RULES TO READ VERSE.

There are two ways of writing on a subject, namely, in _prose_ and

_verse_. _Prose_ is the common way of writing, without being

confined to a certain number of syllables, or having the trouble of

disposing of the words in any particular form. _Verse_ requires

words to be ranged so, as the accents may naturally fall on

particular syllables, and make a sort of harmony to the ear: This

is termed _metre_ or _measure_, to which rhyme is generally added,

that is, to make two or more verses, near to each other, and with

the same sound; but this practice is not absolutely necessary; for

that which has no rhyme is called _blank verse_.

In metre the words must be so disposed, as that the accent may fall

on every _second_, _fourth_, and _sixth_ syllable, and also on the

_eighth_, _tenth_, and _twelfth_, if the lines run to that length.

The following verse of ten syllables may serve for an example:

_The mónarch spóke, and stráit a múrmur róse._

But _English_ poetry allows of frequent variations from this rule,

especially in the first and second syllables in the line, as in the

verse which rhymes with the former, where the accent is laid upon

the first syllable.

_Lóud as the súrges, whén the témpest blóws._

But there are two sorts of metre, which vary from this rule; one of

which is when the verse contains but seven syllables, and the accent

lies upon the _first_, _third_, _fifth_, and _seventh_, as below:

_Cóuld we, whích we néver cán,

Strétch our líves beyónd their spán;

Beáuty líke a shádow flíes,

Ánd our yóuth befóre us díes._

The other sort has a hasty sound, and requires an accent upon every

third syllable; as,

_'Tis the vóice of the slúggard, I heár him compláin,

You have wák'd me too soón, I must slúmber agáin._

You must always observe to pronounce a verse as you do prose, giving

each word and syllable its natural accent, with these two

restrictions: _First_, If there is no point at the end of the line,

make a short pause before you begin the next. _Secondly_, If any

word in a line has two sounds, give it that which agrees best with

the rhyme and metre; for example the word _glittering_ must

sometimes be pronounced as of three syllables, and sometimes

_glitt'ring_, as of two.

_The_ USE _of_ CAPITALS, _and the different_ LETTERS _used in_ PRINTING.

The names of the letters made use of in printed books are

distinguished thus: The round, full, and upright, are called

_Roman_; the long, leaning, narrow letters are called _Italic_; and

the ancient black character is called _English_. You have a

specimen as follows, viz.

[Illustration: the word Angel in "Roman", Italic, and Fraktur

(which they call "Old English")]

The _Old English_ is seldom used but in acts of parliament,

proclamations, &c. The _Roman_ is chiefly in vogue for books and

pamphlets, intermixed with _Italic_, to distinguish proper names,

chapters, arguments, words in any foreign language, texts of

scripture, citations from authors, speeches or sayings of any

person, emphatical words, and whatever is strongly significant.

The use of capitals, or great letters, is to begin every name of the

Supreme Being, as God, Lord, Almighty, Father, Son, &c. All proper

names of men and things, titles of distinction, as King, Duke, Lord,

Knight, &c. must also begin with a capital. So ought every book,

chapter, verse, paragraph, and sentence after a period. A saying,

or quotation from any author, should begin with a capital; as ought

every line in a poem. I and O, when they stand single, must always

be capitals; any words, particularly names or substantives, may

begin with a capital; but the common way of beginning every

substantive with a capital is not commendable, and is now much

disused.

Capitals are likewise often used for ornament, as in the title of

books; and also to express numbers, and abbreviations.

[Illustration: Woodcut of Ancient Britons]

A CONCISE

_ACCOUNT OF ANCIENT BRITAIN._

CHAP. I.

ENGLAND and Scotland, though but one island, are two kingdoms, viz.

the kingdom of England and the kingdom of Scotland; which two

kingdoms being united, were in the reign of James I. called

Great-Britain. The shape of it is triangular, as thus [triangle],

and 'tis surrounded by the seas. Its utmost extent or length is 812

miles, its breadth is 320, and its circumference 1836; and it is

reckoned one of the finest islands in Europe. The whole island was

anciently called Albion, which seems to have been softened from

Alpion; because the word alp, in some of the original western

languages, generally signifies very high lands, or hills; as this

isle appears to those who approach it from the Continent. It was

likewise called Olbion, which in the Greek signifies happy; but of

those times there is no certainty in history, more than that it had

the denomination, and was very little known by the rest of the

world.

The people that first lived in this island, according to the best

historians, were the Gauls, and afterwards the Britons. These

Britons were tall, well made, and yellow haired, and lived

frequently a hundred and twenty years, owing to their sobriety and

temperance, and the wholesomeness of the air. The use of clothes

was scarce known among them. Some of them that inhabited the

southern parts covered their nakedness with the skins of wild beasts

carelessly thrown over them, not so much to defend themselves

against the cold as to avoid giving offence to strangers that came

to traffic among them. By way of ornament they used to cut the

shape of flowers, and trees, and animals, on their skin, and

afterwards painted it of a sky colour, with the juice of woad, that

never wore out. They lived in woods, in huts covered with skins,

boughs, or turfs. Their towns and villages were a confused parcel

of huts, placed at a little distance from each other, without any

order or distinction of streets. They were generally in the middle

of a wood, defended with ramparts, or mounds of earth thrown up.

Ten or a dozen of them, friends and brothers, lived together, and

had their wives in common. Their food was milk and flesh got by

hunting, their woods and plains being well stocked with game. Fish

and tame fowls, which they kept for pleasure, they were forbid by

their religion to eat.

The chief commerce was with the the Phœnician merchants, who, after

the discovery of the island, exported every year great quantities of

tin, with which they drove a very gainful trade with distant

nations.

In this situation were the Ancient Britons when Julius Cæsar, the

first Emperor of Rome, and a great conqueror, formed a design of

invading their island, which the Britons hearing of, they

endeavoured to divert him from his purpose by sending ambassadors

with offers of obedience to him, which he refused, and in the 55th

year before the coming of our Saviour upon earth, he embarked in

Gaul (that is France) a great many soldiers on board eighty ships.

At his arrival on the coast of Britain he saw the hills and cliffs

that ran out into the sea covered with troops, that could easily

prevent his landing, on which he sailed two leagues farther to a

plain and open shore, which the Britons perceiving sent their

chariots and horse that way, whilst the rest of their army advanced

to support them. The largeness of Cæsar's vessels hindered them

from coming near the shore, so that the Roman soldiers saw

themselves under a necessity of leaping into the sea, armed as they

were, in order to attack their enemies, who stood ready to receive

them on the dry ground. Cæsar perceiving that his soldiers did not

exert their usual bravery, ordered some small ships to get as near

the shore as possible, which they did, and with their slings,

engines, and arrows so pelted the Britons, that their courage began

to abate. But the Romans were unwilling to throw themselves into

the water, till one of the standard-bearers leaped in first with his

colours in his hand, crying out aloud, _Follow me, fellow soldiers,

unless you will betray the Roman Eagle into the hands of the enemy.

For my part I am resolved to discharge my duty to Caesar and the

Commonwealth._ Whereupon all the soldiers followed him, and began

to fight. But their resolution was not able to compel the Britons

to give ground; nay, it was feared they would have been repelled,

had not Cæsar caused armed boats to supply them with recruits,

which made the enemy fall back a little. The Romans improving this

advantage advanced, and getting firm footing on land, pressed the

Britons so vigorously that they put them to the rout. The Britons,

astonished at the Roman valour, and fearing a more obstinate

resistance would but expose them to greater mischiefs, sent to sue

for peace and offer hostages, which Cæsar accepted, and a peace was

concluded four days after their landing. Thus having given an

account of Ancient Britain, and Cæsar's invasion, we shall proceed

to the History of England, and the several Kings by whom it has been

governed.

A COMPENDIOUS

_HISTORY OF ENGLAND._

CHAP. II.

AS England was long governed by Kings who were natives of the

country, so it may not be improper to distinguish that tract of time

by the name of the British Period. Those Kings were afterwards

subdued by the Romans, and the time that warlike people retained

their conquest we shall call the Roman Period. When the Saxons

brought this country under their subjection, we shall denominate the

time of their sway the Saxon Period. Lastly, when the Danes invaded

England, and conquered it, we shall term the series of years they

possessed it the Danish Period.

This country was originally called Albion; but one Brutus, a Grecian

hero, having landed here about 1100 years before Christ, changed the

ancient name to Britannia; from which time, to the arrival of Julius

Cæsar here, there had reigned sixty-nine Kings, all natives of

England.

In respect to the Roman Period we may observe, that Julius Cæsar

first landed in Britain from Gallia, and made it tributary to the

Romans; but soon after the birth of Christ the Emperor Claudius

brought this country entirely under his subjection, and the Emperor

Adrian built the long wall between England and Scotland.

In the beginning of the second century the Christian religion was

planted in England; and in the fifth century the Britons, finding

themselves overpowered by the Scots, called over the Saxons to their

assistance, who were so charmed with the country that they

determined to continue here, and subdue it.

The most remarkable occurrences in the Saxon Period are, that such

of them who embarked for England had been particularly distinguished

by the name of Angles, and from them the name of Britannia was

changed to that of Anglia. The Saxons also divided the country

among themselves into seven kingdoms, known by the name of the Saxon

Heptarchy, viz. 1. Kent, 2. Essex, 3. Sussex, 4. Wessex, 5. East

Anglia, 6. Mercia, 7. Northumberland. But at length Wessex

over-powering the rest, formed them all into one monarchy.

One of those West-Saxon Kings, called Ina, made many good laws, some

of which are still extant: he also was the first that granted

Peter's pence to the Pope.

