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Thoae too large to be entirely included in one expoaure are filmed beginning in the upper left hend corner, left to right end top to bottom, ea many framea aa required. The following diegrama iliuatrate the method: Lea cartea, pianchea, tableaux, etc.. peuvent itre flimte A dea taux de rMuction diff Arenta. Loraque la document eat trop grand pour Atre reprodult en un aeui clichA. 11 eat fllmA A partir de I'engle aupArieur geuche, de geuche A droite. et de heut en bee. en prenent Ie nombre d'imegea nAcaaaaira. Lea diajrammea auivanta iiiuatrant Ie mAthode. rrata o telure. 3 32X 1 2 3 I 1 2 3 4 6 6 4.;si^»« wr M » % ^^ ■»?A- % % V^i/.ytMWVi* ;^-... ■:»^" ■,;»\ -■ , »,- K /•- .%' PINNOCK'S IMPROVED EDITION DR, GOLDSMITH'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND, noK TBI utv^noN or f JULIUS CJSSAR TO THE DEATH OF GEORGE Q. WITH A ^- ' ~ M-^ . CONTINUATION TO THE YEAR 1845. WITH QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION AT THE KXD Or SACH SXCTIOir. BESIDES A VARIETir OF VALUABLE INFORMATION, ADDED THIIOUOHOUT THE WORK. coNsiiTiNs or ,^ _j ", '. ' Tables of Contbhpobart Bovbbuomb I Remarks on the Politics, Manneri, •mi and EviNRNT Pbbsons. I Literature of the Age. Copious Explanatory Notes. I An Outline of the Constitution, 4co. Ao ^s»-"'v»v;:>-r ILLVSTBAT£D WITH NUMEROUS ENORAVINOS. FOKTT'FIFTH AMERICAN, FROM THE THIRTY-FIFTH ENGLISH EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: THOMAS, CO'WPERTHWAIT & CO. 1846. .,..:■«•*- ' 1% 3^32, QrS'b? i f •■; .. /. v.a '' 't:,'. w U..^Jii.. / / ii\:-'-' Entervd according to Act of CongTeM, in the year 1838, By F. W. 6re£novoh, In tiM Clerk's Ofltee of the District Court of the Eastern District of Penn- sylvania. PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION Next to our own national history, it is incumbent on American youth to make themselves acquainted with that of the country from which we derive our political existence, and the most valuable of our cus- toms and institutions. The history of England will never cease to be interesting to us. It will never be other than a valuable and important branch of instruc- tion in our schools. Among all the histories of that country which have been written, none has been so long and so deservedly popular as that of Dr. Goldsmith. Whether this be owing to its attractive and perfectly intelligible style, or to the vivid impression which his simple and clear narrative of the facts never fails to leave, it is not now important to inquire. The fact of it^ established classical charac- ter, is sufficient to justify the publisher in selecting the most approved edition of this work, to be revised and adapted to the use of schools in our own country. The mass of illustrative matter, consisting of notes, tables, engravings, &c., which the reader will find in the present edition, may be regarded as adding greatly to its value; and the complete and careful series of ques- tions appended to each section will claim the especial notice of teachers. 5417 = V .s^: INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Brief sketch of the Saxon Idols from which the Days of the Week received their names. ii The idols which our Saxon ancestors worshipped were various ; but those which are delineated in the Frontispiece, and from which the days of the week derive their names, were the principal objects of their adoration. The Idol of Ike SUN. This Idol, which represented the glorious luminary of the day, was the chief object of their adoration. It is described like the bust of a man, set upon a pillar ; holding, with outstretched arms, a burning wheel be- fore his breast. The first day of the week was especially deoicated to its adoration, which they termed the Sun^s daeg ; hence isaerived the word Sunday. The Idol of the MOON. The next, was the Idol of the Moon, which they worshipped on the second day of the week, called by them Moon's daeg ; and smce by us Monday. The form of this idol is intended to represent a woman, habited in a short coat, and a hood, with two long ears. The moon «^!neh she hold» in her hand designates the quality. TheldolofTUISCO. , , Tvisco was at first deified as the father and ruler of the Teuu^:-]Q race, but in course of time he was worshipped as the son of the eart'i. From him came the Saxon words Tuiseo^a daeg, which we call Tuesday. He is represented standit^g on a pedestal, as an old venerable sage, clothed with the skin of an animal, and holding a sceptre in the right hand. The Idol WODEN, or ODIN. ' ' * ^ Woden, or Odin, was the supreme divinity of the Northern nations. This hero is supposed to have emigrated from the East, but from what country, or at what time, is not known. His exploits form the greatest part of the mythological creed of the Northern nations, and his achievements are magnified beyond all credibility. The name of the fourth day of the week, called b]^ the Saxon's Woden^s daeg^ and by us Wednesday, ia derived firom tms personage. Woden is represented m a bold and martial attitude, clad in armour, with a broad sword, uplifted, in his right hand. The Idol THOR. TnoR, the eldest and bravest of the sons of Woden and Friga, was, after his parents, considered as the greatest god among the Saxon and a2 ▼i or THE IDOLATRY OF THS SAXON^ &0. Danes. To him the fifth day of the week, called by them Thor*i daeg, and by us Thvrsdat. was consecrated. Thor is represented as sitting on a throne, with a crown of gold on his Lead, adorned with a oircle in front, wherein were set twelve bright bur* nished gold stars, and with a regal sceptre in his right band. The Idol FRIO A, or FREA. Fkioa, or Fkia, was the wife of Woden, or Odin ; and, next to him, the most revered divinity among the heathen Saxons, Danes, and other Northern nations. In tne most ancient times, Friga, or Frea. was the same with the goddess Htrtha, or Earth. To her the sixth dav of the week was consecrated, which by the Saxons was written Friga $ daeg, corresponding with our Fkidat. Friga is represented with a drawn sword in her right hand, and a bow in her left. The Idol SEATER. The Idol Sbatbr is represented on a pedestal, whereon is placed a perch, on the sharp prickled back of which he stood. His head was un> covered, and his visage lean. In his left hand he held up a wheel, and in his right was a pail of water, wherein were flowers and fruits ; and his dress consisted of a long coat, sirded with linen. The appellation given to the day of his celebration is still retained. The Saxons named it Scoter's daeg, which we call Saturoat. It will be seen, in our explanation of the Mytbological plate, that the names of the daft ef the leetik owe their origin to the names given by the Saxons to their chief idols. We shall here observe, that the names which they gave to the mumtha were singularly descriptive of the seasons, and, therefore, we sabjoin them : n- marltlng, by the way, that the names of the months adopted by the French during the Revolution, though more elegant, were not more appropriate than those of the Saxons, whose ideas they appear to have borrowed.— Tlieir first month was styled MiwlMter MomiUk DsoiifBiR. Aiitter Tula (or after Christmas) Jamdart. M Mnatk (From the returning sun) Fbbrdart. KetJUMnatk (Rugged Month) March. MmMt Mmotk. . j ^*J?Se?ve^"" .????!"'. ^??!?. .1!°!.!!!. .'Il" i A««" Trimilehi (From cows being millced thrice a day) Mat. Are Mnuth (Dry mon th) Jim i. JMM JMbMtk (The meads being then in bloom) .•>-.. Jolt. Weod MmiUh (From the luxuriance uf weeds) Avoost. Bitfiut Mnuth . . . .(Harvest month) Sbptbhbir. mnter r^UUh. . j ^^j" mSth)!?!T?f.^''i".' rf!*.^*!?.f^" "??" f.^i Octobbr. »?..« M...«t i (From the blood of cattle slain that month, and) ,„,„.„„. BMMmatk....^^ stored for winter provision) jNovsMBta. THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND. .#' CHAPTER I. THE ANCIENT BRITONS. or BRITAIN,* FROM THf INVASION OF JULIUS OiESAR,f B. C. 64* TO THC ABPICATION Or THE R0MAN8.:|: SECTION I. Tbein wu the icience or a martial race. To ibape Iho lance or decorate the ink B!m tiM rair virgin atain'd her native grace, X the lance or decorate the ihiela J virgin atain'd her native grac To give new horron to the tented fluid- 1. Britain was but very little known to the rest of the world before the time of the Romans. The coasts opiio- site Gaul§ were frequented by merchants, who trp ed thither for such commodities as the natives were able to produce, and who, it is thought, after a time, possessed themselves of all the maritime places where they had at first been permitted to reside. 2. Finding the country fertile, and commodiously situated for trade, they settled upon the seaside, and introduced the practice of agricul- ture ; but it was very different with the inland inhabitants of the country, who considered themselves as the lawful possessors of the soil, and avoided all correspondence with the new comers, whom they viewed as intruders upon theii property,!! and therefore harassed by repeated wars. * Britain, the name given to England, Scotland, and Wales, united t Julius Csesar was a most eloquent writer and successful warrior; 1i« assumed the title of emperor, which roused the jealousy of many of Uie principal Roman citizens, by whom he was assassinated in the senate-house, m the 56th year of his age. } The ancient inhabitants of Rome, in Italy. ,rfv>i. $ Gaul was the ancient name of France. ' "^^ ^ " II Geoflrey of Monmouth, an ancient English historian, says, that the Bit* tish isles were first peopled 1 100 years before Christ, and asserts that Brutus, the great grandson of iEneas, colonized them with the descendants of those Trojans, who, afler the destruction of Troy, settled in Greene or Italy. This account is, however, unsupported by any genuine historical dociunents, and is, therefore, now treated as purely fabulous, though in less enlightened ages a story so romantic easily passed current. X 8 HISTORY or INOLAMO. / 8. The inland inhabitants are represented as extremely /tiumerous, living in cottages thatched with straw, and feeding large herds of cattle. They lived mostly upon milk, or flesh produced by the chase.* What clothes they wore, to cover any part of their bodies, were usually the skins of beasts ; but the arms, legs, und thighs were left naked, and were usually painted blue. 4. Their hair, which was long, flowed down upon their backs and shoul- ders ; while their beards were kept close shaven, except upon the upperlip, where they were suffered to grow. The dress of savage nations is everywhere pretty much the same, being csdculated rather to inspire terror than to excite love or respect. 5. As to their government, it consisted of several small principalities, each under its respective leader; and this seems to be the earliest mode of dominion with which man- kind are acquainted, and is deduced from the natural privi- leges of paternal authority. Upon great and imminent dangers, a commander-in-chief was chosen by common consent, in a general assembly ; and to him was committed the conduct of the general interest, the power of making peace or leading to war, and the administration of justice. 6. Their forces consisted chiefly of foot, and yet they could bring a considerable number of horse into the field upon great occasions. They likewise used chariots in battle, which,' with short scythes fastened to the ends of tlie axletrees, inflicted terrible wounds, spreading horror and devastation wheresoever they drove.f 7. Nor while the chariots were thus destroying, were the warriors who con- ducted them unemployed : they darted their javelins against the enemy, ran along the beam, leaped on the ground, re- sumed their seat, stopped or turned their horses at full speed, and sometimes cunningly retreated to draw the enemy into confusion. 8. The religion of the Britons was one of the most con- ^id^able parts of their government; and the Druids,4 *" The ancient Britons were so habitually regular and temperate, that they only bcean to grow old at a hundred and twenty years. — ^Plutarch, De Placttis PhilotophicB. t CsBsar gives a most animated description of the dexterity of the Britons in managing their war chariots^ which he ascribes to constant use and in* cessant exercise ; thereby intimating that the Britons were continually en* gaged in intestine wars. — Ccetar'n Com. lib. iv. f The Druids were d'vided into three different classes ; the Bards, who were the heroic historians and genealogical poets : the Vates, who were the sacred musicians, the religious poets, and the pretended prophets ; the third «^-, '■IP'" ""■ I •■ n PI" y' Tm AMOUNT BRtTOMf. , I •• -••'*.■ An AncMBt Biiioa. who were the guardians of it, possessed great authcrity imong them. No species of superstition was ever more terrible than theirs : besides the severe penalties which they were permitted to inflict in this world, they inculcated the eternal transmigration of souls, and thus extended their authority as far as the fears of their votaries.* 9. They claM. which waa by for the moit numerous, and whoperiormed all the ntftfr offices of religioni were called by the general name ofDr'Ht, whi^ ajw*Ha' tion was commonly {pven to the whole fraternity. Their supreme chief was styled the Arch-droid. To the priesthood were also attached a number of females, called Druidesses, who were likewise divided into three classes: those of the first, vowod perpetual virginity, and lived together, sequestered from the rest of the world : these were great pretenders to divination, pr» phecy, and miracles, and were highly venerated by the people. The second class consisted of certain devotees, who, though married, spent the greater pert of their time with the Druids in assisting in the offices of religion, oe* casionally returning to their husbands. The third and lowest class waited on the Druids, and performed the most servile offices about the temples, Ac The priesthood, in the most ancient times, was hereditary in all countrws, and was particularly so in the Celtic nations ,* where the order of Druidi^aid not only descend to their posterity, but the office of priests was likewise he* reditary in families. * Among a people so credulous as the ancient Britons, it is no wonder that those who possessed such high authority among them as the Druids, practised the greatest impositions; accordingly we read, that the Druids were in the habit of borrowinz large sums of the people, which they pro* mised to repay in the other world — " Druidee pecumam mutuo accijMebanl in posteriore vita reddituri." — Patridus ™^ 10 niSTORY OF BNOLAND. sacrificed human victims, which they burnt in larffe wicker idols, made so capacious as to contain a multitude of per- sons at once, who were thus consumed together. To these rites, tending to impress ignorance with awe, they added the austerity of their manners and the simplicity of their lives. They lived in woods, caves, and in hollow trees ; their food was acorns and berries, and their drink water. These arts caused the people not only to respect, but almost to adore them. The most remarkable Druidicol monument in England is the circle of stones on Salisbury plain, called Stonchengc ; it appears to have been a great national temple. 10. It may be easily supposed that the manners of the people took a tincture from the discipline of their teachers. Their lives were simple, but they were marked with cruelty and fierceness ; their courage was great, but neither dignified by mercy nor perseverance. ^^S Ik!*-* ^ s n '"^'^^^f'i^^m^ ^ ^'i. / ii ■» ■ ■ ■ • V J^ • ■ .:^ V •,'V^*^. 4>^; - f- , ./ /; /"-. \ V - -'^-=^ CaMar invadini Dritain. 11. The Britons had long remained in this rude but in- dependent statCv when Csesar, having overrun Gaul with his victories, and willing still further to extend his fame, determined upon the conquest of a country that seemed to promise an easy triumph ; accordingly, when the troops designed for the expedition were enmarked, he set sail iot Britain about midnight, and the next morning arrived on the coast near Dover, wnere he saw the rocks and clifis covered with armed men to oppose his landing. THE ANCIENT BRITONS. II 12. The Britons had chosen Cassivelau'nus* for their commander-in-chief; but the petty princes under his com- mand, either desiring his station, or suspecting his fidelity, threw off their allegiance. 18. Some of them fled with their forces into the internal parts of the kingdom, others submitted to Caesar, till at length Cassivelau'nus himself, weakened by so many desertions, resolved upon making what terms he was able, while he yet had power to keep the field. 14. The conditions offered by Caesar, and ac- ce)>ted by him, were, that he should send to the continent double the number of hos'^ges at first demanded, and that he should acknowledge subjection to the Romans. Caesar, however, was obliged to return once more to compel tho Britons to complete their stipulated treaty. Queationa for Examination, 1. Was Britain well Itnown before tlie time of its invasion by the Romanst Bv whom were, at that time, the coasts opposite Gaul frequented ? 2. Who introduced the practice of agriculture ? 3. 4. Describe the inland inhabital^. 5. Of what did the government of the ancient Britons consist f 6, 7. What was their chief force ? 8. Who were the ministers of their religion ? - v 9. Did thoy ever sacrifice human victims? 10. What were the manners of the people 7 . . .' 1 1. Who first determined on the conquest of Britain 7 ' ":..:> 12. 13. Whom did the Britons choose for their leader? 14. What conditions were ofierod by Ceesar, and accepted by Casrivelannm ■-*xk SECTION II. Great Boadicea -^— — Thy vory fall perpetuates thy fame, And Suetonius' laurels druop with shame. — Z)ii(Im. •.V- » ■ 1. Upon the accession of Augus'tus,t that emperor had formed a design of visiting Britain, but was diverted from it by the unexpected revolt of the Panno'nians.f Tiberius,§ wisely judging the empire already too exten- sive, made no attempt upon Britain. From that time the natives began to improve in all the arts which contribute to the advancement of human nature. 2. The wild extravagances of Calig'ula,|| by which htt * Sometimes written Cassibelau'nus, or Cassibelan. t Augus'tus WBS the son of Julitis Caesar's niece, adopted by Cosar. H« was the second emperor of Rome, t The people of Htmgary. which country was formerly called Pannonla $ The third emperor of Rome. ^ U A Roman emperor, the successor of Tibe'rius. ■Jt»„- ?, Id HIVrORV OF BNOLAKS. threatened Britain with an invasion, served rather to expose him to ridicule than the island to. danger. At length, the Romans, in the reign of Clau'dius,* began to think seri- ously of reducing them under their dominion. The ex- pedition for this purpose was conducted in the beginning by Plau'tius and other commanders, with that success which usually attended the Roman arms. 8. dlurao'tacus was the first who seemed willing, by a vigorous effort, to rescue his country, and repel its insulting and rapaeiajcfs conquerors. This rude soldier, though with inferior foreA, continued, for above nine years, to oppose and harass tlfe Romans ; till at length he was totally routed and taken prisoner by Osto'rius Scap'ula, who sent him in triumph to Rome. .\ 4. While Carac'tacus was being led through Rome, he sheared no way dejected at the amazing concourse of spectators that were gathered upon this occa- sion ; but casting his eyes on the splendours that surrounded him. ** Alas !" cried he, ** how is it possible that a people possessed of such magnificence at home, could envy me a humble cottage in Britain?" The emperor was affected by the British hero's misfortunes, and won by his address. He ordered him to be unchained on the spot, and set at liberty with the rest of the captives. 5. The cruel treatment of Boadi'cea, queen of the Ice'ni, drove the Britons once more into open rebellion. Prasat'- agus, king of the Ice'ni, at his death had bequeathed one half his dominions to the Romans, and the other to his daughters, thus hoping^ by the sacrifice of a part, to secure the rest to his family. But it had a different effect ; for the Roman procurator immediately took possession of the whole: and when Boadi'cea, tlie widow of the deceased, attempted to remonstrate, he ordered her to be scourged like a slave, and made slaves of her daughters. 6. These outrages were sufiicient to produce a revolt throughout the island. The ice'ni, as being the most deeply' interested in the quarrel, were the first to take arms ; all Uie other states soon followed the example ; and Boadi'cea, a woman of great beauty and masculine spirit, was appointed to head the common forces, whjch amounted to two hundred and thirty thousand fighting men. 7. These, exasperated by their wrongs, attacked several of the Roman settlements and colonies wiU)^.fUCcess : Suetoni'us, who commanded the Roman foill^ hastened to relieve London, which was al- V,: ■ \ ■4'r .A' t -5. "V-s •^"''^MrmR of Drn'sus, and succoasor of Caiig'uia. 'B ANCIENT BRITOMf. II J- ■ \ ■■<■' J*- :; \s ,'.%1 ready a flourishing colony ; but found, on his trrival, that it would be requisite for the general safety to abandon that place to the merciless fury of the enemy. 8. London waft soon, therefore, reduced to ashes ; such of the inhabitants as remained in it were massacred ; and the Romans, with all other sti^ngers, to the number of seventy thousand, were cruelly put to the sword. Flushed with these suc> cesses, the Britons no longer sought to avoid the enemy, but boldly came to the place where Suetoni'us awaited their arrival, posted in a very advantageous manner with a body of ten thousand men. 9. The battle was obstinate and bloody. ' Boadi'cea herself appeared in a chariot with her two daughters, and harangued her army with masculine in- trepidity ; but the irregular and undisciplined bravery of her troops was unable to resist the cool intrepidity of the Romans. They were routed with great slaughter ; eighty thousand perished in the field, and an infinite number were made prisoners ; while Boadi'cea herself, fearing to faU into the hands of the enraged victor, put an end to her life by poison. 10. The general who firmly estaUished the dominion of the Romans in this island was Ju'lius Agric'ola,* who go- verned it during the reigns of Vespa'sian,t Ti'tus,:f and Domi'tian,§ and distinguished himself as well by his cou- rage as humanity. For several years after the time of Agric'oia, a profound peace seems to have prevailed in Britain, and little mention is made of the affairs of the island by any historian. 11. At length, however, Rome, that had for ages given laws to nations, and diffused slavery a/H. oppression over the known world, began to sink under her own magnifi* cence. Mankind, as if by a general consent, rose un to vindicate their natural freedom ; almost every nation as- serting that independence of which they had been so long unjustly deprived. 12. During these struggles the British youth were fre- quently drawn away into Gaul, to give ineffectual succour • Juaiui Agric'ol* wai the fkther-in law of Ta'citui, the celebrated Lii tonan. t Vespa'tian was the tenth Roman emperor ; he waa valiant but verv avancioua. „ J Ti'tut was the eleventh Roman emperor, the son of Veipa^ian : he was •«/oo« a.nwm that he was called the " delight of mankind." % Domiuan was the twelfth Roman emperor, and brother to Ti'tua • ha vu a great persecutor of the ChriaUans, and of a moi.. cruel dispo«Uon. 14 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. to the various contenders for the empire, who, failing in every attempt, only left the name of tyrants behind them.* In the mean time, as the Roman forces decreased in Britain, the Picts and Scotsf continued still more boldly to infest the northern parts ; and crossing the friths, which the Ro* mans could not guard, in little wicker boats covered with leather, filled the country, wherever they came, with slaugh- ter and consternation. 