Earl of Essex 217

State of Ireland 217

1595. O'Neal's Rebellion 217

1601. Essex's Rebellion and Execution 218

Attitude of Parliament 218

— Monopolies 218

Distress among the Poor and the Poor Law 219

1603. Death of Elizabeth • . • 219 xxii Contents.

BOOK YI.

DATE PO-Se

The Stuarts and the Commonwealth (1603-

1714) 222-316

CHAPTER I. James L (1603-1625)

James' Character and Policy 224

1603. The Main and Bye Plots 225

— Imprisonment of Raleigh 225

1604. Hampton Court Conference 225

The Authorized Version of the Bible 225

1605. The Gunpowder Plot 226

1604. First Parliament of James 226

— Goodwin's Case 227

— Shirley's Case 227

1608. The Impositions 227

Disputes on General Politics 227

James' Foreign Policy 227

1612. Deaths of Cecil and Prince Henry 228

The Spanish Match 228

1611. Colonization of Ulster 228

1607. Colonization of America begins 229

Virginia and New Plymouth (1620) 229

Trading Companies 229

Carr, Earl of Somerset 229

George Villiers, afterwards Duke of Buckingham 230

1614. The Addled Parliament 230

1615. Dismissal of Coke 230

1617. Raleigh's Expedition and Death (1618) 231

1618. Thirty Years' War begins 231

Parliament of 1621 231

1621. Bacon's Impeachment 232

1623. Charles and Buckingham go to Madrid 232

1624. Quarrel with Spain 232

1625. Death of James 232