In regard to the Danish Period we shall only remark, that the Danes

had for a long time acted as pirates or sea robbers upon the English

coasts, and made several incursions into the country, when their

King Canute possessed himself of the crown of England; however their

government did not continue long.

Canute reigned eighteen years, and left three sons, Harold, Canute,

and Sueno; to the first he gave England, to the second Denmark, and

to the third Norway.

Harold reigned five years, and was succeeded by his half-brother

Hardi-Canute, who died two years after, and with him ended the

tyrannical government of the Danes in England.

THE

_INTERMEDIATE HISTORY OF ENGLAND._

CHAP. III.

WE shall divide this part of our history into four periods; 1. The

Kings of the Norman Line; 2. Those of the House of Anjou; 3. Of the

House of Lancaster; 4. Of the House of York.

_The_ NORMAN KINGS.

WILLIAM I. sirnamed [sic] the Conqueror, gained a signal victory

over King Harold, by which means he procured the crown of England.

This Prince was the son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, by one of his

mistresses called Harlotte, from whom some think the word harlot is

derived; however, as this amour seems odd, we shall entertain the

reader with an account of it. The Duke riding one day to take the

air passed by a company of country girls, who were dancing, and was

so taken with the graceful carriage of one of them, named Harlotte,

a skinner's daughter, that he prevailed on her to cohabit with him,

and she was ten months after delivered of William, who, having

reigned 21 years, died at Rouen, in September, 1087.

WILLIAM II. sirnamed Rufus, succeeded his father; he built

Westminster-hall, rebuilt London-bridge, and made a new wall round

the Tower of London. In his time the sea overflowed a great part of

the estate belonging to Earl Goodwin, in Kent, which is at this day

called the Goodwin Sands. The King was killed accidentally by an

arrow in the New Forest, and left no issue. He reigned fourteen

years, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral.

HENRY I. youngest son of William the Conqueror, succeeded his

brother William II. in 1100. He reduced Normandy, and made his son

Duke thereof. This Prince died in Normandy of a surfeit, by eating

lampreys after hunting, having reigned 35 years.

STEPHEN, sirnamed of Blois, succeeded his uncle Henry I. in 1135;

but being continually harassed by the Scotch and Welsh, and having

reigned 19 years in an uninterrupted series of troubles, he died at

Dover in 1154, and was buried in the Abbey at Feversham, which he

had erected for the burial place of himself and family.

HENRY II. son of Geoffrey Plantagenet, Earl of Anjou, succeeded

Stephen in 1154. In him the Norman and Saxon blood was united, and

with him began the race of the Plantagenets, which ended with

Richard III. In this King's reign Thomas à Becket, son to a

tradesman in London, being made Lord High Chancellor, and afterwards

Archbishop of Canterbury, affected on all occasions to oppose and to

be independent of the court. The King hearing of his misbehaviour,

complained that he had not one to revenge him on a wretched priest

for the many insults he had put upon him. Hereupon four of his

domestics, in hopes to gain favour, set out immediately for

Canterbury, and beat out Thomas's brains with clubs, as he was

saying vespers in his own cathedral, in so cruel a manner, that the

altar was covered with blood. King Henry subdued Ireland, and died

there in 1189, in the 34th year of his reign.

RICHARD I. succeeded his father Henry II. and was no sooner crowned

than he took upon him the cross, and went with Philip, King of

France, to the Holy Land in 1192. On his return he was detained by

the Emperor Henry VI. and was obliged to pay 100,000 marks for his

ransom. In a war which succeeded between England and France,

Richard fought personally in the field, and gained a complete

victory over the enemy, but was afterwards shot by an arrow at the

siege of the Castle of Chalus, and died of the wound April 6, 1199.

JOHN, the fourth son of Henry II. took possession of the crown on

Richard's decease, though his nephew Arthur of Bretagne, son of his

elder brother Geoffrey Plantagenet, had an undoubted title to it.

His encroachments on the privileges of his people called forth the

opposition of the spirited and potent Barons of that day: John was

reduced to great straits; and Pope Innocent III. with the usual

policy of the Holy Fathers, sided with John's disaffected subjects,

and fulminated the thunders of the church against him, till he had

brought him to his own terms: the King surrendered his crown at the

feet of the Pope's Legate, who returned it to him on his

acknowledging that he held it as the vassal of the Holy See, and

binding himself and successors to pay an annual tribute thereto.

The Barons and their cause were to be sacrificed to the Pope's

interest, and the Legate commanded them to lay down their arms; they

were however bold enough to make head against this powerful league,

and by their steady opposition to the King, and their moderate

demands when their efforts were crowned with success, immortalized

their names: John was obliged to sign out two famous charters--the

first called Magna Charta, or the Charter of Liberties; the second

the Charter of Forests; which two charters have since been the

foundation of the liberties of this nation. Some time after, having

thrown himself into a fever by eating peaches, he died at Newark

October 28, 1216.

HENRY III. succeeded his father John in 1216, being but nine years

old. He reigned 56 years, during the greatest part of which he was

embroiled in a civil war. He founded the house of converts, and an

hospital, in Oxford, and died at St. Edmundsbury in 1272.

EDWARD I. though in the Holy Land when his father died, yet

succeeded him, and proved a warlike and successful Prince. He made

France fear him, and forced the King of Scotland to pay him homage.

He created his eldest son Prince of Wales, which title has been

enjoyed by the eldest son of all the Kings of England ever since.

In his last moments he exhorted his son to continue the war with

Scotland, and added, "Let my bones be carried before you, for I am

sure the rebels will never dare to stand the sight of them." He

died of a bloody flux at Burgh on the sands [sic], a small town in

Cumberland, July 7, 1337, having reigned 34 years, and lived 68.

EDWARD II. succeeded his father, but proved an unfortunate Prince,

being hated by his nobles, and slighted by the commons: he was first

debauched by Gaveston his favourite, and afterwards by the two

Spencers, father and son, whose oppressions he countenanced to the

hazard of his crown. But the Barons taking up arms against the

King, Gaveston was beheaded, the two Spencers hanged, and he himself

forced to to resign the crown to Prince Edward his son. Soon after

which he was barbarously murdered at Berkeley Castle, by means of

Mortimer, the Queen's favourite. He reigned twenty years, and was

buried at Gloucester.

EDWARD III. who succeeded his father on his resignation, claimed the

crown of France, and backed his claim by embarking a powerful army

for that country, where he made rapid conquests: the Scots favouring

the French, invaded Cumberland, but were defeated by Edward's Queen

Philippa, who took David Bruce, their King, prisoner. Edward's

eldest son, sirnamed the Black Prince, gained two surprizing [sic]

victories, one at Cressi, the other at Poitiers, in which he took

King John, with his youngest son Philip, prisoners. Thus England

had the glory to make two Kings prisoners in one year. This reign

is also memorable for the institution of the most noble Order of

the Garter, and for the title of Duke of Cornwall being first

conferred upon the Black Prince, and continued as a birthright to

the Prince Royal of England.

In this reign lived John Wickliff, who strenuously opposed the

errors of the Romish Church. Peter's Pence were now also denied to

the church of Rome; and the manufacture of cloth was first brought

into England.

Edward the Black Prince died in 1336, and his untimely end hastened

that of his father, who died soon after at Shene, in Surry, having

reigned thirty years, and was buried at Westminster.

RICHARD II. son to Edward the Black Prince, succeeded his

grandfather; but he had neither his wisdom nor good fortune. He

was born at Bourdeaux in France: his conduct in England made his

reign very uneasy to his subjects, and at last deprived him of his

crown. He raised a tax of 5d. per head, which caused an

insurrection by the influence of Wat Tyler, who being stabbed by

William Walworth, Mayor of London, the storm was quelled. The

smothering of the Duke of Gloucester, and the unjust seizure of the

Duke of Lancaster's effects, with an intent to banish his son, were

the two circumstances which completed the King's ruin.

For after this tyranny and cruelty, being forced to resign the

crown, he was confined in Pomfret Castle, in Yorkshire, where being

barbarously murdered, he was buried at Langley, having reigned

twenty-two years. In his time lived Chaucer, the famous poet.

_The House of Lancaster, called the_ RED ROSE.

HENRY IV. who succeeded his cousin Richard on his resignation in

1399, was the son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, who was

fourth son of Edward III. In his turbulent reign, which lasted

thirteen years and a half, we find little remarkable, except the

act then passed for burning the Lollards or Wickliffites, who

separated from the church of Rome.

HENRY V. succeeded his father, and, though a loose Prince in his

youth, proved a wise, virtuous and magnificent King. He banished

all his lewd companions from court, and claimed the English title

to the crown of France in so heroic and effectual a manner, that

with 14,000 men he beat the French at Agincourt, though 140,000

strong. Hereupon Queen Katherine prevailed upon her husband

Charles VI. then King of France, to disinherit the Dauphin, and to

give Katherine his daughter to Henry, so that he was declared heir

to the crown of France, and regent during the King's life, which

measures were ratified and confirmed by the states of that kingdom,

though he did not live to sit on the throne. He reigned but ten

years, died at Vincennes, a royal palace near Paris, and was buried

at Westminster, in 1422, in the 39th year of his age.

HENRY VI. when only eight years old, succeeded his father, but was

no less unfortunate at home than abroad; and though he was crowned

at Paris King of France, in the year 1423, yet he lost all that his

predecessors had acquired in that kingdom, Calais only excepted.

The crown of England was disputed between him and the house of York;

which occasioned such civil wars in England as made her bleed for 84

years, when all the Princes of York and Lancaster were either

killed in battle or beheaded. The French laying hold of this

favourable opportunity, shook off the English yoke, and recovering

their liberty in five years, placed the young Dauphin upon the

throne, who was then Charles VII. The crown of England was now

settled by Parliament upon the House of York and their heirs, after

the death of King Henry, whose heirs were excluded for ever. This

Prince passed through various changes of life, and was at last

stabbed to the heart by Richard Duke of Gloucester, who had before

murdered Edward, the only son of this unfortunate King.