13. The Romans, therefore, finding it impossible to stand their ground in Britain, in the reign of the emperor Valen- tin'ian took their last leave of the island, after being masters cf it for nearly four hundred years, and now left the natives to the choice of their own government and kings. They gave them the best instructions the calamitous times would permit, for exercising their arms, and repairing their ranK parts ; and helped them to erect a new wall of stone across the island, for they had not, at that time, artisans skilful enough among themselves to repair that which had been built by the emperor Sev'erus. The ruins of this wall, and the fortresses by which the Roman colonies were defended, are among the most interesting relics of antiquity in England. ■^ >' Quesiioiu for Examination, 1. What prevented Auguatiu from vkitinj^ Britain f Did Tiberius make an attempt upon Britain 7 8. What exposed Caligula to riaicule f a Who was the flist person that was willmg to repel the invaders t Hoyv^long did Caractacus harass the Romans ? 4. yy^ remarks did Caractacus make on witnessing the splenuour of Aomet & What caused the Britons to rebel ? Who commanded Boadicea to be ill treated t 6. What were the conseouences ? 7. Who commanded the Roman forces at that time 7 8. What was the ftte of London and its inhabitants 7 9 Describe Boadicea's conduct, and the result of this batde. 10. At what time did peace prevail in Great Britain 7 11. What was the situation of Rome at this time? 12. What were the nations that infested the northern parts 7 la When did the Romans take their leave of Britain 7 And how long had they been masters of it 7 * According to the "Notitia Imperii," no less than twelve British corps of in&ntry a^ cavalry were constantly dispelled in the distant provinces of the empire; while foreign soldiers were, accorduig to the invariable policy of the Romans, stationed in Britain. t The names ^ which the inhabitants of Scotland were at that time du> tmgaishod. " The Picts (so called from Pidick, a plunderer, and not firom Picti, pakited), and the Scots from Scuite, a wanderer, in the Celtic tongue, wf^re only different tribes of Caledonians."— Z?r. Henry. .f Ci!t£k'\&.- :^' ■^■^Lik^A^^l TSB SAXONl. -I-' •;.?,;' jft'.,i'i<(;)4ij;,,jji-. ■' CHAPTER II. THE 8AX0N& SECTION I. t it hark ! what foreign dram on Tbanet't M« Jrocluau aMiitanca 1 Tie the Saxon band, / Br Heniiitled. audHona:— iee, tbef amile. , _„^. , -> '^ And giwt tboir hotti witk fklM, lOMdioua hand.— DMin. / 1. (A. D. 4470 The Britons, being now left to them- selves, considered their new liberties as their greatest cala- mity. The Picts and Scots, uniting together, began to look upon Britain as their own, and attacked the northern wall, which the Romans had built to keep off their incursions, with success. Having thus opened to themselves a passage, they ravaged the whole country with impunity, while the Britons sought precarious shelter in the woods and moun- tains.* • ,:;;.:, 2. It was in this deplorable and enfeebled state that the Britons had recourse to the Saxons, a brave people ; who, for their strength and valour, were formidable to all the German nations around them, and supposed to be more than a match for the gods themselves. They were a people restless and bold, who considered war as their trade ; and were, in consequence, taught to consider victory as a doubt- ful advantage, but courage as a certain good. 3. A nation, however, entirely addicted *o war, has seldom wanted the imputation of cruelty, aa those terrors which are opposed without fear are often inflicted without regret. The Saxons are represented as a very cruel nation : but we must re- member that their enemies have drawn the picture. 4. It was no disagreeable circumstance to these ambitious people to be invited into a country upon which they had for ages been forming designs. In consequence, Uieiefore, of the solemn invitation of Vor'dgem, who was then king of Bri- tain, they arrived with fifteen hundred men, under the ^ni- mand of Hen'gist and Hor'sa, who were brothers, and * In thu extremity, they made application for succour to ^tius, prefect of Gaul, in the following remarkable words : — '^ The gioans of the wretched Britons, to the thrice-appointed Consul iEtius.— The Iwrhariarts drive u* into Che sea, and the sea forces us back on the swords of the barbarians, so that we have nothing lefl us but the wretched choice of being either druwned or murdered." iGtius was, however, too closely engaged hi opposing Attala, the renowned king of the Huns (who, from the h«voc he made wherevet his sword was drawn, was denominated "The acourge of Ood"), to bestow •«jr attention on the Britona. \ 10 HUTOmr OF ENOLAND. i.' \ y \ landed on the isle of Than'et.* 5. There they did not long remain inactive ; but being joined by the British forces, they boldly marched against the Picts and Scots, who had advanced as far as Lincolnshire, and soon gained a complete victory over them. (A. D. 450.) The Saxons, however, being sensible of the fertility of the country to which they came, and the barrenness of that which they had left behind, invited over great numbers ol their countrymen to become sharers in their new expedi- tion. 6. Accordingly they received a fresh supply of Ave thousand men, who passed over in seventeen vessels, and soon made a permanent establishment in the island. The British historians, in order to account for the easy conquest of their country by the Saxons, assign their trea- chery, not less than their valour, as a principal cause. 7. They allege, that Vor'tigern was artfully inveigled into a passion for Rowe'na, the daughter of Hen'gist; and, in order to marry her, was induced to settle the fertile pro- vince of Kent upon her father, from whence the Saxons could never atler be removed.! It is alleged, also, that upon the death of Vor'timer, which happened shortly after the victory he obtained at Eg'glesford, Vor'tigern, his fa- ther, was reinstated upon the throne. 8. It is added, that this weak monarch, accepting of a festival from Hen'gist, three hundred of his nobility were treacherously slaugh tered, and himself detained as a captive. After the death of Hen'gist, several other German tribes, allured by the success of their countrymen, went over in great numbers. 9. A body of Saxons, under the conduct of Ella and his three sons, had some time before laid the foundation of the kingdom of the South Saxons, though not without great opposition and bloodshed. This new kingdom included Surry, Sussex, and the New Forest ; 9nd extended to the frontiers of Kent. 10. Another tribe of the Saxons, under the command of Cerdic, and his son Kenric, landed in the west, and from thence took the name of West Saxons. These met with * Than'et is an ialand of Kent. Margate and Ramagate are its principal towns. t Our old English historians say, that when the beautiful Rowe'na was fi st introduced to Vor'tigern, " she presented him, on her knee, with a cup uf wine, saying ' Waes heal, hlaford cyning,' or ' Be of health. Lord King !' to which Vor'tigern, being instructed in the custom, answered, ' Drinc heal,' or, ' I drink your health.' " — It is proper here to observe, however, that some able historians have declared, that no authentic documents exist concernine these stories of Vor'tigern and Rowe'na, or of the slaughter of the British nobles I and that Uiey are inclined to believe the whole a fiction, or, at least ▼•ry much exaggerated. THE SAXONt. n towns. as fist cup uf ngl'to ; heal,' it some lerninff British t leact k very vigorous opposition from the natives, bat being rein- forced from Germany,* and assisted by their countrymen on the island, they routed the Britons ; and although retarded in their progress by the celebrated king Arthur,t they had strength enough to keep possession <^ the conquest they had already made. Cerdic, therefore, with his son Kenric, es- tablished the third Saxon kingdom in the island, namely that of the West Saxons, including the counties of Hants, Dorset, Wilts, Berks, and the Isle of Wight. 11 . It was in opposing this Saxon invader tha« the ce- lebrated prince Arthur acquired his fame. However un- successful all his valour might have been in the end, yet his name made so great a figure in the fabulous annals of the times, that some notice must be taken of him. 12. This prince is of such obscure origin, that some authors suppose him to be the son of king Ambro'sius,| and others only his nephew ; others again affirm that be was a Cornish prince, and son of Gurlois, king of that province. However this be, it is certain he was a commander of great valour ; and, could courage nlone have repaired die miserable state of the Britons, his might have been efiectual. 13. According to the most authentic historians, he worsted the Saxons in twelve successive battles. In one of these, namely, that fought at Gaerbadon, in Berks, it is asserted that he killed no less than four hundred and forisy of the enemy with his own hand. But the Saxons Were too numerous and power* ful to be extirpated by the desultory efforts of single va- lour ; so that a peace, and not a conquest, was the im- mediate fruit of his victories. 14. The enemy, therefore, still gained ground ; and this prince, in the decline of life, had the mortification, from some domestic troubles of hia own, to be a patient spectator of their encroachments. His first wife had been carried off by Melnas, king of Somerset- shire, who detained her a whole year at Glas'tonbury,$ until Arthur, discovering the place of her retreat, advanced with an army against the seducer, and obliged him to give her back. 15. In his second wife, perhaps, he may have been more fortunate, as we have no mention made of her ; but it was otherwise with his third consort, who was car- * A lai];e country of Europe, comprising many kingdoms and states. ^- t A British prince, who established Christianity at York, in the room of paganism, or worshipping of idols, t King of the Britons. "'-^'■^,. ( Glas'tonbury is a town in Somersetshire, noted for a famous abbeys ' - B 2 ■V 18 HISTORY OF ENOLANO. ried off by his own nephew, Mordred. This produced a re I bellion, in which the king and his traitorous lunsiaan, meefc- ing in battle, slew eaeh other. '^ ' QituHoru for Examination 1. Who ravaged England with impunity r 2. To whom did the Briton have recoune for aatittance in their (Xattemt 9. WhatchancterisgivenoftheSeuon? 4. Where did the Saxons land? 5. Whom did the Saxona defeat? 6. Bv what mean* can the easy conqnest of the Britona be accounted fbr % 7. How did the Saxori obtain poeseaiionof the province of Kent ? 8. Were not many of the Britisn nobility treacherously slaughtered ? 9. Who laid the foundation of the South Saxon kingdom ? 10. Who mve rise to the name of the West Saxons? 11. 12. What celebrated British prince opposed the Saxons with success? 13. What extraordinary feat of valour is related of him? 14. What domeatic troubles afflicted Arthur in the decline of life? "' ■ ^ SE3CTION II. -■■'.y- While nndeeided yet which part ihonM faH, , Wbieb Dstioit riie, the glorioiu Lord of all. — Creeat. V 1. (A.D. 675.), In the mean time, while the Saxons were thus gaining ground in the west, their countrjrmen were not less active in the other parts of the island. Adventurers still continuing to pour over from Germany, one body of them, under the command of Uffa, seized upon the counties of Cambridge, Suffolk, and Norfolk, and gave their com- mander the title of king of the East Angles,*^ which was the fourth Saxon kingdom founded in Britain. 2. Another body of these adventurers formed a kingdom •nder the title of East Saxony, or Essex, comprehending Essex, Middlesex, and part of Hertfordshire. This king- dom, which was dinmembered from that of Kent, formed the fifth Saxon principality founded in Britain. 3. The kingdom of Mercia was the sixth which was es- tablished by these fierce invaders, comprehending all the middle counties, from the banks of the Severn to the frontiers of the two last-named kingdoms. The seventh and last kingdom which they obtained was that of Northumberland,! one of the most powerful and extensive of them all. This was formed from the union of * Comprehending Norfollc, SufiEblh, Cambridge, and the Ue of Elv. t Northamberland, that is, the land north of the river Humber, con> tained six counties in England, and extended as far as th« Frith of Edin- bartj, in !:?cotIand. #> THE SAXONS. tf two smaller Saxon kingdoms, the one called Berni'cia, con- taining the present county of Northumberland and the bishoprick of Durham ; the subjects of the other, called Dei'ri, extending themselves over Lancashire and York- shire. 4. These kingdoms were united in the person of Ethelred, king of Northumberland, by the explusion of Edwin, his brother-in-law, from the kingdom of the Deiri, and the. seizure of his dominions. In this manner, the na- tives being overpowered, or entirely expelled, seven king- doms were established in Britain, which have since been well known by the name of the Saxon heptarchy. 5. The Saxons, being thus well established i^ all the desi- rable parts of the island, and having no longer the Britons / to contend with, began to quarrel among themselves. A country divided into a number of petty independent princi- palities, must ever be subject to contention, as jealousy and ambition have more frequent incentives to operate. 0. After a series, therefore, of battles, treasons, and stratagems, all their petty principalities fell under the power of Egbert, king of Wessex, whose merits deserved dominion, and whose prudence secured his conquests. By him all the kingdoms of the heptarchy were united under one common jurisdiction ; but, to give splendour to his authority, a gene- ral council of the clergy and laity was summoned at Win- chester, where he was solemnly crowned king of England, by which name the united kingdom was thenceforward called. 7. Thus, about four hundred years after the first arrival of the Saxons in Britain, all the petty settlements were united into one great state, and nothing offered but prospects of peace, security, and increasing refinement. It was about this period that St. Gregory undertook to send missionaries among the Saxons, to convert them to Christianity. 8. It is said, that, before his elevation to the papal cliair, he chanced one day to pass through the slave- market at Rome, and perceiving some children of great beauty, who were set up for sale, he inquired about their country, and finding they were English pagans, he is said to have cried out in the Latin language, Non AiLgli sea Angeli, forent, si essent Christian!. " They woulahot be English, but angels, had they been Christians."* 9. From * Inrjuiring further the name of their province, he was answered Dein (a district of Northumberland). " Deiri," replied St Gregory, « that is good ; they are called to the mercy of Qod from his anger ; tliat is, ui Iha. But . \ 80 HISTORY OP BNOLAND. that time he was struck with an ardent desire to convert that unenlightened nation, and ordered a monk, named Augus'* tine, and others of the same fraternity, to undertake the mission into Britain. This pious monk, upon his first landing in the Isle of Thanet, sent one of his interpreters to Eth'elbert, the Kent- ish king, declaring he was come from Rome with offers of eternal salvation. 10. The king immediately ordered them to be furnished with all necessaries, and even visited them, though without declaring himself as yet in their favour. Augus'tine, however, encouraged by this favourable recep- tion, and now seeing a prospect of success, proceeded with redoubled zeal to preach the gospel. 11. The king openly espoused the Christian religion : while his example wrought so successfully on his subjects, that numbers of them came voluntarily to be baptized, the missionary loudly declaring af!^ainst any coercive means towards their conversion. In th.'s manner the other kingdoms, one after the other, em- braced the faith : and England was soon as famous for its superstition, as it had once been for its averseness to Chris- tianity. The Saxon ecclesiastics were in general men of great piety and learning. The most celebrated among them was the venerable Bede, bom A. D. 673, died A. D. 735, whose his- tory of the Anglo-Saxon Church was so highly valued by King Alfred, that he translated it from the Latin language, in which it was written, into the Saxon. • Questiona for Examination, 1. Whence did adventurers continue to come ? . What counties formed the fourth kingdom of the Saxons T 2. What ceonties did the fifth Saxon kingdom comprehend ? 3. What was the sixth kingdom called ? What was the seventh >-;<gdom ? and how was it formed ! What was the general name given to the seven Saxon kingdoms t Whathappened to Uie Saxons afier the Britons were subdued ? Under whose power did all the petty principalities fall ? At about what period were missionaries sent among the Saxons to con- vert them to Christianity ? 8,9. What was the circumstance which occasioned the sending missiouanet into Britain ? 10. How were the missionaries received bv the Saxon monarch T 11. What ofiect was produced by the king^'s example 7 how is the king of that province named ?" He was told ^lt^, or Alla. " Alleluiah !" cried he, •' we must endeavour that the praises of God be sung in tUs country "—Hume. 4. 6. G. 7. Ldl 11 INVASION or THE DANM. SI -m Bung CHAPTER III. THE INVASION OF THE DANES. •■ -'i'.t' I rWM THE END OF THE HEPTARCHY TO THE REieif Or WILUAM THE 00N9VER0R. SECTION I. t Ths Dum ! tiM Dana ! Iha roung and af od cnr, ' And moUiari praia tbair iaTaBU «a Uiay fly. — Dtbim. 1. (A.D. 832.) Pbape and unanimity had been scarcely established in £lngland, when a mighty swarm of those na- tions called Danes* and Northmen, subsequently corrupted into Normen or Normans, who had possessed the country bordering on the Baltic,t began to level their fury against England. A small body of them at first landed on we coasts, w'th a view to learn the state of the country ; and having committed some depredations, fled to their ships for safety. 2. About seven years after this first attempt, they made a descent upon the kingdom of Northumberland, where they pillaged a monastery, but their fleet being shattered by a storm, they were defeated by the inhabitants and put to the sword. It was not till about five years after the accession of Egbert,| that their invasions became truly formidable. From that time they continued with unceasing ferocity, until the whole kingdom was reduced to a state of the most dis- tressing bondage.§ 3. Though often repulsed, they always obtained their end of spoiling the country, and carrying the plunder away. It was their method to avoid coming, if possible, to a general engagement ; but, scattering Uiemselves over the face of the country, they carried away indiscriminately, as well the inhabitants themselves, as all their moveable possessions. 4. At length, however, they resolved upon making a set- * The DanM were inhalMtantB of Denmaik, a kingdom in the north of Europe. • - t The Baltic is an inland tea in the north of Europe^ . ^ . X Effbert war; the first sole monarch in Engfand. i mthing could be more dreadful than the manner in which these fierce barbarians carried on their incursions ; they spared neither age nor sex, and each commander uned the soldiers to inhumanity. One of their celebratea chieiVains, named Oliver, gained, from his dislike to the favourite amusement of his soldiers (that of tossing children on the points of their speais), the eon temptuous surname of Burnakal, or "The Preserver of Children." HIIYORY or KNOLAND. tlemt * in ' '^ country , and landing on the Iile of Tlianet, btationed th \vea there. In this place they kept their rund, nothwithstanding a bloody vif^tory sained over them ^ Eth'elwolf. The reign of Eth'elbald, his lucceeaor, was )f no long continuance ; however, in a short space, he crowded together a number of vices sufficient to render his Di! ^e odious to posterity. 5. Tl,>i prince was succeeded by his brother Eth'elred, a brave commander, but whose valour was insufficient to re- press the Danish incursions. In these exploits he was always assisted by his younger brother, Alfred, afterwards surnamed the Great, who sacrificed all private resentment to the public good, having been deprived by the king of a large patrimonyJ 6. It was during Eth'elred's reign that the Danes, penetrating into Mercia, took up their winter-quarters at Nottingham ; from whence the king attempting to dislodge them, received a wound in the battle, of which he died, leaving his brother Alfred the inheritance of a kingdom that was now reduced to the brink of ruin. 7. The Danes had already subdued Northumberland and East Anglia, and had penetrated into the very heart of Wes- sex. The Mercians were united against Alfred ; the de- pendence upon the other provinces of the empire was but precarious : the lands lay uncultivnt> d, through fear of con- tinual incursions ; and all the cliurches and monasteries were burnt to the ground. In thid terrible situation of affairs nothing appeared but objects of terror, and every hope was lost in despair. 8. The wisdom and virtues of one man alone were found sufficient to bring back happiness, security and order ; and all the calamities of the times found redress from Alfred. 9. This prince seemed bom not only to defend his bleed ing country, but even to adorn humanity. He had given very early instances of those great virtues which afte* / inh gave splendour to his reign ; and wi'fi anointed by po''^ Ceo as future king, when he was sent by his father, '■n uld education, to Rome. On his return from thence, he became every day more the object of his father*s fond affections ; and that perhaps was the reason why his education was at first negl6v ^rl. He had attained the age of twenty before he was madi > quainted with the lowest elements of litera- ture ; but nr'f r gsoyiie Saxon poems read, which recounted the praise oi lierocs, his whole mind was roused, not only to obtain a £iimilita'le of glory, but also to be ablr to transmit :^ rS ■::^ / imrAIION OF THii DANM. that glory to poiterity. 10. Ficouragcd by the queen hit mother, and aBsisted by a penetrumg genius, hu soon learned to read these compositions, and proccc' from thence to a knowledge of Latin authors, wliu directed his (Mte, and rec- tified his ambition. He was scarcely come to the throne u hen he was obliged to oppose the Danes, who had seized Wilton,* and were ex- ercising their usual ravages on the country around. 11. He marclifd gainst them with the few troops he could assemble or- ' id \ and a desperate battle was fought, to the disad- vaiit'ire ol the English. But it was not in the power of ni^rrrtune to abate the king's diligence, though it repressed his |>uwer to do good. He was in a little time enabled to hazard another engagement ; so that the enemy, dreading his courage and activity, proposed terms of peace, which he did not think proper to refuse. 12. They, by this treaty, agreed to relinquish the kingdom ; but instead of complying with their engagements, they only removed from one place to another, burning and destroying wherever they came. . CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. bleed ■^ u Poptt. A. D. Gregory IV 823 Sergiuall 844 Leo IV. 847 Benedict III 855 Nicholaal 858 Emperart of the East. Michael II 821lLewiBlI. A.I>. TheophilM 1 829 Michael III 842 Emperor $ of the Went, and Kinge of France, .Lewis 1 814 Lothariiu 840 855 Kinge ^ Seolkmd. An. Congalloilll 8S4 Dongallui. 809 Alpiniu 834 KennethuiII 849 Donaldui V 869 Conitantius n 866 EMINENT PERSONS In the reign of Egbert : Earls Osmond and Dudda. Bisbopa Wifffurth and Herefiirth.--Jn thereigne of ElhelbaU and Ethettert: Swithiin, oishop of Winchester. OBrvck,e«krl of Hampton. Lambert and Etheihard, archbishops of Canterbury. — in the reign of Ethdred: Osbricht and Ella, Northumbrian lanacew, who were killed while bravely opposing the Danes. Quettioru for Examination. 1. What enemies disturbed the tranquillity which England enjoyed afler ths union of the seven Saxon kingdoms ? What mode of wa.fare was practised by the Danes ? 