_The House of York, called the_ WHITE ROSE.

EDWARD IV. who had dispossessed Henry VI. in 1460, was the first

King of the line of York, and nobly maintained his right to the

crown by mere dint of arms; till at last subduing the party which

opposed him, he was crowned at Westminster June 28, 1461. In this

King's reign the ART OF PRINTING was first brought into England. At

this time also the King of Spain was presented with some Cotswold

sheep, from whose breed, 'tis said, came the fine Spanish wool, to

the prejudice of England. Edward reigned 22 years, and was buried

at Windsor in 1483.

EDWARD V. eldest son of Edward IV. succeeded his father when only

twelve years old; but his bloody uncle, Richard Duke of Gloucester,

caused both him and his brother to be smothered in their beds in the

Tower of London, in the second month of his reign, and before his

coronation.

RICHARD III. having dispatched his two nephews, succeeded to the

crown, and was the last King of the House of York. He was an

usurper, and his cruelty had incensed the Duke of Buckingham, his

favourite, to such a degree, that he contrived his ruin, and offered

the crown to Henry Earl of Richmond, the only surviving Prince of

the House of Lancaster, then at the court of France, on condition

that he would marry Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Edward IV. in

order to unite the Houses of York and Lancaster -- Richard being

informed of the affair, ordered the Duke to be instantly beheaded

without a trial. However, this did not discourage Henry, who had

accepted the offer. He came over with a small force, and landed in

Wales, where he was born, his army increasing as he advanced. At

length having collected a body of 5000 men, he attacked King Richard

in Bosworth field, in Leicestershire, in 1485. Richard fought

bravely till he was killed in the engagement, which made way for

Henry to the crown of England.

THE

_MODERN HISTORY OF ENGLAND._

CHAP. IV.

We shall divide this branch of English history into four periods,

namely: 1. The Kings of the House of Tudor. 2. The Kings of the

Stuart family. 3. King William of the House of Orange, and Queen

Anne. 4. The Kings of the House of Hanover.

_The House of_ TUDOR.

HENRY VII. succeeded Richard III. in 1485: he obtained the crown by

force of arms, tho' he pretended a tight to it by birth; being of

the House of Lancaster. The name of his father was Edmund Tudor,

Earl of Richmond; and he married Elizabeth, the daughter of King

Edward IV. by which marriage the Houses of York and Lancaster were

united. This Prince had great sagacity, but was very cruel and

unjust. Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick, and the last Prince of

the House of York, was beheaded by him for attempting his escape,

after being imprisoned from nine years old; for which cruel act

Henry's name will be hated for ever. As he grew old, he grew

covetous, and to increase his treasure, he caused all penal laws to

be put in execution. His chief instruments herein were Empsom and

Dudley, who afterwards paid dear for their extortion. He built the

chapel at Westminster which is at this day called Henry the

Seventh's. The 48 gentlemen of the privy chamber, and the band of

gentlemen pensioners, were first settled in his reign. He died at

the palace of Richmond, which he built, and left in ready money to

his successor 1,800,000l. having reigned 24 years.

HENRY VIII. born at Greenwich, in 1491, the only surviving son of

Henry VII. came to the crown in the 18th year of his age, and in

1509. He reigned for some years with great applause; but being

vitiated by Cardinal Woolsey, luxury and cruelty obscured his

virtues, and stained his former glory. He had six wives, of whom he

divorced two, and caused two to be publicly beheaded. In his reign

began the reformation; and the King was by act of parliament,

declared supreme head of the church of England. Before he fell off

from the Pope, he wrote a book against Luther. On this account Pope

Leo honoured him with the title of defender of the faith; which the

parliament made hereditary to all succeeding Kings of England. His

government was more arbitrary and severe than that of any of his

predecessors since William the Conqueror. He reigned about 38

years, died Jan. 28, 1547, and was buried in Windsor chapel.

EDWARD VI. only son of Henry VIII. succeeded his father at ten years

old; and in the six years during which he reigned, he, by the

indefatigable zeal of Archbishop Cranmer, made a great progress in

the reformation. This good Prince founded our two famous hospitals,

called Christchurch and St. Thomas, one in the city of London, the

other in the suburbs. This reign is memorable for the discovery of

the north-east passage to Archangel, made by Richard Chalinour, till

then unknown, and since become the common passage from Asia into

Europe. Edward reigned but six years, and was buried at

Westminster.

MARY, eldest daughter of Henry VIII. by his first wife, succeeded

her half brother Edward VI. She restored the Roman Catholic

Bishops, and commenced a hot persecution against the protestants; in

which Archbishop Cranmer, and six other Bishops, were burnt alive.

In her reign, Calais was taken by the French, after it had been in

our possession 200 years; and the same year, which was 1558, she

died of grief for the loss of that city. With her life ended a

reign, begun, continued, finished in blood, and happy in nothing but

its short duration. She was buried at Westminster.

ELIZABETH, daughter of Henry VIII. by Anna Bullen, his second wife,

succeeded her half-sister Mary. She proved an excellent Queen, the

glory of her sex, and admiration of the age she lived in. She was

crowned at Westminster, Jan. 15, 1558. In her time the protestant

religion was again restored. She humbled the pride of Spain, both

in Europe and America. Memorable is the year 1588, for the Spanish

invasion attempted by King Philip, with his invincible armada; the

greatest part of which was destroyed by the English fireships and a

providential storm. The very names of our chief commanders, Howard,

Norris, Essex, Drake, and Raleigh, struck a terror in her enemies.

They took and burnt several places in Spain, particularly Cadiz and

the Groyne; intercepted their plate fleets, and reduced that haughty

monarch so low, that he has never since recovered it. This Queen

quelled the two rebellions of O'Neal and Tir-Owen in Ireland. She

protected the new republic of Holland, and the protestants of

France. She commanded the ocean, which spread her fame around the

globe, and made her name respected every where. With much

reluctance she signed the dead warrant [sic] for the execution of

Mary Queen of Scots, charged with high treason. She grieved much

for the death of the Earl of Essex, whose fall was owing to her

favour, and survived him only two years. In her reign the two

English inquisitions were erected, I mean the Star-Chamber, and the

High Commission Court, which grew oppressive, and the judges so

arbitrary, that they were suppressed by an act of Charles I. She

had a peculiar taste for learning, which flourished in her reign.

She spoke five or six different languages, translated several books

from the Greek and French, and took great pleasure in the study of

mathematics, geography, and history. She died in 1603, in the 45th

year of her reign, and the 70th year of her age, leaving her kinsman

James VI. of Scotland, her successor.

_The_ STUART FAMILY.

JAMES I. of England, arrived at London May 7, 1603, and the feast of

St. James following was fixed for his coronation. In 1604, Nov. 5,

the powder plot was discovered, the memory whereof has been hitherto

religiously observed. Among the remarkable things of this reign,

may be reckoned the two visits his Majesty received from Christian

IV. King of Denmark, whose sister Ann was King James's consort: the

creation of a new order called Baronets, next to a Baron, and made

hereditary: the fall of Lord Chancellor Bacon, and of Sir Walter

Raleigh, at the instigation of the Spanish Ambassador: the office of

the master of the ceremonies was first established. As to the

character of this Prince, it must be confessed, that he was too much

of a scholar, and too little of the soldier. Though he was brought

up in the Scotch presbytery, he thought episcopacy so necessary for

the support of his crown, that he often used to say, _No Bishop, No

King_. He died at Theobalds, March 27, 1625, in the 23rd year of

his reign, and 59th year of his age. Thus ended a peaceable but

inglorious, a plentiful but luxurious reign, to make room for

another more turbulent and tragical.

CHARLES I. the only son of King James, succeeded next: he was born

at Dumferling, in Scotland, 1600, and crowned at Westminster, 1625.

His crown may be called a crown of thorns, as his reign ended in

blood. He married Henrietta, daughter to Henry IV. King of France,

who was bigotted to the catholic religion, and gained the ascendancy

over him. His wonderful compliance with the Queen caused him to act

in many respects contrary to the laws of the kingdom, and his

unbounded favour to the Duke of Buckingham, incensed the people to

that degree, that this favourite was afterwards stabbed by Felton,

merely for the public good. These, and such like weaknesses, made

him continually at variance with the parliament, which at last broke

out into a civil war. Several battles were fought between the

royalists and republicans or rumps. The King was taken prisoner by

the Scots, who sold him to the parliament for 200,000l. Hereupon

the parliament erected a high court of justice, and gave them power

to try the King; and though the generality of the people were

against such arbitrary proceedings, yet they arraigned him of

high-treason. The King maintained his dignity, and refusing to

acknowledge the authority of these pretended judges, had sentence of

death passed upon him, and was accordingly beheaded on a scaffold

erected for that purpose, before the palace, Jan. 30, 1648. In this

reign two great ministers, viz. Archbishop Laud, and the Earl of

Strafford, were beheaded.

CROMWELL, one of the most considerable members of the high court who

condemned King Charles, was now sent to subdue Ireland. After which

he marched against the Scots, who had taken up arms in favour of the

late King. The Dutch also, who had sent a fleet to assist the King,

having met with many losses and disappointments, sued for peace,

which Cromwell sold them at an exorbitant price. Now Cromwell was

made Lord Protector to the British dominions, and acted with the

same authority as if he had been King. He was a terror both to

France and Spain, and died Sept. 3, 1658. His son indeed succeeded

to that high station, which his father filled with universal

applause; but having neither an equal share of ambition, nor a head

turned for government, modestly resigned to the right heir

CHARLES II. son of Charles I. succeeded his father, but was kept

from the crown above eleven years, during which time England was

reduced to a commonwealth. The King was at the Hague when his

father was beheaded. But on his yielding to some conditions imposed

on him by the kirk of Scotland, he was received by the Scots, and

being crowned at Scoon, they sent an army with him into England to

recover that kingdom; which being totally defeated at Worcester, he

wandered about for six weeks, and made his escape to France, then

to Spain, but without any hopes of restoration, till the death of

Oliver Cromwell: when a free parliament, having met in April 1660,

voted the return of King Charles II. as lawful heir to the crown.

The power of the Rump Parliament, by the conduct and courage of

General Monk, had been on the decline for some time, and the King's

interest greatly increased, especially in the city of London, where

he was proclaimed May 8. He landed at Dover, and made a most

magnificent entry, May 29, 1660, being his birthday; and the 23d

[sic] of April following, being St. George's day, he was crowned at

Westminster with great state and solemnity. Among the remarkable

things of this reign, we may reckon the parting with Dunkirk to

France for a paltry sum; the blowing up Tangier in the Streights,

after immense sums had been expended to repair and keep it; the

shutting up the Exchequer when full of loans, to the ruin of

numerous families; the two Dutch wars, which ended with no advantage

on either side, but served only to promote the French interest; the

great plague with which this nation was visited during the first

Dutch war; the fire of London that happened soon after; and the

Popish plot, for which many suffered death. On the 2d of Feb. 1684,

the King fell sick of an apoplexy; he died four days after, in the

37th year of his reign, and was privately buried at Westminster.

JAMES II. succeeded his brother Charles, but proved very unfortunate

to himself and his people, on account of his zeal for the Romish

religion. He invaded the rights of the universities, and made

Magdalen College in Oxford a prey to his violence. He sent seven

bishops as criminals to the tower, who upon trial were honourably

acquitted. Father Peters, a Jesuit, and several Popish Lords, sat

in the Privy Council, and some Popish Judges on the bench. The

Pope sent a Nuncio from Rome, who was suffered to make his public

entry in defiance of our constitution. These barefaced practices

made the Protestant party think it high time to check the growth of

popery. Hereupon the Prince of Orange was requested to vindicate

his consort's right, and that of the three nations. In the

beginning of this reign the Duke of Monmouth was proclaimed King in

the West, in opposition to King James; but his party being defeated,

he was beheaded July 15, 1685. Judge Jeffries was afterwards sent

by the King to try those who had assisted the Duke, of whom he

hanged no less than 600, glorying in his cruelty, and affirming,

that he had hanged more than all the Judges since William the

Conqueror. The Chevalier St. George was born July 10, 1688, two

days after the bishops were imprisoned. The Prince of Orange landed

at Torbay Nov. 5, and King James abdicated the crown, and went over

to France, Dec. 23. Hereupon an interregnum ensued till the 13th of

February, 1688-9, when William and Mary, Prince and Princess of

Orange, were offered the Crown, and accepted it.

_The House of_ ORANGE.

WILLIAM III. and MARY II. succeeded James II. upon the vote of the

Convention. The day after their arrival in London, which was Feb.

13, 1688-9, they were seated under a canopy of state in the

Banqueting-house, and both Houses of Convocation waited upon them,

proffering them the crown in the names of the Lords Spiritual and

Temporal, and the Commons, assembled at Westminster: Accordingly

they were proclaimed King and Queen of Great-Britain the following

day, and solemnly crowned at the Abbey on the 21st of April.

Several plots were formed against the King, but all of them proved

abortive. He carried out a war with France, and with King James's

party in Ireland, for nine years successively, till at last France

was obliged to acknowledge him lawful King of Great-Britain, in the

peace of Ryswic, 1697. He died March 8, 1701, aged 51, after he had

survived his consort Mary Stuart, daughter to James II. five years,

who died Dec. 21, 1696, and whose funeral was performed with great

elegance and solemnity. July 2, 1700, William Duke of Gloucester,

the only surviving issue of Princess Anne of Denmark, departed this

life at Windsor, aged twelve years. And King James died at St.

Germains in Sept. 1721.

ANNE, second daughter to James II. succeeded King William, whose

death was joy to France, but a great misfortune to England. Anne

was born Feb. 6, 1664, and married George Prince of Denmark, who was

High Admiral of England, and a happy assistant to her in steering

the ship of state. She was crowned Queen of Great-Britain April 23,

1702. On the 4th of May following war was proclaimed at London,

Vienna, and the Hague, against France and Spain. The success of

this war is worthy admiration [sic], and almost incredible. The

conquest of the Spanish Guelderland, the Electorate of Cologn [sic],

and the Bishopric of Liege; the prodigious victory over the French

and Bavarians at Blenheim, under the surprising conduct of the Duke

of Marlborough; the retaking of Landau; the conquering all the

estates of the Duke of Bavaria in Germany; the forcing the French

and Bavarians out of their lines in Brabant, which was deemed a

thing impracticable; the battle of Ramillies; the victory at

Oudenard; the taking of Lisle and Tournay; the defeat of the French

army at Blarenies; the reducing of Mons, &c. &c. are such events as

will render her Majesty's reign famous to all posterity. If we look

towards Spain, how bold and successful was our attempt upon Vigo,

where we took and destroyed their whole plate fleet, both men of war

and others, to the amount of 38 sail, of which not one escaped: Did

we not also take Gibraltar with a small force in one morning, and

keep possession of it against the joint strength of France and

Spain? Barcelona likewise being taken by the English and Dutch,

under the conduct of the Earl of Peterborough, was soon after

besieged by King Philip with a great army, which was soon forced to

a shameful retreat into France. Hereupon Catalonia, Arragon,

Valencia, and other provinces, submitted to Charles III. by the

influence of her Majesty's arms. Who could have expected the dismal

turn of the affairs of France and Italy, which happened in 1707, by

the powerful interest of England? A numerous army of French and

Spaniards were destroyed before the walls of Turin, by the Duke of

Savoy and Prince Eugene. Thus Piedmont was abandoned, the Mantuan,

the Milanese, the Modenese, Parmasan, and Montferrat, yielded up.

This Queen also brought about the strict union between England and

Scotland, after sundry fruitless attempts of the same kind for a

century past. In short, the successes of her reign justly

denominate her one of the most triumphant Monarchs of former ages,

and her piety and virtue will ever be acknowledged by the British

nation. The four last years of Queen Anne's reign were attended with

much perplexity, which was owing to her Ministers, who prevailed

upon her to consent to the peace of Utrecht; and, 'tis said, her

death was occasioned by her ill conduct, which she laid too much to

heart. She died Aug. 1, 1714; and in her the succession of the

Stuart line ended.

_The House of_ HANOVER.

GEORGE I. who was heir-apparent to the crown of Great-Britain on the

death of Queen Anne, and which had been confirmed to him some years

before by various Acts of Parliament, and by a special article in

the peace of Utrecht, was born 1666, and proclaimed King the very

day Queen Anne expired. He landed at Greenwich Sept. 18, 1714, and

was crowned Oct. 20. A thorough change in the ministry was made on

his accession, wherein he distinguished his friends from his

enemies. Among the latter the chief were the Duke of Ormond, the

Earl of Oxford, and the Viscount Bolingbroke, who were deemed to be

firmly attached to the interest of the Pretender. In 1715 a plot

was supposed to be brooding in the West, where several gentlemen

were suspected of having a design to bring in the Pretender, and to

place him on the throne of his ancestors. He had already been

proclaimed King of Scotland, by the Earl of Mar, against whom the

Duke of Argyle marched. On the 13th of November they came to a

decisive battle near Dumblain, where the rebels were defeated, and

put to flight. At the same time a body of 5000 rebels assembled at

Preston in Lancashire, headed by the Earl of Derwentwater, of whom

General Wills, who commanded some of his Majesty's troops on the

borders of Scotland, being informed, he marched directly against

them, and obliged them to surrender prisoners of war. They were

afterwards sent up to London, and many of the ringleaders tried and

condemned. Among these were the Earls of Derwentwater and Kenmure,

who were beheaded on Tower-Hill; several others were executed at

Tyburn, and the remainder pardoned. Some other conspiracies were

formed against the King's person; but, by timely discovery,

prevented from being carried into execution. Aug. 2, 1718, the

quadruple alliance was signed between their Imperial, Christian, and

Britannic Majesties; and the Spanish fleet was destroyed in the

Mediterranean by the English. In 1720 Spain acceded to the

quadruple alliance, and a fleet was sent into the Baltic in favour

of Sweden. This year was also remarkable for the South-Sea scheme,

by which many families were deluded and entirely ruined; and the

government was obliged to interpose, to prevent the ill consequences

of the people's despair. On enquiry into the affair it appeared,

that besides stock-jobbers and directors some persons of distinction

were concerned in it. This fatal stroke to the British trade was in

some measure remedied by the assiento contract, concluded at Madrid

in 1722. In the same year, the funeral of the Duke of Marlborough,

who, since the accession of King George, had been restored to the

honours he so justly deserved, was solemnized with great pomp. In

1723, a conspiracy for raising an insurrection was discovered;

hereupon the Duke of Norfolk, Lord North and Grey, the Bishop of

Rochester, and Counsellor Layer, were taken into custody; after a

long trial the Bishop was banished, and Layer was hanged. In 1724,

the Ostend East-India Company was established. In 1725 the Hanover

treaty was agreed to, between France, Great-Britain, and Prussia.

June 11, 1727, George I. died at Osnaburgh, in the very chamber

where he was born, in the 67th year of his age, and the 13th year of

his reign.