2. What loss did the Danes suffer hv sea ? \ 3. What did the Danes carry away ? , ,;,• 4. Where did they at length establish themselves f ' * 5. Who succeeded Euielbald ? . ,♦ By whom was Etiielred assisted 1 * WilUm is the cuunty town of Wiltshire, though Salisbury is now its pna eipal (daee 24 HISTORY OF BNOLAKP. 6. What Mvtm tht cauM orEthelred'i dnath ? and to whom did ha leave the kingdom ? 7,8 What wat the cause of the lands remaininfr uncultivated f 9, 10. What in related ofAlfired'n youth and early diBpoaition ? 11. What wofl the succen of this prince against the Danes ? 12. In what manner did the Danes observe their treaty with AUlred T I SECTION II. Uoplete with luul ti>e monaioh itoud atont. And built, iin ft«n(luin'« bii«i«, KiiKlnnd'i thranat A iDKiilator, parent, warrior, »nat. He died, the light of a beaiglited age. — Dibdin. 1. (A. D. 877.) Alfred, thus opposed to an enemy whom no stationary force could resist, and no treaty could bind, found himself unable to repel the efforts of those ravagers who from all quarters invaded him. New swarms of the enemy arrived every year upon the coast, and fresh inva- sions were still projected. Some of his subjects, therefore, left their country, and retired into Wales,* or fled to the continent. Others submitted to the conqueror, and purchased their lives by their freedom. 2. In this universal defection, Alfred vainly attempted to remind them of the duty they owed their country and their king ; but, finding his remon- strances ineffectual, he was obliged to give way to the wretched necessity of the times. Accordingly, relinquish- ing the ensigns of his dignity, and dismissing his servants, he dressed himself in the habit of a peasant, and lived for some time in the house of a herdsman, who had been in- trusted with the care of his cattle. 3. In this manner, though abandoned by the world, and fearing an enemy in every quarter, still he resolved to continue in his country, to catch the slightest occasion for bringing it relief. In his solitary retreat, which was in the county of Somerset, at the conflu- ence of the rivers Parret and Thone, he amused himself with music, and supported his humble lot with the hopes of bet- ter fortune. 4. It is said, that one day, being commanded by the herdsman's wife, who was ignorant of his quality, to take care of some cakes which were baking by the fire, he happened to let them burn, on which she severely upbraided him for neglect. Previous to his retirement, Alfred had concerted measures for assembling a few trusty friends, whenever an opportunity should offer of annoying the enemy, who were in possession of the whole country. 5. This chosen band, still faithful * Wales consists of twelve counties oii the west of England, annexed to it hy Edward the First. iid h« leave tlui df ? AUhidr tiemy whom could bind, jse ravagers arms of the fresh inva- I, therefore, fled to the [1 purchased il defection, 5 duty they his rcmon- ivay to the relinquish- Is servants, id lived for \\ been in- ler, though ' in every y, to catch lis solitary he con flu- nself with les of bet- mmanded luality, to le fire, he jpbraided measures )ortanity )8se8sion 1 faithful annexed to ALFRED THE aREAT. I|9 to their monarch, took shelter in the forests and marshes of' Somerset, and from thence made occasional irruptions upon stragfrliiifr parlies of the enemy. Their success in this rapa- cious and dreary method of living encouraged many more to join their society, till at length, suflicientlv augmented, they repaired to their monarch, who had by tnat time been reduced by famine to the last extremity.* 6. Meanwhile Ubba, the chief of the Danish commanders, carried terror over the whole land, and now ravaged the country of Wales without opposition. The only place where he found resistance was in his return from the castle of Kenwith, into which the Earl of Devonshire had retired with a small body of troops. 7. This gallant soldier, find- ing himself unable to sustain the siege, and knowing the danger of surrendering to a perfidious enemy, was resolved, by one desperate eflbrt, to sally out and force his way through the besiegers, sword in hand. The proposal waa embraced by all his followers : while the Danes, secure in their numbers, and in their contempt of fhe enemy, were not only routed with great slaughter, but Ubba, their gene- ral, was slain. 8. This victory once more restored courage to the dispi- ritf d Saxons ; and Alfred, taking advantage of tneir favour- * The life of Alfred is full of the most interesting events. Amongr nu- merous anecdotes related of him by the old English historians, the i(»11ow« ing we think worthy of a place in this work, as it uflbnis a striking illustra' tion of his benevolence, and is a proof of the privations he, in common with his trusty adherents, underwent during their seclusion in Somersetshire : — " It happened one day during the winter, which proved uncommonly severet that he had sent all his attendants out to endeavour to procure fish, or some kind of provisions ; so difficult was the entei-prise esteemed, that the king and queen only were excused from the employment. When they were gone, the king, as was his custom, whenever he had an opportunity, took a book, and began reading, whilst Klswitha was employed in her domestic con- cerns ; they had not long continued thus engaged, before a poor pilgrim, ac- cidentally passing that vvay, knocked at the gate, and be^'ged they would give him something to eat. The humane kin^ called Elswitha, and desired her to give the poor man part of what provision there was in the fort: the queen, finding only one loaf, brought it to Alfred, to show how slender their (Store was, at the same time representing the distress the family would labour under, should they return from their foraging unsuccessful. The king, not deterred by this scanty view from his charitable purpose, but rather mteiv nally rejoicing at this trial of his humanity, cheerfully gave the poor Chris- tian one-half of the loaf; consoling the queen with this religious reflectioiv ' That He who could feed five thousand with five loaves and two figtieu. could make (if it so pleased him) that half of the loaf suffice for more than their necessities.' When the traveller departed, the king returned to his reading, and felt that satisfaction which most surely results from a beneficoni action. Nor was it long unrewarded, for his companions returned with «» great a quantity of provlMioiis, that they wore not exposed to any similar in- (Jljnvenionces during their soolusion." c 26 III8T0RT OF ENGLAND. fjblf disposition, prepared to animate them to a vigoroni exertion of their superiority. He soon, therefore, apprized them of the place of his retreat, and instructed them to be ready with all their strength at a minute's warning. 0. But still none was found who would undertake to give intelli- gence of the forces and posture of the enemy. Not know- mg, therefore, a person in whom he could confide, he un- dertook this dangerous task himself. In the simple dress of a shepherd, with his harp in his hand, he entered the Danish camp, tried all his musical arts to please, and was so much admired, that he was brought even into the presence of Guthrum, the Danish prince, with whom he remained some days. 10. He there remarked the supine security of the Danes, their contempt of the English, their negligence in foraging and plundering, and their dissolute wasting of such ill-gotten booty. Having made his observations, he returned to his retreat; and, detaching proper emissarifo among his subjects, appointed them to meet him in the forest of Selwood, a summons which they gladly obeyed. 11. It was against the most unguarded quarter of the enemy that^AlfVed made his most violent attack ; while the Danes, surprised to behold an army of English, whom they considered as totally subdued, made but a faint resistance. Notwithstanding the superiority of their numbers, they were routed with great slaughter ; and though such as es- caped fled for refuge into a fortified camp in the neighbour- hood, being unprovided for a siege, in less than a fortnight they were compelled to surrender at discretion. 12. By the conqueror's permission, those who did not choose to embrace Christianity embarked for Flanders,* under the command of one of their generals, called Hastings. Guth- rum, their prince, became a convert, with thirty of his no- bles, and the king himself answered for him at the font. 13. Alfred had now attained the meridian of glory ; he possessed a greater extent of territory than had ever been enjoyed by any of his predecessors ; the kings of Wales did him homage for their possessions, the Northumbriansf received a king of his appointing, and no enemy appeared to give him the least apprehensions, or excite an alarm. 14. In this state of prosperity and profound tranquillity, which lasted for twelve years, Alfred was diligendy em- ployed in cultivating the arts of peace, and in repairing the damages which the kingdom had sustained by war. * Now a oar! of the JNetherlandi. t The inhabitanti of Northumberland. L„ ALFRED THE GREAT. 15, His care was to polish the country by arts, a» he had protected it by arms ; and he is said to have drawir up a body of laws.* His care for the encouragement of letirn- ing did not a little tend to improve the morals and restrain the barbarous habits of the people. When he came to the throne, he found the English sunk into the grossest igno- rance and barbarism, prqceeding from the continual dis- orders of the government, and from the ravages of the Danes. 16. He himself complains, that, on his accession, he knew not one person south of the Thames, who could 80 much as interpret the Latin service.f To remedy this deficiency, he invited over the most celebrated scholars from all parts of Europe ; he founded, or at least re-esta- blished the university of Oxford, and endowed it with many privileges ; and he gave, in his own example, the strongest incentives to study. 17. He usually divided his time into three equal portions : one was given to sleep, and the re- fection of his body, by diet and exercise ; another to the despatch of business ; and the third to study and devotion.^ He made a considerable progress in the different studies of grammar, rhetoric, philosophy, architecture, and geometry. He was an excellent historian ; he understood music ; he was acknowledged to be the best Saxon poet of the age, and left many works behind him, some of which remain to this day. 18. To give a character of this prince, would * Alfred established a regular militia throu^out England, and raised a considerable naval force, by which means be was enabled to repel the fa tare incursions of the Danes. He afterwards established a regular police . dividing the kingdom into counties, and the counties into hundreds and lithings. So welfregulayted was the police which he established, that it ia said he had golden bracelets hung up near the highways, which no robber dared to touch. Yet he never deviated from the mceift regard to the libei^ of his people ; and there is a remarkable sentiment preserved in bis vdli namely, that " It i$ juM tke Engli$k should for ever remain a» free at thtrir oum iAou0ht»." t So httle, indeed, was learning attended to by the great, that Asser, the biographer of Alfred, menticms with astonishment, that the king taught fail youngest son, Ethelwnud, to read, before he made him acquainted widi bunting. I The piety of Alfred was as conraicuous as his prowess, and in those days of ignorance, he enlightened bv nis pen no less than bjr his example, the people over«whom he swayed the sceptre. One of his literary labours was the rendenng the Holy Gospels into the Saxon tongue, from which we extract the Lord s Prayer, and insert it here es a specmien of the language spoken by the English at that period : " Fffider ure thu the earth on heafenum, si thin mama gehalc^n], to be curae thin rice, Gewurthe bin willa on jarthen swa swa on heafenum, ume ge deegwanlican hlaf syle us to daeg ; and fbrgyf us ure gyltas, swa swa VM fergivath urum gyltondum, and ne geladde thu us on cwUmuuBk ac aiyae iif «f yfle." (Si it swa.^ — MeduUas Hisloria AngliaituB - -7,, ;"•» ' m 38 iiisTonr or England. be to sum up those qualities which constitute perfection Even virtues seemingly opposite were happily blended in his disposition ; persevering, yet flexible ; moderate, yet enterprising; just, yet merciful; stern in command, yet gentle in conversation. Nature also, as if desirous that such admirable qualities of mind should be set off to the greatest advantage, had bestowed on him all bodily accom- plishments, vigour, dignity, and an engaging open counte- nance. 10. He died at Oxford, on the 26th of October, 900, and was buried at Winchester. ^^w. - ^ .- ^ , CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. »" iJ-'V'^'- Popes. A.D. John VIII 872 Martin II 882 Adrian III 881 Stephen VI 885 Formosua 891 Emperors of the East. BosiliusI 867 Loo VI. ••••••••I A.D. 886 Emperors of the West, ana Kings of France Lewis II 855 Charles 1 873 Charles II 880 Arnold 888 EMINENT PERSONS. Lewis III. A.n. 899 Kings of Scotland. Constantino II 863 Elhus 878 Gregory 880 DonaldiuVI 89S Oddune, earl of Devon, who killed Hubha the Dane, and took the famouf Reafen, or enchanted stnndanl. Uli'rcdus, Trelotegaldus, Celnorth, Ethelred, and FlerumbiUt were successively archbishops of Canterbury in thin rtviti. 1, S. 4. 0. & Questions for Examination, What effect had the continual ravages of the Danes upon the English 7 How did Alfred act in this emergency ? What an«>fdote is related of Alfred during his concealment? How d- i those who still remained faithfulto Alfred conduct themselves t What uenevolent art i8 rolated of thiw monarch ? (See the Note.) 7. Whnt desperate effort did the earl of Devonshire resolve on ? And what was the consequence T 8. What was the advantage gained by Alfred's courage ? * 9. By whatfstratagem did Alfred get intelligence of the enemy's situation t 10, 11. What observations did he make during his stay in the Danish campt 12. What became of the Danes after their defeat? 13. What kinga paid homage to Alfred ? -. ^ 14. 15, 16. How wns Alfred emplo'-ed durinp the peace 7 I'^im l7. For what purpose did Alfred divide his time iuto three equal portionn And what were his aciomplishments ? IB. What is the general character given of Alfred? >i 19. Where did Alfreii die, and at what place was he buried 7 •"'-.'.ft:"..,-' '-.-i.Ci''^ -. ■ '^<i^s'- ■'i;.-. *DWY. 'KASI- 39 SECTION m. PrlMt-iiddan by « man Srw luibounaiBd itomaoh, ever ranking imaeir with princaa. — Shakspeart. 1. (A.D. 001.) His second son, Edward,* succeeded him on the throne. To him succeeded Athelstan, his natural son, the illegitimacy of his birth not being then deemed a sufficient obstacle to his inheriting the crown. He died at Gloucester, after a reign of sixteen years, and was succeeded by his brother Edmund, who, like the rest of his predeces- sors, met with disturbance from the Northumbrians on his accession to the throne ; but his activity soon defeated their attempts. 2. The resentment this monarch bore to men of an abandoned way of living was 'the cause of his death. He was killed by LeoliT, a robber, at a feast, where this villain had the insolence to intrude into tlie king's presence. His brother, Edred, was appointed to succeed him ; and, like his predecessors, this monarch found himself at the,, head of a rebellious and refractory people. 3. Edred i^; plicTtly submitted to the directions of Dunstan the monl,^. both in church and state; and* the kingdom was in a fair way of being turned into a papal province by this zealous ecclesiastic ; but he was checked, in the midst of his career, by the death of the king, who died of a quinsy, in the tenth year of his reign. — A. D. 955. 4. Edwy, his nephew, who ascended the throne, his own sons being yet unfit to govern, was a prince of great per- sonal accomplishments, and of a martial disposition. But he was now come to the government of a kingdom, in whieh, he had an enemy to contend with, against whom all military virtues could be of little service. 5. Dunstan, who had, governed during the former reign, was resolved to remit nothing of his authority in this ; and Edwy, immediately upon his accession, found himself involved in a quarrel with the monks ; %vhose rage neither his accomplishments nor his virtues could mitigate. 6. Among other instances of their cruelty, the following is recorded : — There was a ladv of the royal blood, named Elgivftt whose beauty h^d made a strong impression upon • Samvned Edward the Elder, from being the first of that name who ta( on tod throne of England. He obtained many victories over the NorUuun bnttfc labels, built several castles, and fortified different cities. He also fouMM the University of Cambridge, in 915. He is said to have been neany tq^, to hio father in military courage, but greatly inferior to kim iw M' neatai accomplishments. He reigned 24 years. c2 90 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. DoBitu MpMtting Ed wy ud Elgiva. -' -^^ _ '■ the young monarch's heart. He had even ventured to :marry her contrary to the advice of his counsellors, as she was within the degrees of affinity prohibited by the canon law. 7. On the day of his coronation, while his nobility were giving a loose to the more noisy pleasures of wine and festivity in the great hall, Edwy retired to his wife's apartments, where, in company with her mother, he enjoyed the more pleasing satisfaction of h^ conversation. Dun- Stan no sooner perceived his absence, than conjecturing the reason, he rushed furiously into the apartment, and upbraid- ing him with all the bitterness of ecclesiastical rancour, dragged him forth in the most outrageous manner. 8. Dunstan, it seems, was not without his enemies, for tibe king was advised to punish this insult by bringing him to account for the money with which he had been intrusted during the last reign. This account the haughty monk re- ^•jsed to give in ; wherefore he was deprived of all the ec- clesiastical and civil emoluments of which he had been in possession, and banished the kingdom. 9. His exile only served to increase the reputation of his sanctity with the people. Among the rest Odo, archbishop of Canterbury,* was so far transported with the spirit of party, that he pro- nounced a divorce between Edwy and Elgiva. The king was unable to resist the indignation of the church, and con rented to surrender his beautiful wife to its fury. Accord * An ancient city of Kent, of which county it is the ospitaL :t ^ * EDOAR. ai ingly* Odo sent into the palace a party of soldiers^ who seized the queen, and, by his orders, branded her on the face with a hot iron. 10. Not contented with this cruel vengeance, they carried her by force into Ireland, and there commanded her to remain in perpetual exile. This injunc- tion, however, was too distressing for that faithful woman to comply with ; for, being cured of her wound, and having obliterated the marks which had been made to deface her beauty, she once more ventured to return to the king, whom she still regarded as her husband. But misfortune continued to pursue her. 11. -She was taken prisoner by a party whom the archbishop had appointed to observe her con- duct, and was put to death in a most cruel manner : the sinews of her limbs being cut, and her body mangled, she was thus left to expire in the most cruel agony. In the mean time a secret revolt against Edwy became almost ge- neral ; ^nd Dunstan put himself at the head of the party. 12. The malecontents at last proceeded to open rebellion ; and having placed Edgar, the king's youngest brother, a boy of about thirteen years of age, git their head, they soon put him in possession of all the northern parts of the king- dom. Edwy's power, and the number of his adherents, every day declining, he was at last obliged to consent to a partition of the kingdom ; but his death, which happened soon after, freed his enemies from all further inquietude, and gave Edgar peaceable possession of the government. 13. Edgar, being placed on the throne by the influence of the monks, affected to be entirely guided by their direc- tions in all his succeeding transactions. . . Little worthy of notice is mentioned of this monarch, except his amour with Elfrida, which is of too singular a nature to be omitted. 14. Edgar had long heard of the beauty of a young lady, whose name was Elfrida, daughter to the earl of Devonshire ; but, unwilling to credit common fame in this particular, he sent Ethelwald, his favourite friend, to see and ?i:^form him if Elfrida was, indeed, that incomparable Woiii^riVviNiport had described her. 15. Ethel- wald, arriving at the eim% had no sooner set his eyes upon that nobleman's daughter, than he became desperately en- amoured of her himself. Such was the violence of his passion, that, forgetting his master's intention, he solicited only his own interest, and demanded for himself the beau- tiful Elfrida from her father in marriage. The favourite of A kinor was nnt IJkplv tf» finrl •» rf>fsisnl A.AlbVA ] mKT A.AAV4 tVx^ „_1 u rviUodx , uic can gUVC 1118 sa HISTORY OF ENGLAND. consent, and the nuptials were performed in private. lA Upon his return to court, which was shortly after, he as^ sured the king that riches alone, and her high quality, had been the cause of her high fame, and he appeared amazed how the world could talk so much and so unjustly of her charms. The king was satisfied, and no longer felt any curiosity, while Ethelwald secretly triumphed in his ad- dress, 17. When he had, by this deceit, weaned the king from his purpose, he took an opportunity, after some time, of turning the conversation on Elfrida, representing that, though the fortune of the earl of Devonshire's daughter would be a trifle to a king, yet it would be an immense ac- quisition to a needy subject. He therefore humbly entreated permission to pay his addresses to her, as she was the rich- est heiress in the kingdom. 18. A request so seemingly reasonable was readily complied with ; Ethelwald returned to his wife, and their nuptials were solemnized in public. His greatest care, however, was employed in keeping her from court ; and he took every precaution to prevent her from appearing before a king so susceptible of love, while she was so capable of inspiring that passion. But it was impossible to keep his treachery long (5oncealed. 10. Edgar was soon informed of the whole transaction ; but, dissem- bling his resentment, he took occasion to visit that part of the country where this miracle of beauty was detained, accom- panied by Ethelwald, who reluctantly attended him thither. Upon coming near the lady*s habitation, he told him that he mA a desire to see his wife, of whom he had formerly heard so much, and desired to be introduced as his acquaintance. 20. Ethelwald, thunderstruck at the proposal, did all in his power, but in vain, to dissuade him. AH he could obtain, 'was permission to go before, on pretence of preparing for the king's reception. On his arrival he fell at his wife's feet, confessing what he had done to be possessed of her charms, and conjuring her to conceal as much as possible her beauty from the king, who was too susceptible of its power. 21. Elfrida, little obliged to him for a passion that had deprived her of a crown, promised compliance ; but, prompted either by vanity or revenge, adorned her person with the most exquisite art, and called up all her beauty on the occasion. The event answered her expectations ; the king no sooner saw, than he loved her, and was instantly resolved to obtain her. 22. The better to effect his inten- i;uns, he concealed his passion from the husband, and took 'v^:: '%'■ SDOAR. B9 leave with a seeming indifference ; but his revenge was not the less certain and faithful. Ethelwald was some time after sent into Northumberland, upon pretence of urgent affairs, and was found murdere.d in the wood by the way. 23. Some say he was stabbed by the king's own hand ; some that he only commanded the assassination ; however this be, Elfrida was invited soon after to court by the king's own order, and their nuptials were performed with the usual solemnity. This monarch died, after a reign of sixteen years, in the thirty-third year of his age, being succeeded by his son Edward, whom he had by his first marriage with the daughter of the earl of Ordmer.* CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popei. ' A.D. Benedict IV 900 LeoV 904 Seisiusin 900 Anaataaiualll 910 Lado 912 JohnX 913 LeoVU 928 Stephen VIII 929 John XI 931 Leo VI 936 Stephen IX 939 MarUnlll 943 AgapeptuB 950 John XII 956 Benedict V 964 JohaXin 965 A.D. Benedict VI 972 DoniiMlI 972 Emperors of the Eatt Leo VI 886 Constantine Porphy- rogcnitua 910 Romaniu the young* er 959 Nicephorus 963 Zeimsces 970 Emperors of the West. T^WMin 899 Conradel 912 Henry 1 919 A.Db Othol 936 Qtholl 973 Kings of France. Charles IIL 899 Lewis IV 936 Lothairel 954 Kings of Scotland. Constantine m.... 909 Malcolm 1 943 Indulphui 958 DuffuB. 967 Culenus 978 - EMINENT PERSONS. In the reign of Edward: Ethelfrida, sister of Edward the Eldei', a great warrior, ana very instrumental in iteisting to ^ain her brother's victorifls. Atholme, archbishop of Canterbury. — In the retgn of AtJietstan: Guy, e%t\ of Warwick, who is said to have killed the Danish giant Colbrand, in single combat, at Winchester, and performed many other extraordinary actions. Tcrketyl, a successful warrior, an abbot of Croyland, and chancellor of Eng- land, wolston, archbishop of Canterbury. — In the reign of Edred : Dun- stan, abbot of Glastonbury. Odo, archbishop of Canterbury. — In the reign of Edgar : Dunstan and Elsius, archbishops of Ccnterbury. * Until the reign of Edgar, England was much infested with wolvea- The king, however, was indefatigable in hunting and destroying them ; but binding uiat those which escaped took shelter in the mountains and forestr of Wales, he changed the tribute of money imposed on that country into a* aimual tribute of 300 wolves' heads : this produced such diligence m hunt ing them, that their extirpation wss scon cfllccteu* ti HirrORY Of ENGLAND. ' I Quiitioru for ExaminaUon t, MThat wai the caute of Edward's doathf and who lucoeedfld him ? 'A. To whoae direction did Erlred fubmltf ■1. Whoaucoeeded£dredf .*i.f..'.;i .',. A. Whom did Edwy marry t 7. What happened on the day of hit coronation f ' r 9. On what account waa Dunatan banished the kingdom • 9. By whoM orders was the queen seised T 14. Who was Elfricfa, and whom did Ed^ar send to her T 1ft. How did Ethelwald perform his mission t 10, 17, 18. Relate what followed. 19. How did the king act on hearing the whole transaction T 80. What did Ethelwald request ofliis wife ? 81. What was the result of tier non-compliance 7 88. How did Ethelwald die ? 83. How long did Edgar reign 7 and by whom was he succeeded I .ii }c. .'^ SECTION IV. — _ ^rftn L_ — — , — pnhouiel'd, uoai:»liited, unnanekl'd, > leOR l»U|^ lunuD, uu Hm tU my laperraotioM od mr head. — S\ak$piar» 1. (A. D. 075.) Edward, surnamed the Martyr, was made king by the interest of the monks, and lived but four years after his accession. In this reign there is nothing remarkable if we except his tragical and memorable end. 2. Hunting one day near Corfe Castle, where VJfrida, his mother-in-law, resided, he thought it his duty :o pay her a visit, although he was not attended by any of his retinue. ■ There desiring some liquor to be brought him, as he was thirsty, while he was yet holding the cup to his head, one of Elfrida*8 domestics, instructed for that purpose, stabbed him in the back. The king, finding himself wounded, put spurs to his horse ; but fainting with the loss of blood, he fell from the saddle, and his foot sticking in the stirrup, he was dragged along by his horse till he died. , • 8. Etnelred the Second, surnamed the Unready, the son of Edgar and Elfrida, succeeded ; a weak and irresolute monarch, incapable of governing the kingdom, or providing fcr its safety. During his reign, the old and terrible ene- mies, the Danes, who seemed not to be loaded with the same accumulation of vice and folly as the Ehglish, were daily gaining ground. 4. The weakness and inexperience of Ethelred appeared to give a favourable opportunity for renewing their depredations ; and accordingly, they landed on several parts of the coast, spreading their usual terror and devastation. A. D. 981 . /.' A CANVTS. .^^ 8ft As they lived indiscriminately among the English, a resolution was taken for a general massacre ; and Ethelred, by a policy incident to weak princes, embraced the cmel resolution of putting them all to the sword. S. This plot was carried on with such secrecy, that it was executed in one day, and all the Danes in England were destroyed without mercy. But this massacre, so perfidious in the contriving, and so cruel in the execution, instead of ending the long miseries of the people* only prepared the way for greater calamities. 6. While the English were yet congratulating each other upon their late deliverance from an inveterate enemy, Sweyn, king of Denmark, who had been informed of their treacherous cruelties, appeared off the western coasts with a large fleet, meditating slaughter, and furious with revenge. Ethelred was obliged to fly into Normandy, and the whole country thus came under the power of Bweyn, his vie* torious rival. 7. Canute, afterwards surnamed the Great, succeeded Sweyn as king of Denmark, and also as general of the Danish forces in England. The contest between him and Edmund Ironside, successor to Ethelred, was managed with great obstinacy and perseverance : the first battle that was fought appeared indecisive; a second followed, in which the Danes were victorious ; but Edmund still having inter- est enough to bring a third army into the field, the Danish and English nobility, equally harassed by these convulsions, obliged their kings to come to a compromise, and to divide the kingdom between them by treaty.* 8. Canute reserved to himself the northern parts of the kingdom ; the sontbArii parts were left to Edmund ; but this prince being murdered about a month after the treaty, by his two chamberlains nt Oxford, Canute was left in peaceable possession of (he whole kingdom. A. D. 1017. Canutet is represented, by some histoiians, as one of (lie first characters in ihoae barbarous ages. The piety of (be * In the battle which was fought at Athelney, Edmund, perceiving Caiiiile at the head of his forces, rode off fiom bis own, and Canute advancing, a furious* combat ensued, in which (according to the author of ^e MtttiUia Historiee AngUcaius) Canute was wounded, and first raroposed fbrbeaniiice and this, it is said, led to the division of the kingdom. By Canute's accitniion to the throne, a termination was put to a war wiUi the Danes, which liad. almost Mnthout intermission, raged for 200 yean. t In the latter part of his life, to atone ior his many acts of violenw, he ouilt churches, endowed monasteries, imported relics, and made a pilgrroag« to Rime. i \ 9m HUTORY or INOLAND. latter ptrt of hit life, and the reaolute valour of the former, were tonice that filled the moutha of hia courtiers with flat- tery ana praiae. 0. They even aflected to think hia power uncontrollable, and that all things would be obedient to hia command. Canute, aenaible of their adulation, is said to have taken the following method to reprove them. He ordered hia chair to be set on the sea-shore while the tide was coming in, and commanded the sea to retire. 10. *' Thou art under my dominion," cried he, '* the land upon which I sit is mine ; I charge thee, therefore, to approach no farther, nor dare to wet the feet of thy sovereign." He feigned to sit some time in expectation of submission, till the waves began to surround him, then turning to his courtiers, he observed. That the titles of Lord and Master belonged only to Him whom both earth and seas were ready to obey. 11. Thus feared and respected, he lived many years, ho- noured with the surname of Great for his power, but de- serving it still more for his virtues. He died at Shaftes* bury,* in the nineteenth year of his reign, leaving behind him three sons, Sweyn, Harold, and Hardicanute. Sweyn was crowned king of Norway, Hardicanute was put in pos- session of Denmark, and Harold succeeded his father on the English throne. A. D. 1036. 12. To Harold succeeded his brother, Hardicanute, whose title was readily acknowledged both by the Danes and the English ; and, upon his arrival from the continent, ho was received with the most extravagant demonstrations of joy. This king's violent and unjust government was of but short duration. He died two years after his accession, in consequence of excess at the marriage of a Danish lord, which was celebrated at Lambeth. 18. The disorders of the Danish monarchs once more induced the English to place a monarch of the Saxon line upon the throne, and accordingly Edward, surnamed the Confessor, was by the general consent crowned king. A.D. 1041. The English, who had long groaned under a foreign yoke, now set no bounds to their joy, at finding the line of their ancient monarchs restored. 14. Xs he had been bred in the Norman court, he showed, m <2v?ry instance, a predilection for the customs, laws, and even the natives of that country ; and, among the rest of his faults, though he married Editha, the daughter of God * A market town in Dorsatshire. ■r- w I I HAKOLD. 97 win, yet either from miitaken piety, or fixed aversion, during his whole reign he abstained from her society 1* 1ft. Thus haviiiff no legitimate issue, and being wholly engrossed, during tne continuance of a lon^ reign, with the visions of superstiujn, he was at last surprised by sickness, which brought him to his end, on the 5th of January, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, and twenty-fifth of his reign. 16. Harold, the son of a popular nobleman, whose name was Godwin, and whose virtues seemed to give a right to his pretensions, ascended the throne without any opposition, fiut neither his valour, his justice, nor his popularity were able to secure him from the misfortunes attendant upon an ill-grounded title. His pretensions were opposed by Wil- liam duke of Normandy, who insisted that the crown be- longed of right to him, it being bequeathed to him by Edward the Confessor. t ^ •' < - < 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 9. 10 11. 13. 14. 15. 16. '■-■'' Questiona for Examination, By whose iatereat wm Edward the Martyr crowned king T Relate the cirountstancei attending the king's death. , , Who succeeded Edward ? What was the conduct of the Danes during Ethelred's reign t What method did Eihelred take to destroy the Danes f What was the consequence of Ethelred's perfidy 1 .> s By whom was Sweyn succeeded ? Did Canute reprove his courtiers for their flattery f ' > Repeat ttie words Canute made use of on this occasion. Where did Canute die ? and what issue did he leave ? Whom did the English place on the throne upon the death of Hardlcap nute? Where had Edward the Confessor been bred 7 and what prediiootioM had he in consequence ? How long did Edward reign t What were the pretensions of William duke of Normandy to the ^i^fgltiih throne ? SECTION V. Ah ! whn csD tell the horron nfthat day When Harold foil on the nninnguinml field ; / Where rank 'gain«t rank ruahetl on, in dread arrnf, With Jav'lin, arrow, baUle-axe, and ihield.— Brown. 1. (A.D. 1066.) William, who was afterwards called the Conqueror, was natural son of Robert, duke of Normandy. His mother's name was Arlette, a beautiful maid of Falaise, whom Robert fell in love with as she stood gazing at the door, while he passed through the town. William, who was ♦ This contributed to gain him the title of Saint and Confessor. t Edward the Confessor converted a small monastery into the beautiful cathedral called Westminster Abbey, where he built his own sepulchre, and which, until verv latelv. haa been thn uanoI hnrifil nlsce of th« EhbIuui and which, until very lately, has been the usual bur mouaifchB D place ci tud KMgiuui \ 8S IIIflTORV OF ENGLAND. tho oflspnnfif of tluH nmour, owed a part of hif pfieatnesi Ui hill birth, hut tttiil more to his o^wn porsonnl merit, t. His body WHS vigorous, his mind capacious and noblo, and his counigo not to ho ronrossed by apparent danger. Upon coming to ]iis dukeuom of Normandy, though yet very young, he on uU sides opposed his rebellious subjects, and repressed foreign invaders, while his valour and conduct f)revailed in every action. 8. The tranquillity which ho md thus established in his dominions induced him to extend his views ; and some overtures made by Edward the Con- fessor, in the hitter part of his reign, who was wavering in the choice of a successor, inflamed his ambition with a de- sire of succeeding to the English throne. 4. The popo himself was not beliind tho rest in favouring his pretensions ; and, either influenced by tho apparent justice of his claims, or by the hopes of extending tho authority of the church, he immediately pronounced Harold an usurper. With such favourable incentives, William soon found himself at the head of a chosen army of sixty thousand men, all equipped hi the most warlike and splendid manner. 6. It was in tho beginning of summer that he embarked this powerful body on board a fleet of three hundred sail ; and, after some small opposition from thu weather, landed at Povensey,* on tho coast of Sussex, with resolute tranquillity. 6. Harold, who seemed resolved to defend his right to the crown, and retain that sovereignty which he had received from the people, who only had a right to bestow it, was now returning, flushed with conquest, from defeating the Nor- wegians, who had invaded tho kingdom, with all the forces he had employed in that expedition, and all he could invito or collect in the country through which he passed. His army was composed of active and valiant troops, in high spirits, strongly attached to their king, and eager to engage. 7. On the other hand, the army of William consisted of the flower of the continent, and had long been inured to danger. The men of Britanny, Boulogne, Flanders, Poictou, Maine, Orleans, France, tnd Normandy, were all voluntarily united under his command. England never before, nor ever since, saw two such armies drawn up to dispute its crown. 8. The day before the battle, William sent an oflTer to Harold to decide the quarrel between them by single combat, and thus to spare the blood of thousands : but Harold re- fused, and said he would leave it to the God of armies to Both armies, therefore, that night pitched in A * A Bmnll town tn Subscx. determiur. HAROLD. 89 sight or each other, expecting the dawning of the day with iinpntionco. The English passed tlie night in songs and feaHling ; the Normans in devotion and prayer. (Oct. 13, 1006.) 0. The next morning, at seven, as soon as day appeared, both armies were drawn up in array ag^nst each other. Harold appeared in the centre of his forces, leading on his army on foot, that his men might be more encouraged, by seeing their king exposed to an equality of danger. William fought on horseback, leading on his army, that moved at once, singing the songs of Roland, one of the famous chiefs of their country. 10. The Normans began to fight with their cross-bows, which, at first, galled and surprised the English ; and, as their ranks were close, their arrows did gteat execution. But soon they came to closer fight, and the English with their bills hewed down their adversaries with great slaughter. Confusion was spreading among the ranks, when William, who found himself on the brink of destruction, hastened with a select band to the relief of his forces. 1 1 . His presence restored the suspense of battle; he was seen in every place, endeavouring to pierce the ranks of the enemy, and had three horses slain under him. At length, perceiving that the English continued impenetrable, he pretended to give ground, which, as he expected, drew the enemy from their ranks, and he was instantly ready to take advantage of their disorder. 12. Upon a signal given, the Normans immediately returned to the charge with greater fury than before, broke the English troops, and pursued them to a rising ground. It was in thif extremity that Harold was seen flying from rank to rank, rallying and inspiring his troops with vigour ; and though he had toiled all day, till near night-fall, in front of his Kentish men, yet he still seemed unabated in force or cou- rage, keeping his men to the post of honour. 13. Once more, therefore, the victory seemed to turn against the Normans, and they fell in great numbers, so that the fierceness and obstinacy of this memorable battle was often renewed by the courage of the leaders, whenever that of the soldiers began to slacken. Fortune at length de- termined a victory that valour was unable to decide. 14. Harold, making a furious onset at the head of his troops against the Norman heavy armed infantry, was shot into the brains by an arrow ; and his two valiant brothers. fiirhtinff by his side shared the same fatt. liu icil Willi HIS sword in his hand, amidst heaps of slain ; and, after the bat* \: 40 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ■;. I tie, the royal corpse could hardly be distinguished among the dead.* This was the end of the Saxon monarchy in England which had continued for more than six hundred years. CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popes. Benedict VIL... John XIV. John XV Gregory V Silvester II John XVI John XVII Sergins IV Benedict VIII John XVIII Benedict IX Gregory VI Clement II Damnsous II Leo IX Victor II Stephen X , Nicholas II Alexander II Al>. 975 984 985 996 999 1003 1004 1009 1012 1024 1033 1044 1046 1048 1049 1055 1057 1059 1061 Emperors of the East. A.D. BosiliusII 975 ConstantineX 1025 RomanuB III 1028 Michael IV. 1034 Michael V 1041 Constantino XI.... 1042 Theodore (em p.)... 1054 Michael VI 1056 Isaac Comnenus. . . 1059 Constantino XII... 1059 Emperors of the West OthoII 973 OthoIII 983 Henry II 1002 Conrad II 1024 Henry III 1039 Henry IV 1056 EMINENT PERSONS. Kings of France. A.D. Lothaire 1 954 Louis V 986 Hugh Capet 987 Robert II. 997 Henry I . Philip L. 1031 1060 Kings of Scotland. Culenus 972 Kenneth III 977 Constantino rV.... 1002 Grimus 1005 Malcolm II 1054 Duncan! 1031 Macbeth 1040 Malcolm III 1057 In the reigns of Edvoard the Martyr, Ethelred II. and Edmund : the duke of Mercia, who took part with Elfrida and the cler^, agaii "f the king. Dunstan, Ethelgar, Elfric, Siricius, Alphage, and Livnigus, archbishops of Canterbury. — In the reigns of Canute, Harmd, Hardicanute, and Edward the Confessor : Elnothus, Edsine, and Robert, archbishops of Canterbury. God. win, earl of Kent, whose estates being afterwards swallowed by inundations of the sea, are now denominated the Goodwin Sands. — In the reign of Harold II. : Leofwin and Gurf, brothers to the king. Stigand, archbishop of Canter* bury. Tosti, earl of Northumberland. > Questions for Examination, 1. Who was William the Conqueror 7 5. When and where did William land ? 6,7. Of what were the armies of Harold and William composed ? 8. How did the two armies pass the ni^ht previous to the oattle ? 9. In what way did Harold and William lead their respective armies to battle ? 11, 12, 13. Describe the conduct of William and Harold. 14. How did Harold fall ? How long did the Saxon monarchy continue in England ? * The English in this battle neither used the long-bow nor cross-bow, but both were used by the Normans. The English ^rces were nearly all in- fantrv, while by far the greater part of the Norman army was composed of cavalry. It is therefore probable, that to the want of cavalry, and the not using any missive weapons, may be in a great measure attributed the defeat of Harold's army. Certain it is, that tlie victory remained undecided from nine in the morning till the close of the day, when the death of the king, wha aad slain many Normans vv ith his own hand, finally turned the scale. " WILLIAM TUB CONQUEROR. 41 CHAPTER IV. WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. Born 1024. Died Sept. 9th, 1087. Began to reign Dec. 25tb, 1066. Reigned 21 yeara. ve armies to Williun the Conqneror rxeeWing the crown of England. ._, A furious victor'« partial will prevailed. All prostrate lay ; and, in the lecrel nhade. .,. ' Deep etung but fearful indignation gnashed His teeth. Thornton. 1. (A.D. 1066.) As soon as William passed the Thames at Wallingford, Stigand, the primate, made submission to him in the name of the clergy : and before he came within sight of the city, all the chief nobility came into his cajiip, and declared their intention of yielding to his authority. William was glad of being peaceably put in possession of a throne which several of his predecessors had not gained without repeated victories. ;: 2. But, in order to give his invasion all the sanction pos- sible, he was crowned at Westminster by the -archbishop of York, and took the oath usual in the times of the Saxon and Danish kings ; which was, to protect and defend the church, to observe the laws of the realm, and to govern the people with impartiality. Having thus secured the govern- ment, and by a mixture of rigour and lenity, brought the English to an entire submission, he resolved to return to the continent, there to enjoy the triumph and congratulations of his ancient subjects. D 2 V . M lliL,. \ 49 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 3. In tlie mean time the absence of the Conqueror in England produced the most fatal effects. His officers, being no longer controlled by his justice, thought this a fit oppor- tunity for extortion ; while the English, no longer awed by his presence, thought it the happiest occasion for vindicating their freedom. 4. The English had entered into a conspiracy to cut off their invaders, and fixed the day for their intended massa* ere, which was to be on Ash- Wednesday, during the time of divine service, when all the Normans would be unarmed as penitents, according to the discipline of the times. But William's return quickly disconcerted all their schemes ; and from that time forward he began to lose all confidence in his English subjects, and to regard them as inveterate and ir- reconcilable enemies. 5. He had already raised such a number of fortresses in the kingdom, that he no longer dreaded the tumultuous or transient efforts of a disconcerted multitude ; he therefore determined to treat them as a con- quered nation ;* to indulge his own avarice, and that of his follov/ers, by numerous confiscations : and to secure his power by humbling all who were able to make any resist- ance. 6. He proceeded to confiscate all the estates of the English gentry, and to grant them liberally to his Norman followers. Thus all the ancient and honourable families were reduced to beggary, and the English found themselves entirely excluded from every road that led either to honour or preferment. 7. To keep the clergy as much as possible in his inter- ests, he appointed none but his own countrymen ' to the most considerable church dignities, and even displaced Sti-' gand, archbishop of Canterbury, upon some frivolous pre- tences. William having crushed several conspiracies, and by punishing the malecontents, thus secured the peace of his dominions, now expected rest from his labouu ; and, find- * So mercilessly did he treat the people whom he had conquered, and so determined was he to incapacitate them from future resistance to his power, tiiat on the Northumbrians having revolted, in 1070, he gave orders to lay waste the iine fertile lands between the rivers Humbisr and Tees, for the ex- tent of sixty miles. Many flourishing towns, (ine villages, and noble country- seats were accordingly burnt down ; the implements of husbandry destroyed, and the rattle driven away. The great lord Lyttleton, speaking of these cruel devastations, and those occasioned by the " Forest laws," observes, that Attila did no more deserve the name of the "Scourge of God," than this merciless tyrant, nor did he, nor any other destroyer of nations, make more oavoc in an enemy's country than Vr illiuiu did in nis ovvn. r V WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 4ft ing none either willing or powerful enough to oppose him, he hoped that the end of his reign would be marked with prosperity and peace. 