GEORGE II. was proclaimed as soon as as the news of his father's

death came to London, and his coronation was solemnized in October

following. The new Parliament met on the 2d of January, and chose

for their Speaker Arthur Onslow, Esq. and loyal and affectionate

addresses were presented to the King by both houses. The land

forces were fixed at 22,950 men, and the number of seamen at

15,000. An enquiry was made into the state of the public gaols,

and from this it appeared that great cruelties and oppressions had

been exercised on the prisoners, particularly on Sir William Rich,

Baronet, who was found in the fleet prison loaded with irons, by

order of the Warden. For these and the like barbarities, Thomas

Bambridge, the Warden, and several of his accomplices, were

committed to Newgate. In May, 1729, his Majesty declared his

intentions of visiting his German dominions, and leaving the Queen

as Regent. His design in going to Germany was to compromise some

differences that had lately arisen between the Regency of Hanover

and the King of Prussia; and about this time the Duke of

Mecklenburgh was deposed by the Emperor, for his cruelty, tyranny,

and oppression. By the fall of Emperors and Kings it is that we

learn the Omnipotence of the Almighty, whose arm strengthens and

supports the crown of the righteous and takes away the kingdom from

unjust Princes. About this time great licentiousness prevailed

among all ranks of people, particularly among those of the lower

class, who indulged themselves in every kind of wickedness; and

among other methods of injuring their fellow subjects, circulated

incendiary letters, demanding sums of money of certain individuals,

on pain of reducing their houses to ashes; this species of villainy

had never been known before in England. In the course of the summer

seven Indian Chiefs were brought over to England. In 1731 a duel

was fought in the Green Park, between Sir William Pulteney and Lord

Hervey, on account of a remarkable political pamphlet. Lord Hervey

was wounded, and narrowly escaped with his life. The Latin tongue

was abolished in all law proceedings, which were ordered for the

future to be in English. Rich. Norton, Esq. of Southwick, in

Hampshire, left his estate of 600l. per annum, and a personal estate

of 60,000l. to be disposed of in charitable uses by the Parliament.

One Smith, a book-binder, and his wife, being reduced to extreme

poverty, hanged themselves at the same time, and by common consent,

after having made away with their only child.

On the 27th of April, 1736, his Royal Highness Frederic, Prince of

Wales, espoused Augusta, sister to the Duke of Saxe Gotha. In the

course of this year a remarkable riot happened at Edinburgh,

occasioned by the execution of one Wilson, a smuggler. Porteus,

captain of the city guard, a man of a brutal disposition, and

abandoned morals, being provoked by the insults of the mob,

commanded his soldiers to fire upon the crowd, by which precipitate

orders several innocent persons were killed; Porteus was tried and

condemned to die, but obtained a reprieve from the Queen, who was

then Regent. The mob, however, were [sic] determined to execute the

sentence; they accordingly rose in a tumultuous manner, forced open

the prison doors, dragged forth Porteus, and hanged him on a dyer's

pole; after which they quietly dispersed. On the 24th of May,

1738, the Princess of Wales was delivered of a Prince, who was

christened by the name of George, now our most gracious Sovereign.

One Buchanan, a sailor, who had been condemned for murder, was cut

down from the gallows by his companions, who actually brought him to

life, and carried him off in triumph.

War was declared in form against Spain, at London and Westminster,

Oct. 23, 1739. The same year Admiral Vernon destroyed Porto Bello,

and the March following demolished Fort Chagre. In 1740 there was a

severe and lasting frost, which extended all over Europe, and

occasioned a fair to be kept on the River Thames. In 1741 Admiral

Vernon, with a strong fleet, joined with General Wentworth, who had

a considerable number of forces under his command, made an

unsuccessful attempt on Carthagena [sic]; the greater part of the

land forces being either killed or cut off by an epidemical

distemper. In 1742, Captain Middleton made a fruitless attempt to

discover the North West passage into the South Seas. The year

following the battle of Dettingen was fought. There was also this

year a bloody engagement before Toulon, between the English fleet

and that of the French and Spaniards; when that brave commander

Captain Cornwall was killed in the Marlborough, after a most

resolute and surprising resistance. Commodore Anson returned to

England, having made a voyage round the globe; and war was mutually

declared between England and France.

In 1745 the battle of Fontenoy was fought, in which the French had

the advantage, which was followed by the taking of Tournay. A

rebellion broke out in Scotland; the rebels defeated Sir John Cope,

at Preston Pans, came forward into England, took Carlisle, and

marched to Derby, from whence they were obliged to make a

precipitate retreat, being closely pursued by the Duke of

Cumberland, who retook Carlisle. When the rebels were returned

into Scotland, they defeated the King's forces under General Hawley,

near Falkirk, and laid siege to Stirling, but raised it on the

Duke's approach. This year Cape-Breton was taken by Admiral

Warren. In 1746 the memorable battle of Culloden, in Scotland, was

fought, wherein the rebels were totally destroyed: The Earls of

Balmerino and Kilmarnock, with Mr. Ratcliff, brother to the late

Earl of Derwentwater, were taken prisoners, and beheaded on

Tower-Hill; as was Lord Lovat in the year following. Now also the

French took all Dutch Flanders, and there was a battle between them

and part of the allied army, after which the latter retreated under

the cannon of Maestricht. Admirals Anson and Warren, after a hot

engagement, took several French men of war in the Mediterranean,

among which was the ship in which their Admiral sailed. In 1748 a

Congress was held at Aix-la-Chapelle for a general pacification, and

the articles of peace therein agreed to were signed in April.

A Bill was passed for the encouragement of the British herring

fishery; and a proclamation issued for inciting disbanded soldiers

and sailors to settle in Nova Scotia. Mr. Pelham now lowered the

interest of money in the funds, first to three and a half per cent.

afterwards to three. The importation of iron from America was

allowed; and the African trade laid open.

In the year 1752, the French spirited up the Indians against our

colonies of Nova Scotia, and built a chain of forts on the back of

our American settlements. This occasioned a new war, carried on

with great cruelty in those parts. Monckton drove the French from

their encroachments in Nova Scotia; and General Johnson gave them a

defeat; but Braddock, through his own rashness, was defeated and

slain. The English took many ships from the enemy, without

declaring war.

In 1756, the Hessians and Hanoverians were brought over, to the

number of ten thousand. Presently after Minorca was taken by the

French; and Admiral Byng was shot at Portsmouth for not having

relieved it. On the 17th of May, war was declared in form, and the

King entered into a treaty with the Empress of Russia for the

security of Hanover; and afterwards into an alliance with Prussia.

This was followed by an unnatural [sic] treaty between France and

the Queen of Hungary, to which the Empress of Russia acceded. And a

war was kindled by the intrigues of France between Prussia and

Sweden; while the Elector of Saxony favoured the Austrians. The

King of Prussia therefore entered Saxony, and obliged the Saxon

troops at Pirna to surrender prisoners of war. He invaded Bohemia,

defeated the Austrian General, and gained another victory near

Prague. But attacking the Austrians at a disadvantage near Kolin,

he was defeated, and obliged to raise the siege of Prague.

The French now passed the Weser, and drove the Hanoverians before

them. They made a stand however at Hastenbeck, under the Duke of

Cumberland, where they were attacked, and forced to retreat towards

Stade, and laid down their arms in consequence of the treaty of

Closterseven.

In the East-Indies we were also successful; for, by Colonel Clive's

vigilance and courage, the province of Arcot was cleared of the

enemy, the French general taken prisoner, and the favourite Nabob,

whom we supported, was reinstated in his government. But some

months after, the Viceroy of Bengal declared against the English,

and took Calcutta by assault. Here one hundred and forty-six

persons were crowded into a narrow prison, called the Black-Hole,

where they were suffocated for want of air, only twenty-three

surviving; several of whom died by putrid fevers, after they were

set free.

The Dutch at Batavia now dispatched seven armed ships to Bengal,

having eleven hundred land forces, with orders strongly to fortify

their settlement at Chincura, and secure the salt-petre trade to

themselves. But the ships were all taken by three English

East-India ships, which were in the river, and their troops were

totally defeated at land by Colonel Ford.

Colonel Coote also took the city of Wandewash, reduced the fortress

of Carangoly, and defeated Lally. This was followed by the

surrender of the city of Arcot. Pondicherry now sustained a siege

in turn, and the French therein were reduced to feed on dogs and

cats. Eight crowns were given for the flesh of a dog. At length

the English took possession of the place. And this conquest

terminated the power of France in India.

Mr. Pitt was at the head of the English Ministry, when Louisbourg in

Cape Breton was besieged by General Amherst, and surrendered by

capitulation. The French lost a fine navy in the harbour. Fort Du

Quesne also was taken. But the operations against Crown Point and

Ticonderoga miscarried.

The year 1759 was remarkable for the conquest of Canada. The French

deserted Crown Point and Ticonderoga, which were possessed by

General Amherst. Sir William Johnson defeated them, and became

master of the Fort of Niagara. And the Admirals Saunders, Holmes,

and Durel, sailed for Quebec, attended by a land army, under General

Wolfe. In the battle which ensued, both Wolfe and Montcalm, the

chief commanders on each side, were slain, and Quebec surrendered.

In 1760 the French forces endeavoured to recover Quebec, but the

place was relieved by an English fleet under Lord Colvill.

Montreal submitted to General Amherst, and that extensive country

fell totally under the power of Great Britain; a larger territory

than ever was subject to the Roman empire. The prodigious march of

Amherst, on this occasion, can be compared only to that of Jenghiz

Can, or Tamerlane, who over-ran all Asia with their Tartars.