8. But such is the blindness of human hope, that he found enemies where he least expected them : and such, too, as served to imbitter all the latter part of his life. His last troubles were excited by his own children, from the opposing of whom he could expect to reap neither glory nor gain. Ho had three sons, Robert, William, and Henry, besides several daughters. 9. Robert, his eldest son, surnamed Curthose from the shortness of his legs, was a prince who inherited all the bravery of his family and nation, but was rather bold than prudent : and was often heard to express his jealousy of his two brothers, William and Henry. These by greater assiduity, had wrought upon the cre- dulity and affections of the king, and consequently were the more obnoxious to Robert. 10. A mind, therefore, so well prepared for resentment soon found or made cause for an open rupture. The princes were one day in sport together, and, in the idle petulance of play, took it in their heads to throw water over their elder brother as he passed through the court, on leaving their apartment. Robert, all alive to sus« picion, quickly turned this frolic into studied indignity: and having these jealousies further inflamed by one of his favour- ites, he drew his sword, and ran up stairs, with intent to take revenge. 11. The whole castle was quickly filled with tumult, and it was not without some difficulty that the king himself was able to appease it. But he could not allay the animosity which, from that moment, ever after prevailed in his family. Robert, attended by several of his confederatds, withdrew to Rouen that very night, hoping to surprise the castle, but his design was defeated by the governor. 12. The flame being thus kindled, the popular character of the prince, and a sympathy of manners, engaged all the young nobility of Normandy and Maine, as well as Anjou and Brit* tanny, to espouse his quarrel ; even his mother, it is said, sup- ported him by secret remittances, and aided him in this ob- stinate resistance by private encouragement. This unnatural contest continued for several years to inflame the Norman state, and William was at last obliged to have recourse to England, for supporting his authority against his son. 13 Accordingly, drawing an army of Englishmen together, he led them over to Normandy, where he soon compelled Robert and his adherents to quit the field, and he was quickly reinstated in all his dominions.* * In one of the battles between the forces of William and his «on Robnp \ 4t HISTORY OF ENGLAND. William had scarcely put an end to this transaction, wlier he felt a very severe blow in the death of Matilda, his queen ; and in addition to this domestic calamity, he received infor- mation of a general insurrection in the Norman government. 14. Upon his arrival on the continent, he found that the insurgents had been secretly assisted and excited by the king of France, whose policy consisted in thus lessening the Nor- man power, by creating dissensions among the nobles of its different provinces. William's displeasure was not a little increased by the account he received of some railleries which that monarch had thrown out against him. This so pro- voked the English monarch, that he sent him word, that he should soon set the kingdom of France in a flame. 15 In order to perform this promise, he levied a strong army,and, entering the isle of France, destroyed and burned all the villages and houses without opposition, and took the town of Mantua, which he reduced to ashes. But the pro- gress of these hostilities was stopped by an accident, which shortly after put an end to William's life. His horse chancing to place his fore-foot on some hot ashes, plunged so violently, that the rider was thrown for- ward, and bruised upon the pommel of the saddle to such a degree, that he suffered a relapse, of which he died, shortly after, at a little village near Rouen. — Sept. 9,1087.* ■>';■ CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS Popes. A.D. Alexander II 1061 Gregory VII 1073 Victor III 1086 JIEmperors of the East. Constontine XII.. . 1059 A.D. RomanusIV 1063 Michael VII 1071 Nicephorus 1 1078 Alexis 1 1081 Emperor of the West. HenrylV 1056 King of France. A.D Philip I...... 1060 Kings of Scotland. Malcolm III 1059 Donald VIII 1068 the latter happened to engage the king, whose face was concealed by ht« helmet, and, both of them being valiant, a fierce combat eii8ii«|d, till the yomig prince wounded his father in the arm, and unhorsed him: Oli his calling out for assistance, his voice discovered him to his son, whot struck with remorse, threw himself at his father's feet, and craved pardon for his offence ; but Wil- liam, who was highly exasperated, gave him his malediction. He was how ever, afterwards, reconciled to him, and on his return to England, Robert was Bu^'cessfully employed in retaliating an invasion of Malcolm, king of Scotland. * In this reign justices of the peace were first appointed in England. JTie Tower of London was built A general survey of all the lands of the kingdom made, their value, proprietors, quality of the soil, &c. and entered ill a register, called Doomsday-book, which is still preporved in the exche- quer, and is considered the most valuable monument of antiquity possessed by any nation. The curfew (or cover fire) trtiil established, at which signal aii tires and candles were arbitrarily exiinguisheu ai eight o'clock in ih« evening J ) WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 4i^ EMINENT PERSONS. Prince Edgar Atheling. Stigand and Lanfranc, archbishops of Canterbaiy. Edwin and Morcar, earu of JNorthumberland and Mercia. Questions for Examination, 1. In what manner was William received by the nobility and clergy f 2. Where and by whom was he crowned ? 4. What conspiracy did the English enter into? 5. In what way did William determine to treat his English subjecta f 6. 7. What measures did he adopt to degrade the English ? 9. What were the troubles which af<t cted WilUara? 10, 11. What frolic was it that led to lue serious consequences that followed t 12. Who espoused Robert's cause ? 13. What happened in one of tlie engagements between the ibrces of tho king and his son ? {See the note.) What inducement had the king of France to assist the insurgents? What caused William's death ? What valuable ancient record is preserved in the exchequer, and Vflai was its use? (See the note.) 15. CHAPTER V. WILLIAM RUFUS. ■'■-.>'■! Born 1060. Died August 2d. 1100. Began to reign Sept. 9th, 1067. Reigned 13} years. And that RH KiiiK, who, while or old ThrouKh Boidrewood the cha»e he led. By hi* loved huntsman'g arrow hle^.— Walter Scott. 1. (A.D. 1087.) William, surnamed Rufus, from the colour of his hair, was appointed, by the king's will, his successor, while the elder son, Robert, was left in posses- sion of Normandy. Nevertheless, the Norman barons were from the beginning displeased at the division of the empire by the late king : they eagerly desired a union as before, and looked upon Robert as the proper owner of the whole. A powerful conspiracy was therefore carried on against William ; and Odo, the late king's brother, under- took to conduct it to maturity. 2. William, sensible of the danger that threatened him, endeavoured to gain the affections of the native English, whom he prevailed upon by promises of future good treat- W HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ment, and preference in the distribution of his favours, to espouse his interests. 3. He was 8oon, therefore, in the field ; and, at the head of a numerous army, showed him- self in readiness to oppose all who should dispute his pre- tensions. In the mean time Robert, instead of employing himself in levies, to support his friends in England, squan- dered his resources away in idle expenses and unmerited benefits, so that he procrastinated his departure till the op- portunity was lost: while William exerted himself with incredible activity to dissipate the confederacy before his brother could arrive. 4. Nor was this difficult to effect ; the conspirators had, in consequence of Robertas assurances, taken possession of some fortresses ; but the appearance of the king soon reduced them to implore his mercy. He granted them their lives ; but confiscated all their estates, and banished them the kingdom. 5. A new breach was made some time after between the brothers, on which Rufus found means to encroach still farther upon Robert's possessions. Every conspiracy thus detected served to enrich the king, who took care to apply to his own use those treasures which had been' amassed for the purpose of dethroning him. 6. (A. D. 1097.) But the memory of these transient broils and unsuccessful treasons, was now totally eclipsed by one of the most noted enterprises that ever adorned the annals of nations, or excited the attention of mankind : I mean the crusades, which were now first projected. Peter the Hermit, a native of Amiens, in Picardy, was a man of great zeal, courage, and piety. 7. He had made a pilgrimage to the holy sepulchre at Jerusalem, and beheld, with indig- nation, the cruel manner in which the Christians were treated by the infidels, who were in possession of that place. He preached the crusade over Europe, by the pope's permission, and men of all ranks flew to arms with the utmost alacrity to rescue the Holy Land from the infidels, and each bore the sign of the cross upoii his right shoulder, as a mark of their devotion to the cause. 8. In the midst of the universal ardour that was diffused over Europe, men were not entirely forgetful of their temporal interests ; for some, iioping for a more magnificent settlement in the soft regions of Asia, sold their European property for whatever they could obtain, contented with receiving any thing for what they were predetermined to relinquish. 9. Among tlie princes who felt and acknowledged this general spirit -ij-.TT-T!^-i- y--'«ir":Tr. '^ 47 of enterprise, was Robert duks of Normandy. The cru- sade was entirely adapted to his inclinations and his circum- stances; he was brave, zealous^ ..uvetous of glory, poor, harassed by insurrections, and what was more than all, na- turally fond of change. In order, therefore, to supply money to defray the necessary charges of •lo expensive an under- taking, be offered to mortgage his dukedom in Normandy to his brother Rufus for a stipulated sum of money. 10. This sum, which was no greater than ten thousand marks, was readily promised by Rufus, whose ambition was upon the watch to seize every advantage. But though the cession of Maine and Normandy greatly increased the king's territories, they added but little to his real power, and his new subjects were composed of men of independent spirits, more ready to dispute than to obey his commands. 11. Many were the revolts and insurrec- tions which he was obliged to quell in person ; and no sooner was one conspiracy suppressed, than another rose to give him disquietude. However, Rufus proceeded, careless of approbation or censure ; and continued to extend his dominions, either by purchase or conquest. 12. The earl of Poictiers and Guienne, inflamed with the desire of going upon the cru- sade, had gathered an immense multitude for that expedi- tion, but wanted money to forward his preparations. He had recourse, therefore, to Rufus, and offered to mortgage all his dominions, without much considering what would become of his unhappy subjects that he thus disposed of. 13. The king accepted this offer with his usual avidity, and had prepared a fleet and an army, in order to take pos- session of the rich provinces thus consigned to his trust. But an accident put an end to all his ambitious projects : he was shot by an arrow that Sir Walter Tyrrel* di charged at a deer in the New Forest, which, glancing from a tree,t struck the king to the heart. 14. He dropped dead instan* taneously ; while the innocent author of his death, terrifiea • A French gontleman, remarkable for his skill in archery. t It is a no less interesting^ historical fact, than a botanical cunonty, abundantly proving the longevity of the oak, that this celebrated tree is now standing, though in the last stage of decay, near Maiwood Castle, in the centre of the New Forest It was first plea round by an order of Charles II The rampart which surrounds the Tower of London, and Westminster hall, are the principal monuments which remain of Rufus's reign. At Uio time of his death he was forty-two years of age, and had reigned thirteen. \ 48 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. at the accident, put spurs to his horse, hastened to the set- shore, embarked for France, and joined the crusade tbaV was then sttting out for Jerusalem. '■&■' CONTEMPORARY SOV£REIGN& Pope$. Victor III 1086 Urban II 1088 Pucalll 1099 Emperor$ qf the Eatt. A.V. Alexia 1 1081 Emperor of the Went. Henry IV 1056 King tjf JPVanee. A.D. Philip! 1060 King of Scotland. Donald VIII 1068 V}'*i ty^ , "* ' EMINENT PERSONS. Lanfranc and Anselm, archbishopa of Canterbury. Odo, bishop of Bayeux. Flamlard, bishop of Durham. ':X' :';^' Questions for Examination, 1. Who micceeded William the Conqueror T 2. By what means did .lufus induce the English to support his interest? 3. £tow did Robert employ his money ? 5. What was the conduct of the king on the detection of conspiracies against him? 7. Relate the origin of the crusades. 9. What is the character of the duke of Normandy ? 12. Who oflerp*! to mortgage his dominions to Rufus ? !& What cauKid the drath of Rufus? ■-*,•*--■ , , . ?S««-r ■f**-- M' t V r» ' ' !>•' L'\- CHAPTER VI. HENRY I. Born 1068. Died Dee. 9d. 113S. < W'-. B<*gan to reiga Aagvit 8th. IHNL 35 yeare. Uut who ihall teach my harp lo g afai lelfMi A louiHi of that romantic atrain ; Whoie AnfltcNnrman toma whilara, Cuuld win the royal Ilenry'a ear. — DihdM. 1. (A.D. 1100.) Henry, surnamed Beauclew,* the late king's younger brother, who had been hunting in the New Forest when Rufus was slain, took the earliest ad- vantage of the occasion, and hastening to Winchester, re- solved to secure the royal treasures, which he knew to be the best assistant in seconding his aims. The barons, as well as the people, acquiesced in a claim which they were unprovided to resist, and jrielded obedience, from the fear of immediate danger. -L '-''--' ^- ' 2. Henry, to ingratietediimself with the people, expelled from court all :he minister's of his brothers debauchery and arbitrary power. One thing only remained to confirm his claims without danger of a rival. The English remembered the Saxon monarchs with gratitude, and beheld them ex- cluded the throne with regret. 3. There still remained some of the descendants of that favourite line ; and amongst others, Matilda, the niece of Edgar Atheling ; which lady, having declined all pretensions to royalty, was bred in a convent, and had actually taken the veil. 4. Upon her Henry first fixed his eyes as a proper consort, by whose means the long breach between the Saxon and Norman in- terest would be finally united. It only remained to ffet over the scruple of her being a nun ; but this a council drjvoted to his interests readily admitted, and Matilda being pro- nounced free to marry, the nuptials were celebrated with great pomp and solemnity.! .; , : .. , , , , ; ^ ,.v 5. It was at this unfavourable juncture that Robert re- turned from abroad; and, after taking possession of his • "Henry wu i-Ued <Beauclerc,' from his attention to learning; he had heard his father sa/, that ' Illiterate kings were little better than crowned asses,' and determined not to come under that description." — Camdeiu t Queen Matilda was the delight of the English, both on account of her descent and goodness of heart To her we owe the first atone arched bridge* England ever possessed : she built two at Stratford, in Essex, (thence called De Arcubus, or Le Bow), where she had nearly been drowned Ibr want of such • convenience. ro H71T0RT or KNOLANO. native dominione, laid his claim to the crown of England. But proposals for an accommodation being made, it was stipulated that Robert, upon ;he payment of a certain sum* should resign his pretensions to England ; and that, if either of the princes died without issue, the other should succeed to his dominions. This treaty being ratified, the armies on each side were disbanded : and Robert, having lived two months in the utmost harmony with his brother, returned in peace to his own dominions. 0. But Robert's indiscretion soon rendered him unfit to gpvem any state ; he was totally averse to business, and fnly studious of the more splendid amusements or enjoy- ilients of life. His servants pillaged him without compunc- tion ; and he is described as lying whole days in bed for want of clothes, of which they had robbed him. 7. Hii subjects were treated still more deplorably ; for, being under the command of petty and rapacious tyrants, who plundered them without mercy, the whole country was become a scene of violence and depredation. It was in this miserable exi- J^ence that the Normans at length had recourse to Henry, rom whose wise administration of his own dominions, they expected a similitude of prosperity, should he take the reins of theirs. 8. Henry very readily promised to re- dress their grievances, as he knew it would be the direct method to second his own ambition. The year ensuing, therefore, he landed in Normandy with a strong army, took possession of the principal towns ; and a battle ensuing, Robert's forces were totally overthrown, and he himself taken prisoner, with nearly ten thousand of his men, and all the considerable barons who had adhered to his misfor- tunes. 9. This victory was followed by the final reduction of Normandy, while Henry returned in triumph to England, leading with him his captive brother, who, after a life of bravery, generosity, and truth, now found himself deprived not only of his patrimony and friends, but also his freedom. Henry, unmindful of his brother's former magnanimity with regard to him, detained him a prisoner during the remainder of his life, which was no less than twenty-eight years ; and he died in the castle of Cardiff, Glamorganshire. 10. It is even said by some, that he was deprived of his sight by a red-hot copper basin applied to his eyes ; while his brother attempted to stifle the reproa'3hes of his conscience, by founding the abbey of Reading, which was then considered a sufficient atonement for every degree of barbarity. RINRY 1. 51 1 1 Fortune now seemed to smile upon Henry, and pro- mise a long succession of felicity. He was in peaceable possession of two powerful states, and had a son, who was acknowledged his undisputed heir, arrived at his eighteentli year, whom ho loved most tenderly. His daughter Matilda was also married to tlio emperor Henry V. of Germany, and she had been sent to that court, while yet but eight years old, for her education. 12. All his prospects, however, were at once clouded by unforeseen misfortunes, and acci- dents, which tinctured his remaining years with misery. The king, from the facility with wnich he. usurped the crown, dreading that his family might be subverted with the same ease, t'^ok care to have his son recognized as his successor by the states of England, and carried him over to Normandy, to receive the homage of the barons of that duchy. 13. A(\er performing this requisite ceremony, Henry, returning triumphantly to England, brought with him a numerous retinue of the chief nobility, who seemed to share in his success. In one of the vessels of the fleet, his son and several young noblemen, the companions of his pleasures, went together, to render the passage more agree- able. The king set sail from Harfleur,* and was soon carried by a fair wind out of sight of land. 14. The prince was detained by some accident ; and his sailors, as well as their captain, Fitz-Stephen, having spent the interval in drinking, became so disor^^ od, that they ran the ship npon a rock, and immediately it was dashed to pieces. The prince was put into the boat and might have escaped, ha% he not been called back by the cries of Maude, his natural sister. He was at drst conveyed out of danger himself, but could not leave a person so dear to perish without an effort to save her. He, ttierefore, prevailed upon the sailors to row back and take her in. 15. The approach of the boat giving several others, who had been left upon the wreck, the hopes of saving their lives, numbers leaped in, and the whole went to the bottom. About a hundred and forty young noblemen, of the principal families of England and Nor- mandy, were lost on this occasion. A butcher of Rouen was the only person on board who escaped ; he clung to the mast, and was taken up the next morning by some fish- ermen. 16. Fitz-Stephen, the captain, while the butcher was thus buffeting the waves for his life, swam up to him and enquired if the prince was yet living ; when being told * A town of Normandy in France. \ 63 HISTORY OF ENOLANO. that he had perished, " then I will not outlive him," said the captain, and immediately sunk to the bottom. The shrieks of these unfortunate people were heard from the shore, and the noise even reached the king's ship, but the cause was then unknown. 17. Henry entertained hopes, for three days, that his son had put into some distant- port in England ; but when certain intelligence of the Calamity was brought to him he fainted away, and was never seen to smile from that moment till the day of his death, which followed some time after at St. Dennis, a little town in Nor- mandy, from eating too plentifully of lampreys, a dish he was particularly fond of. He died in the sixty-seventh year of his age, and the thirty-lifth of his reign, leaving by will his daughter Matilda heiress of all his dominions. . K. t' '^'l:^'- QueatioTu for Examination. 1. Oil the death of Rufiis, what wqb the conduct of Heniy T 2. What method did Henry take to ingratiate himself in hu lubjecti' ia* vour? K 4. To whom was Ifenry married t 5. Was there any Other claimant to the crown of England f 6. 7. What waa the conduct of Robert at this time, and to what diaaaten did it lead ? 9. In what wav was the captive^ilobert treated by his brother t 11. What was the situation of Henry at tliis time ? 12. For what purpose did Henry carry his son to Normandy f 15. Relate the fatal accident that betel many of the nobility. 17. What was the cause of the king's death ? rW CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popei. A. D. Pbseain 1099 Oelastiuall 1118 CahxtusII 1119 Honorius II 1124 innocent II 1130 Emperori of the East. MexisI 1081 JohnComnenus... A.D. 1118 Emperora of the Went. Henry IV...*. 1056 Henry V 1106 Lotharius 1125 Kinga of France. Philip 1 1060 EMINENT PERSONS. A.I>. Louis VI 1108 Kif^t of Scotland. Donald VIII 1068 Edgar. 1108 Alexander 1117 David 1124 Anselm and Radulph, archbishops of Canterbury. William Cnto, son of dn\e Robert of Normandy. Robert earl of Shrewsbury. The Empress Matilda.* * She was the only daughter and surviving legitimate child of Henry : she wns married to llenry V. emperor of Germany, but havnig become a widow in the year 1126, she returned to her father's court, and r()n:inued to receive the honorary title of empress. In the following year Henry, while rY'sjT^'^-w.-jl T**Vr^^''"*'F?-'' " tTEPMEN. CHAPTER VII. :*!« >Y> STEPHEN. Born 1104. Di«d Oct. SStb, 1154. Began to reign Dee. Mth, 113S. 18| yeari. Contendint armiM now Tor empire ficht, :^ ,.. And civil war diatrtcta Britaouia't ule; Matilda now aaaaria her reical right,— Now dauntioM Btepben'a caate ia aeen to iiaile. Tbda mad ambition prompu to deaperate deeda. Seignad ■■<^, Afl'j, Tur a phantom, thua a nation bleeda. — Maedtnala 1. (A. D. 1)35.) No sooner was the king known to be dead, than Stephen, son of Adela, the king's sister, and the count of Blois,* conscious of his own power and influence, resolved to secure himself the possession of what he so long desi-^d. He speedily hastened from Normandy, and ar- rivii ' 4t London, was immediately saluted king by all the lower ranks of people. 2. Being thus secure of the peo- ple, his next step was to gain over the clergy ; luid, for that purpose, his brother, the bishop of Winchester, exerted all his influence among them with great success.! Thus was Stephen made king by one of those speedy revolutions which ever mark the barbarity of a state in which they are customary. ■• 3. The first acts of an usurper are always popular. Ste phen, in order to secure his tottering throne, passed a char ter, granting several privileges to the difTeient orders of the state : — To the nobility a permission to hunt in their own forests ; to the clergy, a speedy filling of all vacant bene- fices; and, to the people, a restoration of the laws of Ed- ward the Confessor. To fix himself still more securely, he took possession of the royal treasures at Winchester, ' and had his title ratified by the pope with a part of the money. 4. It was not long, however, that Matilda delayed assert- v ing her claim to the crown. She landed upon the coast of '' in Normandy, became attached to Geoffry Martel, the young count of Anjou, \who had changed his name to Phtntagenet, from his custom of wearing in his helmet a bunch of flowering broom {pkmte-de-genit) instead of a phime , not content with becoming his godfather in chivalry, the king resolved that Matilda should receive the young count of Anjou as her second husband. This marriage was contracted without the consent of the estates of the realm* of England and Normandy ; being therefore deemed illegal, it afforded Ste- phen a pretext for usurping the throne.— William of Malmesbury. * A city in France. t "Stephen wasa man of great facetiousnewi, end much of his aucceas vi ' to be imputeu io the tamiliar pleasantry of Ids conversation."— Wittiam fl/ <* Mainutbury. B 2 -J^^ V 8^ HISTORY or ENOlAKD. Sussex, assisted by Robert earl of Gloucester, natural son of the late king. The whole of Matilda's retinue, upon this occasion, amounted to no more than one hundred and forty knights, who immediately took possession of Arundel , castle ; but the nature of her claim soon increased the num- I ber of her partisans, artd her forces every day seemed to I gain ground upon those of her antagonist. 5. Mean time* i Stephen being assured of her arrival, flew to besiege Arun- \ del, where she had taken refuge, and where she was pro- ■ tected by the queen dowager, who secretly favoured her ! pretensions. This fortress was too feeble to promise a long defence ; and would have soon been taken had it not been represented to the king that, as it was a eastle belonging to ; the qxieen dowager, it would be an infringement on the re- spect due to her to attempt taking it by force 6. 'inhere was a spirit of generosity mixed with the rude- ness of the times that unaccountably prevailed in many transactions. Stephen permitted Matilda to come forth in safety, and had her conveyed with security to Bristol , another fortress > equally strong with that from which he permitted her to retire. 7. It would be tedious to relate the various skirmishes on either side, in pursuance of their re- spective pretensions ; it will suffice to say that Matilda's forces increased every day, while her antagonist seemed every hour to become weaker : and a victory gained by the queen threw Stephen fronr the throne into a prison, and exalted Matilda in his room. Matilda was crowned at Winchester with all imaginable solemnity. . ~ 8. Matilda, however, was unfit for government. She affeeted to treat the nobility with a degree of disdain to which they had long been unaccustomed ; so that the fickle nation once more began to pity their deposed king, and repent the steps they had taken in her favour. The bishop of Winchester was not remiss in fomenting the»e discon- tents ; and when he found the people ripe for a tumult, detached a party of his friends and vassals to block up the city of London, where the queen then resided. 9. At the same time measures were taken to instigate the Londoners to a revolt, and to seize her person. Matilda, having timely notice of this conspiracy, fled to Winchester, whither the bishop, still her secret enemy, followed her, watching an opportunity to ruin her cause. His party was soon suf- ftciently strong to bid the queen open defiance, and to be- iicge her in the very place where she first received his %,- :■ X.' *^i '^•■^-,rj-~,:,y :-}■''"■-■ STEPHEN. 6& laturnl son nue, upon ndred and r Arundel i the num- leemed to :ean time* ege Arun- 5 was pro- cured her lise a long not been longing to )n the re- the rud'e- in many B forth in Bristol f which he relate the ' their re- Matilda^s It seemed ed by the rison, and owned at snt. She isdain to the fickle Ling, and le bishop discon- a tumult, ck up the 9. At the lOndonera ng timely ither the ching an iBoon suf- d to be- eived his ImpriMmiMnt pf kia( Stephen. ' :^^\<\ benediction. There she continued for some time ; but the town t ^\^_. pressed by a famine, she was obliged to « -escape ; while her brother, the earl of Gloucester, endea- vpuring to follow, was taken prisoner, and exchanged for Stephen, who still continued a captive. Thus a sudden revolution once more took place ; Matilda was deposed, and obliged to seek for safety in Oxford. Stephen was again recognized as the king, and taken from his dungeon to be replaced on the throne. 11. But he was now to enter the lists with a new op- poser, who was every day coming to maturity, and growing more formidable. This was Henry, the son of Matilda, who had now reached his sixteenth year; and gave the greatest hopes of being one day a valiant leader and a con- summate politician. 12. "With the wishes of the people in his favour, young Henry was resolved to claim his hereditary kingdom, and"! to dispute once more Stephen's usurped pretensions ; he ac- cordingly made an invasion on EYigland, where he was im- mediately joined by almost all the barons of the kingdom. 13. In the mean time, Stephen, alarmed at the power and populirity of his young rival, tried every method to anticipate the purpose of an invasion ; but finding it im- possible to turn the torrent, he was obliged to have recourse to treaty. It was, therefore, agreed, by all parties, that Stephen should reign during his life ; and that justice should T .' 56 HISTORY or ENGLAND. be administered in his name : that Henry should, on Ste* phen's death, succeed to the kingdom ; and William, Ste* phen's son, should inherit Boulogne and his patrimonial estate. 14. After all the barons had sworn to this treaty, which fiUe the whole kingdom with joy, Henry evacuated England ; iind Stephen returned to the peaceful enjoyment of his throne. His reign, however, was soon after termin- ated by his death, which happened about a year after the treaty, at Canterbury, where he was interred. Questions for Examination, , ^ i ; 1. Who succeeded Henry the first? ■. -.^; 2. What measures were taken to secure the throne t '' 3. What were the first acts of Stephen ? 4. Was there no opposition to Stephen ? 6. What was Stephen's condact towards Matilda? 7. Did Matilda succeed in recovering the throne ? 8. Had Matilda's conduct any serious consequences f 10. Whither did Matilda flee /or safety ? In what mannor did she escape? ]|. Had Stephen any new opposer? 12. Wh ) joined Henry when he invaded England ? 13. Of %trhat nature was the treaty between ue two parties ? CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popes. A.D. Celestinell 1143 Lucius II 1144 Eugenius III 1145 Aiustasius IV..... 1153 AdrianlV 1154 Emperors of the East. JohuConmenus.... 1118 A.D. Man. Comnenus... 1143 Emperors of the Wert Lothairell 1125 Conrad III 1138 Frederic 1 1152 EMINENT PERSONS. Kings of France. A.D. Louis VI 1108 Louis VII 1137 King of Scotland. David 1 1124 John of Salisbury, Heniy of Huntingdon, Roger de Hoveden, Geoffrey of Monmouth, (historians.) Curboil and Theobald, archhishops of Canterbury. Thurston, archbishop of York, and lieutenant to the king, who appointed Ktdph, bishop of Durham, his eeneral against the Scots. Robert, Earl of Gloucester, Ranulph, earl of Chester. -r""" f Ku..^^--i ^^9/ Of /'>.,e^ « HENRY II. 61 CHAPTER VIII. of France. A.D. ,...» 1108 • •• ll<fi 'Scotiand. 1124 1, Geoffrey of Canterbury. 10 appointed lert, Carl of •.:•»;'• HENRY n. Born 1]92. Died July 6th, 1189. Began to reign Dee. 8th, 1154.* Beigaed 34} yean. ■ ' ' "- ' ' SECTION I. "'..'">;{ , ,.;~ .,!., , With thee, Flantacenet, from eivil broita "-. ' A ' . <•:,: The land awhile respired, and all waiMaee; . , Then Becket row, and impotent of mioo, - 'i ' '<^.^ >' Bid murd'roiM prieita the lOT'reign frown contemn, .And, with unbaliow'd Crozier, bruiaed the crown. — tfJwMtoiM. i. (A.D. 1155.) The first act of Henry's governiq(nt th gave the people a happy omen of his future wise adminis- tration. Conscious of his power, he beg^' to correct those abuses, aiid to resume those privileges, which had been extorted I'rom the weakness or the credulity of his pre- decessors. He immediately dismissed those mercenary soldiers Tt'ho committed infinite disorders in the nation. 2. He rep "Tied many of those benefactions which had been made to churches and monasteries in the former reigns. He gave charters to several towns, by which the citizens claimed Iheir freedom and privileges, independent of any superior but himself. These charters were the ground- work of English liberty. The struggles which had before this time been, whether the king, or the barons, or the clergy, should be despotic over the people, now began to assume a new aspect ; and a fourth order, namely, that of the more opulent of the people, began to claim a share in administration. Thus was the feudal government first impaired; and liberty began to be more equally diffused througliout the nation. !' . ' 4. lEenry being thus become the most powerful prince of his age, the undisputed monarch of England, possessed of more than a third of France, and having humbled the barons that would circumscribe his power, he might na- turally be expected to reign with very little opposition ^or the future. But it happened otherwise. He found the seveiest mortifications from a quarter where he least ex- pected resistance. 6 The famous Thomas k Becket. the first man of Eng- lish extraction who had, since the Norman conquest, risen to any share of power, was the son of a citizen of London. * He wa« on the continent at the time of Stephen's death, and the conrjaeacement of his reign is dated from the day of iua landing in Englani \ V OV HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Having received his early educatior 'n the schools of that metropolis, he resided some time m Paris ; and, on his return, became clerk in the sherifTs office. From that humble station he rose, through the gradations of office, until at last he was made archbishop of Canterbury — a dignity 'jecond omy to that of the king.* 6. No sooner was he fixed in this high station, which rendered him for life the second person in the kingdom, than he endeavoured to retrieve the character of sanctity which his former levities might have appeared to oppose He was in his person the most mortified man that could be seen. He wore sackcloth next his skin. He changed it 80 seldom, that it was filled with dirt and vermin. His usual diet was bread ; his drink water, which he rendered farther unpalatable, by the mixture of unsavory herbs. 7. His back was mangled with frequent discipline. He every day washed on his knees the feet of thirteen beggars. Thus pretending to sanctity, he set up for being a defender of the privileges of the clergy, which had for a long time been enormous, and which it was Henry's aim to abridge. 8. An opportunity soon offered, and gave him a popular pretext for beginning his intended reformation. A man in holy orders had debauched the daughter of a gentleman in Worcestershire ; and then murdered the father to prevent * The parentage of this extrao.rdinaiy man was truly romantic. His &• ther, Gilbert Beck, or Becket, while serving as a private soldier in Palestine, was taken prisoner by a Saracen chief. He had the good fortune to engage the affections of his master's daughter, and by her aid made his escape. She soon after took the desperate resolution of quitting her home and country in search of the object of hor love, and though the only two words of any western language which she knew were London andf Gilbert, set out for Europe. By the aid of the former word she secured a passage on board an English vessel ; and when she was landed on the banks of the Thames, she ran from street to street, calling out the latter name, until chance brought her into the presence of Gilbert himself The strangeness of the event excited universal attention, and the young Saracen, after being baptized by the Christian name of Matilda, became the wife of Gilbert Becket. Thomas was their eldest son, and was educated in all the learning and accomplish- ments of the age. He was in early life taken under the patronage of Thibaut, or Theobald, archbishop of Canterbury, and by the favour of that prelate was permitted to enjoy indulgences which the Norman conquerors had pro- hibited to all of Saxon descent During the reign of Stephen, Becket and his patron were warm supporters of Henry's claim to the English crown, and in consequence he was rewarded at the commencement of the new reign with the high office of chancellor of England. In this situation he was distin- guished by his zeal in defence of the royal prerogative, and by the extrava- gant pomp and luxury of his establishment. Henry believing that the companion of his games, his wars, and even his debaucheries, would be subservient to his desires of limiting the power of the church, elevated Becket to Lie see of Canterbury, but found too late that he had only given \n the holy see a zealous champion, and to himself a dangerous witagonist. m ation, which he kingdom, r of sanctity i to oppose hat could be 3 changed it ermin. His he rendered avory herbs, cipline. He teen beggars, ig a defender a long time to abridge, m a popular . A man in gentleman in r to prevent ntiantic. His fa- ler in Palestine, rtune to engage lis escape. She 9 and country in o words of any bert, set out for ige on board an the Thames, she nee brought her e event excited baptized hy the ecket. Thomas and accomplish- nageofThibaut, of that prelate uerors had pro- , Becket and his h crown, and in new reign with B he was distin- by the extrava- ieving that the eries, would be lurch, elevated had only given »s «ntaiionist. HENRY II. W the effects of his resentment. The atrociousness of the crime produced a spirit of indignation among the people ; and the king insisted that the assassin should be tried by .he civil magistrate. This Becket opposed, alleging the privileges of the church. 9. In order to determine this matter, the king summoned a general council of the nobility and prelates at Clarendon, to whom he submitted this great and important affair, and desired their concurrence. These councils seem at that time convened rather to give authenticity to the king's de- crees, than to enact laws that were to bind their posterity. A. number of regulations were then drawn up, which were afterwards well known under the title of the Constitutions of Clarendon, and were then voted without opposition. 10. By these regulations it was enacted, that clergymen accused of any crime should be tried in the civil courts ; that laymen should not be tried in the spiritual courts, ex- cept by legal and reputable witnesses. These, with some others of less consequence, or implied in the above, to the number of sixteen, were readily subscribed to by all the bishops present : Becket himself, who at first showed some reluctance, added his name to the number. But Alexander, who was then pope, condemned them in the strongest terms ; abrogated, annulled, and rejected them. 11. This produced a contest between the king ari Becket, who, having attained the highest honours the monarch could bestow, took part with his holiness. In the midst of this dispute, Becket, with an intrepidity peculiar to himself, arraying himself in his episcopal vestments, and with the cross in his hand, went forward to the king's palace, and, entering the royal apartments, sat down, hold- ing up his cross as his banner of protection. 12. There he put himself, in the most solemn manner, under the pro- tection of the supreme pontiff ; and, upon receiving a re- fusal of permission to leave the kingdom, he secretly with- drew in disguise, and at last found means to cross over to the continent. The intrepidity of Becket, joined to his apparent sanc- tity, gained him a favourable reception upon the continent; both from the people and the governors. 13. The pope and he were not remiss to retort their ful- minations, and to shake the very foundation of the king's authority. Becket compared himself to Christ, who had been condemned by a lay tribunal, and who was crucified '■■■•• "•'•> I V <IW HISTORY or ENGLAND. anew in the present oppressions, under which the church laboured. But ha did not rest in complaints only. 14. He issued out a censure, excommunicating the king's chief ministers by name, all that were concerned in sequestering the revenues of his see, and all who obeyed or favoured the constitutions of Clarendon. Frequent attempts indeed were made towards an accom- modation ; hut the mutual jealousies which each bore the other, and their anxiety not to lose the least advantage in the negociation, often protracted this desirable treaty. ■ *{!'.*' i: V"! _ , : . , ; 1^. ' ' r .' ' If Queations for Examination, 1. What were (he first acta of Henry's power ? ' ' _■] 2. What was the ground- work of English liHrty f 4. Describe the possessions of Henry at this ume. .t.^^:- '.'"^ : 5. Who was Thomas k Becket 7 How did he rise to be archbishop of Canterbury 7 What was the character and manner of life of Becket 7 What proceeding took place at the council of Clarendon t What were these regulations 7 , II, 12. Describe Beckett conduct in the king's palace. 13. To whom did Becket compare himself 7 ana w^y7 14. How did Becket act 7 6. 9. 10. t;ii^'% SECTION II. Btill most that tonsue tome woandinr memge briog, Aod itill thy piieitly pride provoke iny kins. — Pove. 1. (A. D. 1170.) At length, however, the mutual aim of both made a reconciliation necessary ; but nothing could exceed the insolence with which Becket conducted himself upon his first landing in England. Instead of retiring quietl) to his diocese, with that modesty which became a man just pardoned by his king, he made a progress through Kent, in all the splendour and magnificence of a sovereign pontiff. 2. As he approached Southwark, the clergy, the laity, men of all ranks and ages, oai^ic fonh to meet him, and celebrated his triumphal entry with hymns of joy. Thus confident of the voice and hearts of the people, he began to launch forth his thunders against those who had been his former opposers. The archbishop of York, who had crcwned Henry's eldest son in his absence, was the first against whom he denounced sentence of suspension. 3. The bishops of London and Salisbury he actually ex- .^tmunicated. One man he excommunicated for having spoken against him; and another for having cut off tho tail of one of his horses. 4f5^''l .^i u wspy II. Vt tl d ^ OMth of Tbonai k Backet. Henry was then in Normandy, while the primate was thus triumphantly paradiug through the kingdom ; and it was not without the utmost indignation that he received information of his turbulent insolence..' 4. When the sus- pended and excommunicated prelates arrived with their complaints, his anger knew no bounds. He broke forth into the most acrimoi;iious expressions against that arrogant churchman, whom he had raised from the lowest station to be the plague of his life, and the continual disturber of his government. The archbishop of York remarked to him, that so long as Becket lived, he could never expect to enjoy peace or tranquillity : and the king himself burst out into an exclamation, that he had no friends about him, or he would not so long have been exposed to the insults of that ungrateful hypocrite.* 5. These words excited the atten- tion of the whole cr-ur't, and armed four of his resolute attendants to gratify th&^r monarch's secret inclinations. The conspirators being joined by some assistance at the place of their meeting, proceeded to Canterbury with all that haste their bloody intentions required. 6. , Advancing * The words made use of by the king on this occasion are said to be as follow : — " ' Is there not one oF the crew of lazy, cowardly knights, whom I maintain, that will rid me of this turbulent priest, who came to court but t'other day on a lame horse, with nothing but his wallet behind him?' Thia speech unfortunately animated to action Reginald Fitzurse, William de Tracy, Hugh de MorTil,8Dd Riol^rd Bnto"---Beringtw'$ LUt ^ Humuu P - I ' f-f' tW ,' T".,i ^l^^fivmvrm^.vpifrT^ysT^''''^ \ HISTORY or BKOLAND. directly to Becket's house* and entering his apartment, they reproached him very fiercely for the rashness and insolence of his conduct. During the altercation, the time approached for Becket to assist at vespers, whither he went unguarded, the conspirators following, and preparing for their attempt. 7. As soon as he reached the altar, where it is just to think he aspired to the glory of martyrdom, they all fell upon him ; and having cloven his head with repeated blows, he dropped down dead before the altar of St. Benedict,* which was besmeared with his blood and brains. -* 8. Nothing could exceed the king's coustemation upon receiving the first news of this prelate's catastrophe. He was instantly sensible that, the murder would be ultimately imputed to him : and at length, in order to divert the minds of the people to a different object, he undertook an expedi- tion to Ireland. A. D. 1172. ' 9. Ireland was at that time in pretty much the same situation that England had been after the first invasion of the Saxons. They had been early converted to Christianity ; and for three or four centuries after possessed a very large proportion of the learning of the times. Being undisturbed by foreign invasions, and perhaps too poor to invite the ra- pacity of conquerors, they enjoyed a peaceful life, which they gave up to piety, and such learning as was then thought necessary to promote it. 10. Of their learning, their arts, their piety, and even their polished manners, too many monuments remain to this day for us to make the least doubt concerning them ; but it is equally true, that in time they fell from these advantages ; their degenerate posterity, at the period we are now speaking of, were wrapped in the darkest barbarity. 11. At the time when Henry first planned the invasion of the island, it was divided into five principalities ; namely, Leinster, Meath, Munster, Ulster, and Connaught ; each governed by its respective monarch. As it had been usual for one or other of those to take the lead in the wars, he was denominated sole monarch of the kingdom, and pos- sessed of « power resembling that of the early Saxon mo- narchs in England. Roderic O'Connor, king of Connaught, was then ?tdvanced to this dignity, and Dermot M'Morrough was king of Leinster. 12. This last-named prince, a we^, licentious tyrant, had carried off the daughter of the king of * St Benedict, the founder of the religiouB order which bean his nure WM boro in Italy about the year 480, and early erobiaced a Mditaiy lift. .■/..H^^;^' M^ij^y/.-u T" ^#' . ff«V HENRY It. 68 Meath, who, being strengthened by the alliance of the king of Connaught, invaded Dermot's dominions, and expelled him from his kingdom. The prince, thus justly punished, had recourse to Henry, who was at that time in Guienne ; and offered to hold his kingdom of the English crown, in case he recovered it by the king's assistance. 