In Europe the operations of war were astonishing, and the great

efforts of the King of Prussia secured his safety beyond all human

expectation. Almost the whole power of the Continent was united

against him. The King of Great Britain, his only ally, seemed

inclined to forsake him. In this terrible situation he relied on

his natural subjects, and still adhered to his fortitude. Yet he

expostulated warmly, and his expostulations at last succeeded.

The French forces, and those of the Imperialists, had made a

successful campaign in the summer; yet seemed determined that the

rigour of the winter should not interrupt their proceedings. In the

depth of it, they laid siege to Leipsic, and were confident of

carrying that important city. This greatly alarmed his Prussian

Majesty. He contrived his measures so artfully, as to appear before

the place when he was least expected. Vanquished as he was, the

terror of his arms raised the siege. The French army, though

greatly superior in number, rose and retreated with precipitation.

His Prussian Majesty, not satisfied with having raised the siege of

Leipsic, followed the French army, whose fears, he imagined, would

befriend him. He came up with them near a little village, called

Rosbach. An action came on, and he obtained one of the most signal

victories recorded in history. Had not the night saved them, their

whole army had been devoted to destruction.

In another part of the empire the Austrians were again victorious,

and took the Prince of Bevern, the King of Prussia's Generalissimo,

prisoner. The King himself, in the depth of winter, made a march of

two hundred miles, and engaged the enemy in the neighbourhood of

Breslau, the capital of Silesia. He was much inferior in strength,

but his forces were disposed with such admirable judgment [sic],

that he gained a compleat [sic] victory, in which he took fifteen

thousand prisoners. Breslau itself, after the battle, surrendered

to the Conqueror, tho' it had a garrison of ten thousand men. These

successes disheartened his enemies, and raised the spirit of his

friends.

The magnanimous King of Prussia now began to fight with his enemies

upon more equal terms. He attacked them every where, was attended

for the most part with remarkable success, and rarely met with any

considerable disadvantage. He carried on the campaign throughout

the winter, escaped many dangers, was exhausted by no fatigues, nor

terrified by any numbers.

England is so happily situated, that she has little need to concern

herself with the disturbances on the Continent. Yet the people in

general at this time seemed in a disposition to encourage and assist

the German subjects of their King.

At the meeting of the Parliament, the reasonableness of engaging in

a war upon the Continent was taken into consideration, and

admitted. Liberal supplies were granted, to enable the army, now

collected in the King's Hanoverian dominions, to act with vigour, in

conjunction with the King of Prussia. Supplies were also granted to

his Prussian Majesty.

A spirit of enterprise now seemed to animate all ranks of people. A

body of British forces was sent into Germany, under the command of

the Duke of Marlborough, to assist Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick and

the Hanoverians; and who afterwards behaved with great bravery.

The English fleet in the mean time invaded France, and burnt the

French shipping at St. Malo's. It then moved towards Cherburgh, but

was obliged by the weather to return home.

On the 1st of August, 1758, the fleet under Commodore Howe, with the

transports, again set sail for Cherburgh. They landed with little

opposition from the French, and entered the town. Immense sums had

been there laid out upon the fortifications, and the harbour was one

of the strongest in Europe. The work of all this labour and expence

[sic] was now totally destroyed by the English, who found more

difficulty in demolishing than in conquering the place. All the

ships in the harbour were burnt, and a contribution raised upon the

town.

On the 16th of August, the British fleet and army having remained in

France unmolested for ten days, set sail for Cherburgh, and carried

off all the brass cannon and mortars taken there.

The English troops landed again in the Bay of St. Lunar, in the

neighbourhood of St. Malo, but found it impracticable to make any

impression upon the place. While the troops were ashore the

Commodore found himself obliged, from the danger of the coast, to

move up to the Bay of St. Cas, about three leagues to the westward;

while the army marched over land to the same place, where they all

embarked, except the last division, consisting of the grenadiers of

the army, and the first regiment of guards. These were attacked by

the Duke d'Aiguillon, Governor of Brittany, at the head of twelve

battalions, and six squadrons of regulars, besides two regiments of

militia, against whom, though they made a most gallant resistance,

about six hundred of them were killed, and four hundred taken

prisoners, not being able to reach the boats.

The English had already made themselves masters of Senegal and

Goree, in Africa; and though they had now lost Minorca, yet they

remained victorious in the Mediterranean, and continued to ruin the

French marine.

Towards the end of the year, a squadron of nine ships of the line,

with sixty transports, containing six regiments of foot, was fitting

out for the conquest of Martinico. But tho' a conquest of that

island was judged, after a slight attempt, to be impracticable, they

achieved the more important reduction of Guadaloupe.

On the 28th of July, the Hereditary Prince was detached with six

thousand men to cut off the enemy's communication with Paderborn.

And on the 29th, Prince Ferdinand advanced from his camp on the

Weser, leaving a body of troops under Wangenheim, on the borders of

that river.

The next day was fought the battle of Minden, as glorious to the

English, as those of Cressy and Agincourt had been to their

ancestors. The centre of the French was entirely composed of horse,

who attacked six English regiments, supported by two battalions of

Hanoverian guards. These sustained the whole shock of the battle,

and, to the amazement of the German General himself, obtained a

compleat victory. The French lost seven thousand men, and the

English twelve hundred.

The French were greatly disappointed in their views by sea this

year. Thurot, a marine freebooter, with three ships and a

considerable body of land forces, landed in Ireland, and alarmed the

people of Carrickfergus. Putting to sea again, he was met by three

British frigates, of a force inferior to his own, and after a severe

encounter he was killed, and his ships led in triumph by the English

commanders to the Isle of Man.

A grand fleet was intended to invade England, under Marshal Conflans

and the Duke d'Aiguillon; but this fleet was ruined by Admiral Hawke

on the 20th of November.

In the year 1760, Lord George Sackville was tried by a court-martial

for his conduct in the battle of Minden, and declared incapable of

serving his Majesty for the future in any military capacity

whatever; he was however afterwards raised to the highest civil

employments, being secretary of state to George III. and having a

considerable share in those unfortunate councils, which severed for

ever thirteen provinces from the crown of England. On the 5th of

May, Lawrence Shirley, Earl Ferrers, was hanged at Tyburn for the

murder of Mr. Johnson, his steward. On the 25th of October, between

seven and eight o'clock in the morning, died King George II. in the

77th year of his age, and the 34th of his reign. He had risen at

his usual hour, called his page, drunk his chocolate, and inquired

about the wind, as if anxious for the arrival of foreign mails; soon

after which he fell speechless on the ground, and being laid on his

bed, expired in a few minutes.

GEORGE III. grandson of George II. and eldest son of the late

Frederick Prince of Wales, succeeded to the throne, and was

proclaimed King on the day after the death of his grand father. He

was married on the 8th of September, 1761, to his Queen, Charlotte,

Princess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, and they were solemnly crowned

together on the 22d of the same month.

The war was still carried on betwixt France and England, in Germany,

when Augsburgh was pitched upon by both parties as a proper place to

negociate [sic] a peace in; and, with respect to the disputes in

America, Mr. Bussey was named by the French Court to repair to

London, as Mr. Stanley was by the English to treat at Paris.

The former of these offers a memorial to the British minister,

importing that the King of Spain apprehended a new war, unless the

British court would make satisfaction to Spain for ships taken under

Spanish colours; permit the claim of Spain to a share in the

Newfoundland fishery; and destroy the English fortifications in the

bay of Honduras. This put an end to the negociation.

The French and Spanish courts now entered into a Family Compact, in

which the two Sicilies were included; the most extraordinary treaty

which this age can produce; it being a consolidation of the rights

and interests of the two crowns and their subjects in all respects,

but those relating to the Spanish American commerce.

Mr. Pitt, the British minster, gained intelligence of the family

compact, and made strong remonstrances at the council-board for an

immediate declaration of war against Spain, which were not

relished. On this Mr. Pitt resigned.

The flota arrived in the bay of Cadiz, and the Spaniards resolved on

a war with England.

January 2, 1762, his Britannic Majesty's proclamation of war against

Spain was published in London. And the King of Spain proclaimed war

against England on the 16th of the same month.

The French and Spaniards insisted upon the King of Portugal's taking

part in the war against England. He declined the invitation, and

vindicated his alliance with England.

The Spanish army marched towards the frontiers of Portugal, and all

commerce between the two kingdoms was prohibited. And war was

declared by the King of Spain against that kingdom on the 15th of

June.

Many English officers repaired to the assistance of the King of

Portugal, and were followed by large supplies of troops, artillery,

arms, provisions, and money.

A small army of English and Portuguese take the field. Count La

Lippe is sent over to command them. Brigadier Burgoyne surprizes

[sic] Valenca d'Alcantara in Spain, and destroys one of their best

regiments there. A sejeant [sic] and six men only engage a Spanish

subaltern with twenty-five dragoons, unbroken, kill six of their

men, and bring in the rest prisoners, with every horse of the

party. Soon after Brigadier Burgoyne and Colonel Lee surprize the

Spanish camp at Villa Vehla; and the Spaniards are obliged to leave

Portugal, and to make winter quarters in their own country.

On the 12th of August, his Royal Highness George Augustus-Frederick,

Prince of Wales, was born.

The English take Martinico and Granada from the French, and the city

of Havannah, in the island of Cuba, from the Spaniards. This

induces both powers to think of peace, for which a negociation was

set on foot; and the negociators on all sides having adjusted the

points in dispute between Great Britain and Portugal on the one

side, and France and Spain on the other, a definitive treaty was

signed at Paris on the 10th of Feb. 1763; by which peace was once

more restored to Europe.

By this glorious war, England acquired the large and extensive

province of Canada, East and West Florida, in America, together with

several large and valuable islands in the West Indies; among which

is the island of Granada, one of the most extensive and important

colonies belonging to the empire. This island, which produces

pine-apples, oranges, citrons, and all the most delicious tropical

fruits, is beautifully interspersed with an infinite variety of

rivers, which, with the warmth and salubrity of the climate, render

it the most pleasing situation between the tropics; it is the

residence of a number of rich planters and merchants, who have

acquired large fortunes therein, and live in the greatest splendour

and hospitality. It is not improperly called the Princess of the

isles of the Western world.

From the year 1763 to 1774, England felt all the blessings of

peace; agriculture and commerce were improved and extended; the

polite arts, such as painting and sculpture, were patronized by his

Majesty, and a royal academy instituted for the purpose, in the year

1768. We might call this the Augustine age; and Great-Britain

promised to its posterity universal empire. But the colonies of

North America revolted from their allegiance to Great-Britain in the

year 1775, and formed a congress, under the title _The Congress of

the Thirteen United Provinces_, which assumed all the powers of

government; in the following year it declared the States of America

independent of the crown and parliament of Great-Britain. The

government of France assisted them against the forces of this nation

both by sea and land; and Spain also declared war against this

country, as a diversion to its arms in favour of America. Holland

also became a party in the cause, to humble a nation which had

arrived to such a pitch of greatness; and the general struggle at

last terminated in the peace of 1783, in which the government of

Great-Britain acknowledged the Americans to be independent; in

consequence, the provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia only remain to

us, of all our immense possessions on the continent of America.

This country, in the year 1787, began to arm in favour of the Prince

Stadtholder of the Seven United Provinces, who had been driven from

his palace by a French party; but that business was terminated by

their submission to the Duke of Brunswick, who entered Holland, and

restored the former government. The Spaniards dispossessing our

settlers at Nootka Sound, in 1790, was made the pretext for

equipping a formidable armament; and though the difference with the

Spaniards was speedily settled by negociation [sic], the jealousy

entertained of the French Anarchists occasioned our Government to

keep the country in armed preparation; till the indignation

universally excited by the decapitation of the unfortunate French

King, and the invasion of Holland by the armies of the French

Republic, caused us to enter into that war, whose wide-extended

fluence has deluged the continent of Europe with blood, tumbled the

papal throne in ruins, dethroned the Kings of Naples and Sardinia,

the former of whom is however yet struggling for his rights,

annihilated the ancient Republics of Venice, Genoa, &c. &c.

extinguished the authority of the House of Orange in Holland,

endangered the very existence of the House of Austria and the

Germanic Empire, and by the invasion of the Egypt and Syria, has

even alarmed the Sultan of the Turks for the safety of his capital,

whilst the hardy bands of Russia have been called forth into action

both to defend her former inveterate foes, and to wrest the classic

ground of Italy from the gripe [sic] of the modern Vandals, the

French! Yet amid all this carnage, the horrors of the war, if we

except the enormous expenditure attending it, have scarcely been

felt in this country; two attempts of invasion by the enemy have

been frustrated; the captured fleets of France, Spain, and Holland,

have been triumphantly brought into our harbours; our own Colonies

and distant settlements have been secured, many of the most

important of those of the enemy have been taken; and the India

Company has established its power, by the complete conquest of the

kingdom of Mysore, Tippoo Sultaun having fallen in defending hispalace at

Seringapatam. But it is a remarkable feature in this war,

that after so sanguinary a contest for seven years, Peace appears,

at the close of the year 1799, more distant than it did at its

commencement.

THE HISTORY

OF THE

_PRESENT STATE OF ENGLAND._

_Its Situation._

SOUTH-BRITAIN, that is, properly speaking, ENGLAND and WALES, is

situate in the Atlantic Ocean, between two degrees east, and six

degrees odd minutes western longitude, and between 49 degrees 55

minutes, and 55 degrees 55 minutes north latitude; and being of a

triangular figure, is bounded by Scotland on the north; the German

sea, which separates it from Germany and the Netherlands, on the

east; by the English Channel, which divides it from France, on the

south; and by St. George's Channel, which separates it from Ireland,

on the west. It is 525 statute miles in length on its west side,

345 on its east side, and 340 on its south side, nearly in straight

lines; and about 100 only across the north.

_Its Air_.] Is much warmer here than in the Netherlands and

Germany, tho' under the same parallel; and, unless in the fens and

marshy grounds, it is for the most part very healthy.

There are very few mountains; the highest hills, however, are in

Wales, and in the west and north of England. The rest of the

country consists of moderate hills and vallies [sic], woodlands,

pasture and meadow grounds; extensive corn fields, and plains which

feed numberless flocks of sheep, horses, and other cattle. Though

the largest oxen, horses, and sheep, are to be met with in

Lincolnshire and Leicestershire; yet the finest breed of horses for

running and hunting are produced in Yorkshire. And besides there

are a great number of royal forests, chaces, and parks, which afford

plenty of deer and other game.

_Its Soil_.] Is either clay, or gravel, or sand; the clays produce

excellent wheat and beans; the gravel and sand, rye, barley, peas,

and oats; and of late years the light lands have been improved, and

rendered as valuable as the clays, by sowing them with turnips,

clover, saintfoin, &c. but more particularly in wet years; a wet

season, however, by no means agrees with the clay. In such years,

for the most part, there is a great scarcity of wheat; but then, to

compensate for that deficiency, there is a plenty of pasture and

other grain.

_Its Trees_.] The timber that grows in England is oak, ash, elm,

beech, and hornbeam. The walnut-tree is particularly used in

cabinets, and other curiosities of the like nature. But besides

these, there are a great number of other trees, which, though they

do not fall, indeed, under the denomination of timber, serve for

shade, ornament, and inferior uses.

In Kent there are extensive orchards, the trees whereof produce

abundance of cherries. In Devonshire and Herefordshire likewise are

vast quantities of apple-trees, the produce whereof makes far better

cider than any other county whatever can boast of.

_Its Plantations_.] In Kent, as well as Worcestershire, Surrey,

&c. are large plantations of hops; and in divers other counties, of

flax and hemp.

In Essex and Cambridgeshire are large plantations of saffron; and in

Bedfordshire there are large fields of woad or wad, for the use of

dyers.

_Its Rivers_.] Its principal rivers are, 1. The Thames, 2. The

Medway. 3. The Trent. And, 4. The Severn.

The Thames, on which the two cities of London and Oxford stand, runs

generally from west to east. This river is navigable for ships as

high as London, which is one of the largest ports in the world.

The Medway unites with the Thames near its mouth, and receives the

largest men of war as high as Chatham; where, if we except our own

arsenals at Portsmouth and Plymouth, are the finest docks, yards,

and magazines of naval stores, in Europe.

The Trent runs from the south-west to the north-east across England,

and divides it into north and south. When united with other streams

near its mouth, it is called the Humber, which discharges itself

into the German ocean.

The Severn rises from North Wales, and, running for the most part

south, falls into the Irish sea. On this river stand the two cities

of Worcester and Gloucester.

_Its Contents_.] In England and Wales there are 52 counties, 2

archbishoprics, 24 bishoprics, 2 universities, 29 cities, upwards of

800 towns, and near 10,000 parishes; in which are about seven

millions of people.

There are scarce any manufactures in Europe which are not brought to

great perfection in England.

_Its Constitution_.] England is a limited monarchy; the power of

making and altering laws, and raising taxes, being lodged in the

King, Lords, and Commons.

_Its Administration of Justice_.] This is the business of the

courts in Westminster-hall, viz. the Court of Chancery, the Courts

of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer; the courts of the

respective corporations, the sheriffs, and other inferior courts;

the last resort, in all civil cases, being to the House of Peers.

_Its Ecclesiastical Government_.] Is in the archbishops and

bishops, who administer justice in their respective courts by their

chancellors, officials, archdeacons, and other officers.

_Of the Convocation_.] Whenever a parliament is called, the King

always convokes a national synod of the clergy, to consider of the

state of the church.

The clergy of the province of Canterbury, of the generality,

assemble in St. Paul's cathedral, in London, and from thence adjourn

to the chapter-house, or Westminster.

In this province there are two houses, the upper and the lower; the

former consists of 22 bishops, of whom the archbishop is president;

the latter consists of all the deans, archdeacons, the proctors of

every chapter, and two proctors for the clergy of each diocese; in

all 166.

The archbishop of York may hold a convocation of his clergy at the

same time; but neither the one nor the other has been suffered to

enter upon business for many years, though they are always regularly

summoned to meet with every parliament, being looked upon as an

essential part of the constitution.

_Of the Parliament_.] Every parliament is summoned by the King's

writs to meet forty-eight days before they assemble. A writ is

directed to every particular lord, spiritual and temporal,

commanding him to appear at a certain time and place, to treat and

advise of certain weighty affairs relating both to church and state.

Writs also are sent to the sheriff of every county to summon those

who have a right to vote for representatives, to elect two knights

for each county, two citizens for each city, and one or two

burgesses for each borough.

Every candidate for a county ought to be possessed of an estate of

600l. per annum; and every candidate for a city, or corporation, of

300l. per annum.

The Lord Chancellor, or keeper for the time being, is always Speaker

in the House of Peers; but the Commons elect their Speaker, who must

be approved by the King.

No Roman Catholic can sit in either house; nor any member vote till

he has taken the oaths to the government.

_The ancient_ STATE _of_ ENGLAND.

Having thus given our young readers a transient idea of the present

state of South-Britain; we shall now proceed to give a succinct

account of the ancient state of England, which, in regard to its

constitution, was originally a monarchy, under the primitive

Britons; after that, a province, subordinate to the Romans; then an

heptarchical government under the Saxons; then again a kingdom in

subjection to the Danes; next after them, under the power and

dominion of the Normans; but at present, (after all the

before-mentioned revolutions,) a monarchy again under the English;

of all which we shall treat, as briefly as possible, in their proper

order.