18. Henry readily accepted the offer ; but being at that time embarras- sed by more near interests, he only gave Dermot letters pa- tent, by which he empowered all his subjects to aid the Irish prmce in the recovery of his dominions. Dermot, relying on this authority, returned to Bristol, where, after some dif- ficulty, he formed a treaty with Richard, surnamed Strong- bow, earl of Pembroke, who agreed to reinstate him in his dominions, upon condition of his being married to his daughter Eva, and declared heir of all his territory. 14. Being thus assured of assistance, he returned privately to Ireland, and f^oncealed himself during the winter in the monastery of x'erns, which he had founded. Robert Fitz- Btephens was the first knight who was able, in the ensuing spring, to fulfil his engagements, by landing with a hundred and thirty knights, sixty esquires, and three hundred arch- ers. 15. They were soon after joined by Maurice Pender- gast, who, about the same time, brought over ten knights and sixty archers ; and with this small body of forces they re- solved on beseiging Wexford, which was to be theirs by treaty. The town was quickly reduced ; and the adven- turers being reinforced by another body of men to the amount of a hundred and fifty, under the command of Maurice Fitz- gerald, composed an army that struck the barbarous natives with awe. 16. Roderic, the chief monarch of the island, ventured to oppose them, but he was defeated ; and soon after the prince of Ossory was obliged to submit, and give hostages for his future conduct. 17. Dermot being thus reinstated in his hereditary do- minions, soon began to conceive hopes of extending the limits of his power, and making himself master of Ireland. With these views he endeavoured to expedite Strongbow, who, being personally prohibited by the king, was not yet come over. Dermot tried to inflame his ambition by the glory of the conquest, and his avarice by the advantages it would procure. He expatiated on the cowardice of the natives, and the certainty of his success. 18. Strongbow first sent over Raymond, one of his retinue, with ten knights and seventy archers ; and receiving permission shortly after fnr dtt HIBTORT Of BNOLAND. himself, he landed with two hundred horse and a hundred archers. All these English forces, now joining together, became irresistible ; and though the whole number did not amount to a thousand, yet such was the barbarous state of the natives, that they were everywhere put to the rout. The city of Waterford quickly surrendered; Dublin was taken by assault ; and Strongbow toon after marrying Eva, accord- ing to treaty, beccme master of the kingdom of Leinster upon Dermot*8 decease. 19. The island being thus in a manner Wholly tubdu<)d. for nothing was capable of opposing the further progress «. ' the^nglish arms, Henry became willing to share in person those honours which the adventurers had already secured. 20. He, therefore, shortly after landed in Ireland, at the head of five hundred knights and some soldiers ; not so much to conquer a disputed territory, as to take possession of a kingdom. Thus, after a trifling effort, in wliich very little money was expended, and little blood shed, that beau- tiful island became, as it stills continues to be, an appendage to the British Cf^ym» Questtona for Examination, ife, 3. How dfd Becket conduct himself on his return to England 1 4. In what manner did Henry receive the complaints of Becket'i inaolence t 5, 6. What was the consequence of Henry's resentment ? 7. By what means did Henry divert the minds of the people T 9, 10. What was the situation of Ireland at this time ? — . 11. By whom was it governed ? 12. What occasioned the interference of Henry? . ' 13. What followed this interference? .' 15. What further means were taken to subdue Ireland f • >". . 18. What was the success of the English on their invading Ireland T SO. For what purpose did Henry go to Ireland } SECTION III. 7 V \ A maid unmateh'd in mannera ai in face, Skill'd in each art. and crown'd with every craee. ^ p0P«i '* 1. (A.D. 1173.) The joy which this conquest diffused was very great ; but troubles of a domestic nature served to render the remainder of Henry's life a scene of turbulence and disquietude. Young Harry, the king's eldest son, was taught to believe himself injured, when, upon being crowned as partner in the I'ingdom, he was not admitted into a share of the admi- nistration. 2. His discontents were shared by his brothers (reofirey and Richard, whom the queen persuaded to assert w HENRV II. 65 V ,^.. ^fi^-^.j.!^ , y ,^*5 * ■P >...., IImwj U. m hU pUgriiB«|t to CaaUrbory. their titles to the territories assigned them. Queen Eleanor herself wab meditating an escape to the court of France, whither her sons had retired, and had put on man's apparel for that purpose, when she was seized by the king's order and put in confinement. 3. Thus Henry saw all his lonij^ perspective of future happiness totally clouded ; his sons scarcely yet arrived at manhood, eager to share the spoils of their father's possessions ; his queen' warmly encouraging these undutiful princes in their rebellion ; and many poten> tales of Europe not ashamed to lend them assistance to sup- port these pretensions. 4. It was not long before the young princes had sufficient influence upon the continent to raise a powerful ro ii^^^deracy in their favour. Henry, therefore, knowing the iuhuence of superstition over the minds of the people, and perhaps ap- prehensive that a part of his troubles arose frcra the displea- sure of heaven, resolved to do penance at the shrine of St. Thomas, at Canterbury, for that was the name given to Becket upon his canonization. As soon as he came within sight of the church of Canterbury, alighting from his horse, he walked barefoot towards the town, and prostrated himself before the shrine* of the saint. Next day he received abso- lution ; and, departing for London, was acquainted with the * Here he was scourged by the monks, and passed the whole day and night "itating on the bore stones f2 66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. agreeable news of a victory over the Scots, obtained on the very day of his absolution. 5. From that time Henry's affairs began to wear a better aspect : the barons, who had revolted, or were preparing foi a revolt, made instant submission i they delivered up their Ciistles to the victor; and England, in a few weeks, was re- stored to perfect tranquillity. 6. You.ig Henry, who was ready to embark with a large army, to second the efforts of the English insurgents, finding all disturbances quieted a home, abandoned all thoughts of the expedition. This p-ince died soon after, in the twenty-sixth year of his age, o; a fever, at Martel, not without the deepest remorse for hia undutiful conduct towards his father. 7. As this prince left no posterity, Richard was become heir in his room ; and he soon discovered the same ardent ambition that had misled his elder brother. L crusade hav- ing been once more projected, Richard, who had long wished to have ail the glory oi such an expedition to himself, and who could not bear to have even his father a partner in his victories, entered into a confederacy with the king of France, who promised to confirm him in those wishes at which he 80 ardently aspired. 8. By this, Henry found himself obliged to give up all hopes of taking the cross, and com- pelled to enter upon a war with France and his eldest son, who were unnaturally leagued against him. 9. At last, however, a treaty was concluded, in which he ■WHS obliged to submit to many mortifying concessions : but still more so, when, upon demanding a list of the barons that it was stipulated he should pardon, he found his son John, his favourite child, among the number. He had long borne an infirm state of body with calm resignation. He had seen his children rebel without much emotion ; but when he saw that child, whose interest always lay next to his heart, among the number of those who were in rebellion against him, he could no longer contain his indignation. He broke out into expressions of the utmost despair ; cursed the day on which he had received his miserable being ; and be- stowed on his ungrateful children a malediction, which he never after could be prevailed upon to retract. 10. The more his heart was disposed to friendship and affection, the more he resented this barbarous return ; and now not having one corner in his heart where he could look for comfort or fly for refuge from his conflicting passions, he lost all his former vivacity. A lingering fever, caused by a broken HBNRT II. 07 heart, soon af jr terminated his life and his miseries. He died at the castle of Chinon, near Saumur, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, and the thirty-fifth of his reign , in the course of which he displayed all the abilities of a politician, all the sagacity of a legislator, and all the magnanimity of a hero ; sullied, however, by many instances of cruelty and perfidy, which were too commonly the characteristics of all the Plantaganets. — . Questionafor Examination. 2. By what means did Eleanor endeavour to escape ? 3. In what way were Henry's prospects of future happineas clouded f 4 What was the penance performed by Henry ? 5. At what time did the aHairs of Henry wear a better aspect ? 6. Who endeavoured to assist the insurgents ? 7. Did anotlier of Henry's sons enter into a conspiracy ? and what was the consequence? , . /-i.- 8. What were the misfortunes which led Henry to curse the day of IM birth, and to bestow a malediction on hui children ? 0. What caused the death of Henry t What was his character ? CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popes. A.D. Adrian IV* 1154 Alexander III .... 1159 JLiUciusIII 1181 Urban ril 1185 Gregory VIII 1187 Clement III 1188 En>-perora of the East. Man. Commenus . . 1 143 Alpxisll 1180 Andronicus 1 1183 Isaac Angelas. A.D. 1185 Emperor qf the Weat. Frederick 1 1152 Kings of France. Louis VII Philip Augustus 1137 1180 Kings of Portugal. Alphonso 1102 AD Sanchol 1180 King of Denmark WaldemarLt.... 1157 Kings of Scotland. David 1 1124 Malcolm IV 1153 William 1165 EMINENT PERSONS. Theobald, Becket, Richard, and Baldwin, archbishops of Canterbury Strongbow, earl of Pembroke ; William Longsword, earl of Salisbury ; Geof- frey, archbishop of York ; and Morgan, bishop of Durham ; natural sons of the king, the two former by Fair Rosamond, the latter by a daughter of Sir Ralph Blewett. Hugh Lacy, and Ralph de Glanville, justiciaries of Ireland and England. Bertrand de Boru-t * Pope Adrian was an f!ngiishman, by name Nicholas Breakspear : he wm choked by a fly in the fifth year of his popedom. — Med. Hist. August. t The regular succession and history of Denmark do not properly com- mence till the accession of Waldemar I. (called the Great,) who considerably enlarged and civilized the country. t Though not properly a subject of the English crown, this extraordinary man exercised no little mfluence on the fortunes of Henry. He was lord ol a small territory lying between the continental possessions of Henry and France : he saw tnat nis only hope ol retaining independence rested on tiio tontinued hostility of these great powers, and used all his eflTorts to keep them \ m HISTORY Of ENOLANO. 1 1 / CHAPTER IX. RICHARD I. Born 1157. Died April 6th, 1199. Began to reign August 13, IIBO. Reigned 9} years. Aninst whose fury and unmatched force I'he aweleaa lion could not wage Ihe fight Nor keep hii princely heart from Richard's hand.— SAaJUpsare. 1. (A. D. 1190.) Richard, surnamed Clg upon his ascending the throne, was still inflamed with the desire of going upon the crusade ; and at length the king, having got a sufficient supply for his undertaking, having even sold his superiority over the kingdom of Scotland, which had been acquired in the last reign, for a moderate sum, he set out for the Holy Land, whither he was impelled by repeated messages from king Philip II of France, who was ready to embark in the same enterprise. 2. The first place of rendezvous for the two armies of England and France, was the plain of Vevelay, on the borders of Burgundy, where, when Richard and Philip arrived, they found their# armies amounting to a hundred thousanjcl fighting men. Here the French prince and the English entered into the most solemn engagements of mu- tual support, and determined to conduct the a.Miies to the Holy Land by seat they were obliged, however, by stress of weather, to take shelter at Messina*, the capital of Sicily, where they were detained during the whole winter. 3. Richard took up his quarters in the suburbs, and possessed himself of a small fort, which commanded the harbour. Philip quartered his troops in the town, and lived upon good terms with the Sicilian king constantly at war. Bo'ng both a politician and a poot, he exaggerated the causes of quarrel whicii constantly arise between adjoining stales, and in bitter satires alternately reproached each government with cowaridly sub- mission to its rival. It was he that stimulated the sons of Henry to maiie war against their father, and young Henry especially was chiefly urged into the field by the satirical verses of Boru. After the death of the young prince, Henry besieged Bertrand's castle, and made him prisoner. When brought into the monarch's presence, the king sarcastically said to his captive, " I think, Bertrand, thy wit has failed thee." " Yes, my lord," replied Bertrand, " it failed mo on the day that the valiant young king, your son expired : on that day I lost sense, wit, and knowledge." Struck at the unexpected men- tion of nis son's name, the king fainted, and on his recovery granted Bertrand u full pardon. — History of the Troubadours. * This place sufTerea much by an earthq^uake in 1783. It is famous for its wines, and is the finest harbour in the Mediterranean. RICHARD I. 60 \, 1189. Reigned tpeare. nea with the th the king, king, having of Scotland, r a moderate was impelled France, who "^o armies of elay, on the . and Philip to a hundred nee and the nents of mu- (iinies to the '^er, by stress ital of Sicily, winter. 3. nd possessed the harbour, ed upon good exaggerated the g states, and in I cowardly sub- nry to make war r urged into the le young prince, When brought his captive, " I eplied Bertrand, son expired : on mexpected men- [ranted Bertrand is famous for its Many were me mistrusts and the mutual conciliations between these two monarchs, which were very probably inflamed by the Sicilian king's endeavours. At length, however, having settled all controversies, they set sail for the Holy Land, where the French arrived long before the English. 4. Upon the arrival of the English army in Palestine, however, fortune was seen to declare more openly in favour of the common cause. The French and English princes seemed to forget their secret jealousies, and to act in concert. But shortly after, Philip, from the bad state of his health, returned to France, leaving Richard ten thousand of his troops, under the command of the duke of Burgundy. 5 Richard, now left conductor of the war, went on from vic- tory to victory. The Christian adventurers, under his com- mand, determined to besiege the renowned city of Ascalon, in order to prepare the way for attacking Jerusalem with greater advantage. Saladin, the most heroic of the Saracen monarchs, was resolved to dispute their march, and placed himself upon the road with an army of three hundred thou- sand men. This was a day equal to Richard's wishes ; this an enemy worthy his highest ambition. 6. The Eng- lish crusaders were victorious. Richard, when the wings of his army were defeated, led on the main body in person, and restored the battle. The Saracens fled in the utmost confusion, and no less than forty thousand of their number perished in the field of battle.* Ascalon soon surrendered after this victory ; other cities of less note followed the ex- ample ; Richard was at last able to advance within sight of Jerusalem, the object of his long and ardent expectations. 7. But just at this glorious juncture his ambition was to' suffer a total overthrow : upon reviewing his forces, and considering his abilities to prosecute the siege, he found tRat his " y was so wasted with famine, fatigue, and even vic- tory, tliat they were neither able nor willing to second the • So celebrated was the courage of the English king. eVen in the enemy's army, and so dreaded was his name, that the Saracens would say to their restive horses, " What do you start at ? do you think you see king Richard i" Nor was his zealous industry less remarkable than his courage. To encou- rage the soldiers in repairing the ruined walls of Acre, Cceur de Lion not only laboured in person, but appointed hours for other leaders to work at the head of their men. All cheerfully obeyed, except the duke of Austria, who sent word that his father having boeu neither bricklayer nor mason, he had not learned either business. The English king, hearing this insolent speech related to his face by 4he haughty duke, kicked him but of hiB tent, and vraerea aa oanner to be disgraced. Brompton. II •70 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. views of their commander. 8. It appeared, therefore, abso* lutely necessary to come to an accommodation with Saladin ; and a truce for three years was accordingly concluded ; in which it was agreed, that the sea-port towns'of Palestine should remain in tlMTliandisySf the Christians ; and that all of that religion should be p^fniilffid to make their pilgrimage to Jerusalem in perfect security.)? 9. Richard having thus concluded his expedition with more glory than advantage, began to think of leturning home : but being obliged to return through Germany, in the habit of a p*ilgrim, he was arrested by Leopold, duke of Austria, who commanded him to be imprisoned, and loaded with shackles, to the disgrac&i)f honour and humanity. The emperor sooriafter required the prisoner to be delivered up to him, andjstipulated a large sum of money to the duke as a reward for Jii^ services. 10. 'Thu?,~lhe-king of England, who had long filfed- the world with his fame, was basely thrown into a dungeon, and loaded with irons, by those wh j expected to reap a sordid advantage from his misfortunes. It was a long time before his subjects in England knew what was become of their beloved monarch. 11. So little intercourse was there between different nations at that time, that this discovery is said by some to have been made by a poor French minstrel, who, playing upon his harp, near the fortress in which .Richard was confined, a tune, which he knew that unhappy monarch was fond of, he was an- swered by the king from within, who, with his harp, played the same tune, and thus discovered the place of his confine- ment. 12. However, the English at length prevailed upon this barbarous monarch, who now saw that he could no longer detain his prisoner, to listen to terms of accommodation. A ransom was agreed upon, which amounted to a hundred and fifty thousand marks, or one hundred thousand pounds of our money, upon the payment of which, Richard was once more restored to his expecting subjects. 13. Nothing could exceed the joy of the English upon seeing their monarch return, after all his achievements and sufferings. '* There was a magnanimity and generoeity in Saladin rarely seen. It v recorded, that once during this campaign, Richard was dangerously sick, and his disorder requiring fresh fruit, and snow to render it cool, the generous Saracen sent both in profusion, and thus saved the life of the omy foe he dreaded. (Vila Saladtna.) / ■/'•: ^f / .V ,/ / RICHARD t. 71 He made his entry into London in triumph: and such was the profusion of wealth shown by the citizens, that the German lords who attended him were heard to say, that if the emperor had known of their affluence, he would hot so easily have parted with their king. He soon after ordered himself to be crowned anew at Winchester. He convoked a general council at Nottingham, at which he confiscated all his brother John's possessions, who had basely endeavoured to prolong his captivity, and gone over to the king of France with that intent. However, he pardoned him soon after, with this jrenerous remark : " I wish I could as easily for? get my brother's offence as he will my pardon." 14. Richard's death was occasioned by a singular acci- dent. A vassal of the crown had taken possession of a treasure, which was found by one of the peasants in dig- ging a field in France ; and to secure the remainder, he sent part of it to the king. Richard, as superior lord, sensible that he had a right to the whole, insisted on its being sent to him ; and, upon refusal, attacked the castle of Chains, where he understood this treasure had been deposited. 15. On the fourth day of the siege, as he was riding round the place to observe where the assault might be given with the direst probability of success, he was aimed at by Bertrand te Gourdon, an archer, from the castle, and pierced in the shoulder with an arrow. The wound was not in itself dan- gerous ; but an unskilful surgeon, endeavouring to disen- gage the arrow from the flesh, so rankled the wound, that it mortified, and brought on fatal symptoms. 16. Richard, when he found his end approaching, made a will, in which he bequeathed the kingdom, with all his treasure, to his brother John, except a fourth part, which he distributed among his servants. He ordered also that the archer wh.i had shot him should be brought into his presence, and de- manded what injury he had done him, that he should take away his life? The prisoner answered with deliberate intre- pidity : 17. " You killed, with your o^'n hand, my fathejf and my two brothers, and you intended to have hangei ihe. I am now in your power, and my torments may giv. you revenge ; but I will endure them with pleasure, since it is my consolation that I have rid the world of a tyrant." Rich- ard, struck with this answer, ordered the soldier to be pre- sented with one hundred shillings, and set at liberty ; but M arcade, the general under him, like a true ruffian, ordered Ki^'.hard died in him to be flayed alive, and then nanged •.\- •iT/' -■ - TJl'^T f T2 HI9T0R1' OF ENGLAND. the t'^nth year of bis reign, and tlie forty-second of his age< lea'uig o>(ly one natural tson, named Philip, behind him. Questions for Examination, 1. With whom did Richard eiiibark for the cnuadea 7 2. Of wliat number did the viiiies consist? 4. On Philip's return if« Franco, who was left to conduct the war? 5. Who opposed Rirhuid on h'w inarch to besiege Jeru^-btem? 6. Can you repeat the particulars of the bf,.'le ? 8. What circuniBtaiic;e induced Richard to come to au ai^r>-»mmod-.u'v)n with Saladin? 9. In rotuming home, what hapr)er:<?ci to Ri«hnf;'. ? IL How was it discovered that FJeh^ird was a priKuner? ) 2. By what means did Richard recover his liberty ? 13. Who endeavoured to prolong Richard's captivil}'! and what was his re- mark on this o trasion ? i'; Can yov rel«i*j the mn^ular accident which caused t'l" de a th of Richard i .17. What w«;». Uie answei of the portion who shot the kiiJg OO^iTtMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Fopes. /.a Clemeiv Vjf.,..,. 1183 »:ele»tioeflI...... 1191 imocent/JI 1198 Emt>er>)T8 of the East. Isaac II 1186 A.D. AltxisIII 1195 Emperors of the West. Frederic! 1152 Henry VI 1190 Philip 1 1197 EMINENT PERSONS. Kings of France. Philip II, Portugal. San. I. Denmark. Can. V. 1182 Sco(/an(2.WUUamll65 A.D 1180 1180 Hubert, archbishop of Canterbun'. Henry Fitzalwjm, first lord mayor of London. William Loo^champ, bishop of Ely, regent in Richard's abiencA. tloh'm Hood and Little John, tie ceiebmted outlaws. 