The whole island was anciently called Albion, which seems to have

been softened from the word Alpion; because the word Alp, in some of

the original western languages, generally signifies high lands, or

hills, as this isle appears to those who approach it from the

Continent. It was likewise called Olbion, which, in the Greek

language, signifies happy; but of those times there is no certainty

in history, more than that it had the denomination, and was very

little known by the rest of the world.

As the name of Britain, however, excepting that of Albion, or

Olbion, just before mentioned, has been liable to as many

derivations as the origin of the Britons; we shall content ourselves

(for brevity's sake) with the following extract from Camden, who has

given (in our humble opinion at least) the best and most natural

derivation of the term.

"The ancient Britons (says he) painted their naked bodies and small

shields with woad of an azure-blue colour, which by them was called

Brith; on this account the inhabitants received the common

appellation from the strangers who came into the island to traffic

from the coasts of Gaul, or Germany; to which the Greeks, by adding

the word tania, or country, formed the word Britannia, or the

country of the painted men, and the Romans afterwards called it

Britannia."

Here it may be observed, that the Romans were extremely fond of

giving their own terminations to many uncivilized countries, and of

forming easy and pleasant sounds out of the harshest and most

offensive, to such elegant tongues and ears as their own.

_Their_ GOVERNMENT.

Their government, like that of the ancient Gauls, consisted of

several small nations, under divers petty Princes, apparently the

original governments of the world, deduced from the natural force

and right of paternal dominion; such were the hords [sic] among the

Goths, the clans in Scotland, and the septs in Ireland: but whether

these small British principalities descended by succession, or were

elected according to merit, is uncertain.

Their language and customs were, for the most part, the same with

those of the Gauls before the Roman conquests in that province; but

they were entirely governed in their religion and laws by their

Druids, Bards, and Eubates.

Their Druids were held in such high veneration by the people, that

their authority was almost absolute. No public affairs were

transacted without their approbation; nor could any malefactor

(though his crimes were ever so heinous) be put to death without

their consent.

Their Bardi, or Bards, were priests of an inferior order of their

Druids; their principal business being to celebrate the praises of

their heroes in verses and songs, which were set to music and sung

to their harps.

Their Eubates were a third sort of priests, who applied themselves

to the study of philosophy.

Each order of these priests led very simple and innocent lives, and

resided either in woods, caverns, or hollow trees. Their food

consisted of acorns, berries, or other mast; and their drink was

nothing but water. By this abstemious course of life, however, they

procured an universal esteem, not only for their superior knowledge,

but their generous contempt of all those enjoyments of life which

all others so highly valued, and so industriously pursued.

_The most remarkable_ TENETS _of their_ DRUIDS.

1. Every thing derives its origin from heaven.

2. Great care is to be taken in the education of children.

3. Souls are immortal.

4. The souls of men after death go into other bodies.

5. If ever the world should happen to be destroyed, it will be

either by fire or water.

6. All commerce with strangers should be prohibited.

7. He who comes last to the Assembly of the states ought to be

punished with death.

8. Children should be brought up apart from their parents, till

they are fourteen years of age.

9. There is another world; and they who kill themselves to

accompany their friends thither will live with them there.

10. All masters of families are kings in their own houses; and have

a power of life and death over their wives, children, and

slaves.

_Their_ ANCIENT STATES.

STATES. COUNTIES.

1. _Danmonii_, _Cornwall_ and _Devon_.

2. _Durotriges_, _Dorset_.

3. _Belgæ_, _Somerset_, _Wilts_, and the north part

of _Hants_.

4. _Attrebatii_, _Berks_.

5. _Regni_, _Surrey_, _Sussex_, and the south part

of _Hants_.

6. _Cantii_, _Kent_.

7. _Trinobantes_, _Middlesex_, _Hertfordshire_, & _Essex_.

8. _Iceni_, _Suffolk_, _Norfolk_, _Cambridge_, and

_Huntingdon_.

9. _Catieuchlani_, _Bucks_ and _Bedford_.

10. _Dobuni_, _Gloucester_ and _Oxford_.

11. _Silures_, _Hereford_, _Monmouth_, _Radnor_,

_Brecon_, & _Glamorgan_.

12. _Dimetæ_, _Carmarthen_, _Pembroke_, and

_Cardigan_.

13. _Ordovices_, _Flint_, _Denbigh_, _Merioneth_,

_Montgomery_, & _Carnarvon_.

14. _Cornavii_, _Chester_, _Salop_, _Stafford_,

_Warwick_, and _Worcester_.

15. _Coritani_, _Lincoln_, _Nottingham_, _Derby_,

_Leicester_, _Rutland_, and

_Northampton_.

16. _Brigantes_, _York_, _Lancaster_, _Westmoreland_,

_Cumberland_, & _Durham_.

17. _Ottadini_, _Northumberland_.

_Their general_ CHARACTER.

They were a great and glorious people, fond of liberty and property;

but peculiarly remarkable for their rigid virtue, and their

readiness to die with pleasure for the good of their country. They

long lived in a perfect state of peace and tranquility till the year

of the world 3950, at which time its monarchy, by the boundless envy

and ambition of Julius Cæsar, (when Rome was in the meridian of all

her glory) was totally subverted, and Britannia became a province

subordinatte [sic] to the Romans.

_The_ ROMAN GOVERNMENT.

Cæsar, at his first landing on the island, found it not under a sole

monarchy, but divided into divers provinces, or petty kingdoms.

Soon after having defeated Cassibelan, and taken several British

provinces, he left the island, and the Romans entirely abandoned it

for ninety years and upwards.

However, in the year of our Lord 42, Claudius Cæsar, the 5th Emperor

of Rome, sent his General Plautius, with great force, into Britain,

and following him soon after in person, subdued a great part of the

island, by which means he procured the title of Britannicus.

In the year 50, London is supposed to have been built by the Romans.

In this year Ostorius, the Roman general, defeated Caractacus, the

chief of the British Princes, and having taken him prisoner, carried

him to Rome.

The Christian religion, about this time, was first planted in

Britain.

In the year 61, the Britons, under the conduct of Boadicea, a

British Queen, destroyed 70,000 Romans.

The next year Suetonius, the Roman general, defeated the Britons,

and killed 80,000 of them upon the spot; whereupon Boadicea poisoned

herself.

In the year 63, the gospel was first preached in Britain by Joseph

of Arimathea, and eleven of St. Philip's disciples.

_The_ PERSECUTIONS _against the_ CHRISTIANS

_consequent thereupon_.

1. First persecution was begun by Nero, soon after he had burnt

the city of Rome, which was in the year 65.

2. The second, by Flavius Domitian, in the year 83.

3. The third, by Ulpius Trajan, in the year 111.

4. In the year 162, the fourth was raised by Marcus Aurelius

Antoninus, and his associate Lucius Verus.

5. The fifth was begun by Septimus Severus, in the year 193.

6. In 235, the sixth was raised by Maximinus.

7. Trajanus began the seventh in the year 253.

8. In 255, the eighth was raised by Valerianus.

9. Valerianus Aurelianus began the ninth in the year 272. And

10. Dioclesian [sic] and Maximianus carried on the tenth with the

utmost severity.

After the Romans, however, had been in the possession of Britain for

near 500 years, they left it to its ancient inhabitants again, who

being at that time sunk into the lowest state of degeneracy, were

soon after invaded by the Scots and the Picts; and trembling at the

approaching storm, they were prevailed on by Vortigern, their chief

monarch, about the year 447, to send a deputation to the Saxons, who

were the only persons (as he insinuated) capable of giving them that

aid and assistance which the unhappy situation of their affairs

immediately required. This plausible pretence of that Prince

succeeded, and one and all concurred in his opinion; and by the

resolution which they then took thereupon, they brought on the total

destruction of their country.

Ambassadors from the Britons were accordingly sent to Witigisel, the

then Saxon general, who immediately summoned an assembly to hear

what the Britons had to propose. The latter (like men in absolute

despair) offered to submit to any terms that their said assembly

should think proper, provided they did but protect and stand by them

so far in their pressing necessities, as to enable them to drive

their enemies out of their country. The proposal was approved of,

and the negociation [sic] accordingly concluded.

The terms were, that the Saxons should send 9000 men into Britain,

who were to be put into possession of the Isle of Thanet, and to be

paid and maintained likewise at the expence [sic] of the Britons.

Hengist and Horsa, both sons of the Saxon General Witigisel, who

were brave and resolute men, fit for, and fond of such an

expedition, were appointed, in the year 450, to command the Saxon

troops intended for the relief of Britain.

Tho' these two heroes arrived at Ebbesfleet, in the island of

Thanet, with 1500 men only, instead of 9000, yet they were received

with the utmost respect by Vortigern, who put them immediately,

according to promise, in full possession of that island.

As the Picts and Scots, at that time, were advancing their forces

against the Britons, Hengist joined Vortigern, and inspiring the

British troops with new courage, a battle was fought near Stamford,

in Lincolnshire, wherein the Picts and Scots were so absolutely

defeated, that they were obliged to abandon their conquests, and

retire into their own country.

Hengist had a beautiful daughter, named Rowena, with whom Vortigern

fell deeply in love, and demanded her in marriage of her father,

who, ever attentive to enlarge his dominions, refused his consent,

unless the amorous Briton would put him in possession of the whole

county of Kent. The terms were readily accepted, and the match

concluded. In short, this love-sick passion, this seemingly trivial

circumstance, occasioned the greatest revolution that had ever been

felt in Britain.

_The_ SAXON HEPTARCHY.

We shall now take a transient view of the Saxon Heptarchy,

consequent thereupon.