0«"' ,t J. u • *+ t~A- .k.L .. ^^ -ti^j^ 71 ..f. w r>'>* iccnnwaodtit'on with iA(l vih9X was his re- JOHN. OHAPTER X. ■j JOHN. ■ornlltf. Died October 7tli, ISlt. Began to Nifn April (Hh, UM. Etlgaii 17| yean. .. ' ""^ sECfrioN I. ■"'' ^'' •'■'■■ ^'■^. -'' '•"■'. ;■'■ 1 ';,■ Wiien foiihlei* John uiurp'd the •nllied crown, . , What ample tyrnrinjr! Bix todioua TBtii Our helpleMfHihora indwpairohey d . , . ,. ,, The Papal interdict; and whn obey d The Sovereign pluadei^d 1— /SAeiMieiw* 1. (A.D. 1190.) John,* who was readily put in pos- session of the English throne, lost no time to second his interest on the continent ; and his first care was to recover the revolted provinces from young Arthur, his nephew. But from the pride and cruelty of his temper, he soon be- came hateful to his subjects ; and his putting his nephew, who had a right to the crown, to death, with his own hand, m prison, served to render him completely hateful. - < .-^l .-j^ 2. Hitherto John was rather hateful to his subjects than contemptible; they rather dreaded than despised him. But he soon shewed that he might be offended, if not with- out resentment, at least with impunity. It was the fate of this vicious prince to make those the enemies of himself whom he wanted abilities to make the enemies of each other. The clergy had for some time acted as a community independent of the crown, and had their elections of each other generally confirmed by the pope, to whom alone they owed subjection. 3. However, the election of archbishopi had for some time been a continual subject of dispute be- tween tb€ surraofan bishops and the Augustine monks, and both had precedents to confirm their pretensions. John sided with the bishops, and sent two knights of his train, who were fit instruments for such a prince, to expel the monks from their convent, and to take possession of their revenues. 4. The pope w?s not displeased with these di- visions; aisd, intrad of electing either of the persons ap- pointed by tb ■ :,ontending parties, he nominated Stephen Lan^;on r archbishop of Canterbury. Tohn, however, refusing to admit the man of the pope's .'hoosing, the king- dom was put under an interdict. This instrument of terror in the hands of the see of Rome was calculated to strike ti'.t senses in the highest degree, and to operate upon ths ' Sum»m«d Sana Tern or LacJdani. Q u HISTORY OF ENGLAND. superstitious minds of the people. 5. By it a stop was im mediately put to divine service, and to the administration of all the sacraments but baptism. The church-doors were shut; the statues of the saints were laid on the grouL-lr the dead were refused Christian burial, and were thrown into ditches on the highways, without the usual rites, or any funeral solemnity. 6. No situation could be more deplorable than that of John upon this occasion. Furious at his indignities, jealous of his subjects and apprehending an enemy in every face, it is said that, fearing a conspiracy against his life, he shut himself up a whole night in the castle of Nottingham, and suffered none to approach his person. But what was his consternation when he found that the pope had actually given away his kingdom to the monarch of France, and that the prince of that country was actually preparing an army to take possession of his crown ! 7. John, who, unsettled and apprehensive, scarcely knew where to turn, was still able to make an expiring effort to receive the enemy. All hated as he was, the natural en- mity between the French and the English, the name of king, which he still retained, and some remaining power, put him at the head of sixty thousand men — a sufficient number indeed, but not to be relied on — and with these he advanced to Dover. 8. Europe now regarded the im- portant preparations on both sides with impatience ; and the decisive blow was soon expected, in which the church was to triumph or to be overthrown. But neither Philip nor John had ability equal to the pontiff by whom they were actuated ; who appeared on this occasion too refined a politician for either. He only intended to make use of Philip*s power to intimidate his refractory son, not to destroy him. 9. He intimated, therefore, to John, by his legate, that there was but one way to secure himself from impending danger; which was to put himself under the pope's protection, who was a merciful father, and still willing to receive a repentant sinner to his bosom. John was too much intimidated by the manifest danger of his situation not to embrace every means offered for his safety. He assented to the truth of the legate's remonstrances, and took an oath to perform whatever stipulation the pope should impose. 10. John having thus sworn to the performance of an unknown command, the artful Italian so well managecl the barqns, and so efieotually intimidated the king, that ht> ««>(MS» JOHN. 75 itop was !m ministration -doors were .he grouL'lr i-ere thrown iial rites, or lan that of lies, jealous every face, ife, he shut igham, and hat was his ad actually Prance, and eparing an rcely knew ig effort to natural en- e name of ing power, a sufficient with these ed the im- ience ; and the church her Philip 7hom they 00 refined ke use of 3n, not to hn, by his nself from under the itill willing m was too ) situation fety. He mces, and ope should $rformance 1 manage!^ Ig, that ho persuaded him to take the most extraordinary oath in all the records of history, before all the people, kneeling upon his knees, and with his hands held up between those of the legate. 11. "I John, by the grace of God, king of England, and lord of Ireland, in order to expiate my sins, from my own free will, and the advice of my baronn, give to the church of Rome, to pope Innocent, and his successors, the kingdom of England, and all other prerogatives of my crown. I will hereafter hold them as the pope's vassal. I will be faithful to God, to the church of Rome, to the pope my master, and his successors legitimately elected. I pro- mise to pay him a tribute of a thousand marks yearly ; to wit, seven hundred for the kingdom of England, and three hundred for the kingdom of Ireland." — 12. Having thus done homage to the legate, and agreed to reinstate Langton in the primacy, he received the crown, which he had been supposed to have forfeited, while the legate trampled under his feet the tribute which John had consented to pay. Thus, by this most scandalous concession John once more averted the threatened blow. In this manner, by repeated acts of cruelty, by expedi- tions without effect, and humiliations without reserve, John was become the detestation of all mankind. -m Qtieetions for Examination, 1. 2, What was the conduct of John on succeedins to the throne ? 3. Of what nature was the disa^eement between the king and tha clergy which produced such serious consequences to the nation f Why was the kingdom put under an interdict 7 ':'->.. What were the consequences of it ? - To what distress was John reduced ? ' , To what humiliating concessions did John submit f tl . What oath did the king take ? ' ,, 12. What degrading ceremony followed} ,. 4. 5. 6. 9. SECTION n. This IB the place '' Where Enxland's ancient barons, clad in arim. And stern with conquest, frooi their tyrant king ^ (Then rendered tame) did challentre and secure " The Charter of thy Freedom. — Akenside. _ .^ 1. (A.. D. 1215.) The barons had long been forming a confederacy ajpra'np' him ; but their union was broken, or their aims disa^ - ited, by various and unforseen accidents. A^ length however they assembled a large body of men at £.aniford, and from thence, elated with their power, they marched to Brackley, about fifteen miles from Oxford, the iiMittk. 76 HIirORY or ENGLAND. place where the court then resided. 2. John, Hearing of their approach, sent the archbishop of Canterbury, the earl of Pembroke, and others of the council, to know the parti- culars of their request and what those liberties were which they so earnestly iraportn»'r'i him to grant. The barons delivered a schedule, c;^.))<. ii.H^ the chief articles of their demands, and of v 'ticL ^h 'jrmei- charters of Henry and Edward the Confessor formed the ground-work. No sooner were those shown lo the king, than he burst into a furious passion, and asked why the barons did not also demand his kingdom ? swearing that he would never comply with such exorbitant demand I But the cr ^;^„.«^^ wa- now too strong to fear much from the consequences of his resent- ment. 8. They chose Robert Fitzwalter for their general, whom ihry dignified with the title of " mareschal of the army of '^od, and of the holy church," and proceeded, without fiirther ceremony, to make war upon the king. They besieged Northampton ; they took Bedford ; they were joyfully received in London. They wrote circular letters to all the nobility and gentlemen who had not yet declared in their favour, and menaced their estates with de* Tastation, in case of refusal or delay. '■ 4. John, struck with terror, first offered to refer all dif" ferences to the pope alone, or eight barons ; four to be chosen by himself and four by the confederates. This the barons scornfully rejected. He then assured them that he would submit at discretion ; and that it ^vas his supreme pleasure to grant all their demands : a '. .iiference was ac cordingly appointed, and all things adjusted for this most important treaty. 6. The ground wh're the king's co.nmissior.ers met the barons was between ^'taine» and \v mdsor,* at a place called Runimede, still held in reverence by posterity as the spot where the standard rf freedom was first erected in England. There the barons appeared with a vaat number of knights and warriors, on the fifteenth day of June, while those on the king's part came day or two after. Both aides encamped apart, like len i nemies. The de- bates between power and prec* • t ; e generally but of short continuance. 6. The barons, ha\ ing arms in their hands, would admit but a few abatements ; and the king's age .j» being for the most part in their interests, few debates " Here is the strongest castle in England : it was the general residence of bis iate miyjettjr, and was originally built by William the Conqueror. I' ! j^giaaki^^,^ IVUM. 7? King John eompclltd to ntify Ma(m Chute, ensu.J. After some days the king, with a facility that was somewhat suspicious, signed and sealed the charter required of him ; a charter which continues in force to this day, and is the famous bulwark of English liberty, which iK goes by the name of Magna Ciiarta. 7. This famous dec either gr; ited or secured freedom to those orders of the Jngdom that were already possessed of freedom ; namely, to the clergy, the barons, and the gentlemen : as for till inferior and the greater part of the people, they were as yet I eld as slaves, and it was long before they could come U participation of legal protection. 8. John, however, could not long brook these conces- sions that were extorted from his fears : he therefore took the first opportunity of denying to be the leas* governed by them. 9. This produced a second civil war, in which the baroits were obliged to have recourse to the king of France for assistance. Thus England saw nothing but a prospect of being every way undone. If John succeeded, a tyrannical and implacable monarch was o be their tormentor; if the French king was to prevail, the country was ever after to submit to a more powerful monarchy, and was to become a province of France. What neither human prudence could foresee nor policy suggest was brought about by a happy and unexpected accident. .3> r . o 3 78 M HIITORV or BNOLAND. 10. John hftd assembled a considerable army, with % ▼lew to make one great effort for the crown ; and at th« head of ■ large body of troops, resolved to penetrate into the heart of the kingdom. With these' resolutions he de- parted from Lynn, which, for its fidelity, he had distin- guished with man^ marks of favour, and directed his route towards Lincolnshire. His road lay along the shore, which was overflowed at high-water ; but not being apprised of this, or being ignorant of the tide of the place, he lost all his carriages, treasure, and baggage, by its influx. 11. He himself escaped with the greatest diflienlty, and arrived at the abbev of Swinstead, where his friof for the loss he had sustained, and the distracted state of his aflfairs, threw him into a fever, which soon appeared to be fatal. Next day, being unable to ride on horsebaekr he was carried in a litter to the castle of Seaford, and from th^noe .removed to New- ark, where, aAer having made his wflt ;hB died in the fifty- first year of his age, and the eighteenth of his detested reign.* 12. Seldom has any throne been disgraced by a monarch •o depraved as John ; before his accession he had rebelled affainst a fond ihther, and treacherously attempted the life of a generous brother : to secure himself on the throne he murdered his nephew, prince Arthur, and detained his niece, the princess Eleanora, in perpetual imprisonment. He repudiated one wife and imprisoned another, and Tiolated his faith to both with the most abandoned pro- fligacy. He showed his contempt for religion by habitually •wearing, and wantonly violating the most solemn oaths. If he was a bad man, he was a worse king ; he subjected himself to the ignominious yoke of Rome; he sufifered France to take possession of the Norman provinces, almost without a struggle; and at home he acted the part of a lustful and bloody tyrant, sporting with the honours, the fortunes, and the lives of his unhappy subjects. Yet, by the blessing of Providence, his tyranny became the source of the greatest benefits to posterity, since his intolerable oppressions drove the barons into rebellion, and procured them the great charter, which was the first foundation of British freedom. <f i.'fl^s.i ** -■ ' ^/^-."f^-i^^^' Vti * Kinur John once demanded 10,000 matki from a Jew of Bristol ; and, on hJN n<fusHl. ordered one of his teeth to be drawn every day till he should i-<>in{>ly The Jew lost seven teeth, and then paid the sum required of { *.^iV^ at* 1. Did the 8. What w 8. 1 What A, 6 Can y Magn & What pn 9. What gn 10. 11. Wha death 18. What wi ■•^fpn.f Pope, iJBI Innocent III. Honoriua III . m Emperor$ oj Mexulll... Alexis IV.... *• •{r.-n fV'^^^H Stephen U chapters and John de Cou Prince Arthui n^urdered. ^M hh '. :* ,:■;..' \»^-, M f w • I M od'if si .K-^;)»-:.k-/..' t ■ '^1 V I'l-i 2-5»^'': .-..fC't ■ r; '% Bon 1907. S :. it 1. (A.D John, in fa' who was n broke, a n % «Vll^i^ ^ ' miniY III. ^'^'^•"^ QiMStientfor Egamtnation, 7» 1. Did tli« barons wMemble an army in oppoaiUon to the king f S. What were their demanda f and what aniwer did the king ratum t * d, 4. What conaaqueiicea followed 1 ft, 6 Can you mention the circumatancea which attended the aigninf ot Magna CharU ? & What produced a lecond civil warf 9. What great eflbrt did John reaolve to make 7 10, 11. WFiat waa the accident which befel John, and accelaralad bii death T 18. What waa the character of John t ^n-^: CONTCMFORARY SOVEREIGNS. A.D. Innocent HI 119S llonoriualll 1215 Emperor$ of the Etui. Aleualll 1195 Alexia IV. 1S03 A.D. Alexia V 1204 Theodore I VOXt Emperon of the Wert. Phihp. 1197 OtholV 120B Frederic II 1211 A.D. /Vance. Philip II.. 1189 Portug. Sui^t. 1185 Adolphuall.. 1213 UtoikWatdemarll. 1902 Scotfami. WUUam. 1165 Alexander n. 1214 EMINENT PERSONS. Stephen Langton, orchbiahop of Canterbury ; be divided oor Bible into chapter! and venea. Robert Fitiwalter, eeneral of the barona' army John de Courcy, earl of Ulster, famoua for hia atrength and proweaa. Prince Arthur, nephew to the king, by whom he ia auppowd to have been murdered. i-» ,:*:: ^^ ,.Vji«. ■*»i.i i*l<i,« hr. .r>ri .■•J* ■ K-A.''i>: J* CHAPTER XI. HENRY m. ^laf' ,'ij:rjr.;ty, Bon 1907. Died Nor. 16th, 1373. Began to reign Oeteber 17tb, 1818. BeigM4 ■'•■Wii-'^.' M yeara. SECTION fuinan«, indulgent, kind ev'n to a halt; et wantint enorgr when caret aaault Hie reivn, though turbulent, an inatance bringa Of " Merc7 throned in the heart ot Jtinga."— DibUn. 1. (A.D. 1210.) A CLAIM was made upon the death of John, in favour of young Henry, the son of the late king, who was now but nine years of age. The earl of Pem- broke, a nobleman of great worth and valour, who had -i^-i<j t,'*.J(, ;.>-Ji»i, vi,.i-i- ,)■;-; (■ ^ t^t7*^.-,>. -• J|0 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. faithfully adhered to John in all the fluctuations of his for* tune, determined to support his declining interests, and had him solemnly crowned by the bishops of Winchester, Bath, and Gloucester. 2. The young king was of a character the very opposite to his father ; as he grew up to man's estate, he was found to be nfentle, merciful, and humane ; he appeared easy and good-natured to his dependents, but no way formidable to his enemies. Without activity or vigour, he was unfit to govern in war ; without distrust or suspicion, he was imposed upon in times of peace. 3. As weak princes are never without governing favour- ites, he first placed his affections on Hubert de Burgh, and he becoming obnoxious to the people, the place was soon supplied by Peter De Roches, bishop of Winchester, a Poictevin by birth, a man remarkable for his arbitrary con- duct, for hit) courage, and his abilities. Henry, in pursuance of this prelate's advice, invited over a great number of Poic- tevins, and other foreigners, who having neither principles nor fortunes at home, were willing to adopt whatever schemes their employers should propose. 4. Every office and com- mand was bestowed on these unprincipled strangers, whose avarice and rapacity were exceeded only by their pride and insolence. So unjust a partiality to strangers very naturally excited the jealousy of the barons ; and they even ventured to assure the king, that, if he did not dismiss all foreigners from court, they would drive both him and them out of the Kingdom ; but their anger was scarcely kept within bounds when they saw a new swarm of these intruders come over from Gascony, with Isabella, the king's mother, who had some time before been married to the count de la Marche. 5. To these just causes of complaint were added the king's unsuccessful expedition to the continent, his total want of economy, and his oppressive exactions, which were but the result of the former. The kingdom therefore waited with gloomy resolution, determined to take vengeance when the general discontent arrived at maturity. 6. This imprudent preference, joined to a thousand other illegal evasions of justice, at last impelled Simon Montforu, earl of Leicester, to attempt an innovation in the government, and to wrest the sceptre from the feeble hand that held it. This nobleman was the son of the famous general who com- manded agaii.st the Albigenses, a sect of enthusiasts that had been destroyed some time before in the kingdom o< Si- HENRY 111. 81 of his for* Bts, and had tester, Bath, jry opposite s was found 3d easy and idable to his fit to govern iposed upon ling favour- Burgh, and e was soon nchester, a bitrary con- n pursuance ber of Poic- r principles ver schemes ce and com- gers, whose ir pride and ry naturally en ventured 1 foreigners out of the hin bounds come over r, who had la Marche. the king's tal want of ere but the i^aited with when the isand other Montforu, )vernment, lat held it. who com- siasts that om o' Si- !''-l ^'; w4 voy. He was married to the king's sister ; and bj his power and address was possessed of a strong interest in the nation, having gained equally the affections of the great and the little. 7. 1 he place where the formidable confederacy which he had formedi first discovered itself was in the parliament house, where the barons appeared incomplete armour. The king, upon his entry, asked them what was their intention ; to which they submissively replied, to make him their sovereign, by confirming his power, and to have their grievances re- dressed. 8. Henry, who was ready enough to promise whatever was demanded, instantly assured them of his inten- tion to give all possible satisfaction ; and, for that purpose, summoned a parliament at Oxford, to digest a new plan ot government, and to elect proper persons who were to be in- trusted with the chief authority. This parliament, after- wards called the '* mad parliament," went expeditiously to work upon the business of reformation. 9. Twenty-four barons were appointed, with supreme authority, to reform the abuses of the state, and Leicester was placed at their head. The whole state in their hands underwent a complete alteration ; all its former officers were displaced ; and crea- tures of the twenty-four barons were put into their room. They not only abridged the authority of the king, but the efficacy of parliament, giving up to twelve persons all parlia- mentary power between each session. Thus these insolent nobles, after having trampled upon the crown, threw pros- trate the rights of the people, and a vile oligarchy was on the point of being established for ever. 10. The first opposition that was made to these usurpa- tions was from a power which but laiiely began to take a place in the constitution. The knights of the shire, who for some time had begun to be regularly assembled in a se- parate house, now first perceived these grievances, and com- plained against them. They represented that their own interests and power seemed the only aim of all their decrees ; and they even called upon the king's eldest son, prince Ed- ward, to interpose his authority, and save the sinking nation Questions for Examination, 1. Bv whom was the interest of the young king secured f 8. What is the character given of him ? {t. Who were his favourites } \ 82 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 4. By what menna did he excite the jealousy of the baroiu ? 6. Who attempted an innovation in tiie jgoveniment 7 7. What are the particulars of the conspiracy formed by the baroni? 9. In whom was the supreme authority vested ? 10. By whom were these usurpations opposed, and of what did they com> plain 7 SECTION II. The fitto of war. caprinioui, now ordaini, That Edward, Honry'a ion, ahall break hii chains.— D^din. 1. (A. D. 1264.) Prince Edward was at this time about twenty-two years of age. The hopes which were conceived of his abilities and his integrity rendered him an important personage in the transactions of the times, and in some mea- sure atoned for the father's imbecility. He had, at a very early age, given the strongest proofs of courage, of wisdom, and of constancy. At first, indeed, when applied to, ap- pearing sensible of what his father had suffered by levity and breach of promise, he refused some time to listen to the people's earnest application ; but, being at last persuaded to concur, a parliament was called, in which the king assumed liis former authority. 2. This being considered as a breach of the late conven- tion, a civil war ensued, in which, in a pitched battle, the earl of Leicester became victorious, and the king was takeii prisoner, but soon after exchanged for prince Edward, who was to remain as a hostage to ensure the punctual observance of the former agreement. With all these advantages, however, Leicester was not so entirely secure, but that he still feared the combination of the foreign states against him, as well as the internal machina- tions of the royal party. In order, therefore, to secure his ill-acquired power, he was obliged to have recourse to an aid till now entirely unknown in England, namely, that of the body of the people. 4. He called a parliament, where, be- sides the barons of his own party, and several ecclesiastics, who were not immediate tenants of the crown, he ordeied returns to be made of two knights from every shire ; and also deputies from the boroughs, which .had been hitherto consi- dered as too inconsiderable to have a voice in legislation. This is the first confused outline of an English house of commons. The people had been gaining some consideration since the gradual diminution of the force of the feudal •ystem. 5. This parliament, hovi^ever, wa.«j found not so very com HENRY III. 83 30 very com plying as he expected. Many of the barons, who had hi- therto titeadfaatly adhered to his party, appeared disgusted at his immoderate ambition ; and many of the people, who found that a change of masters was not a change for happi- ness, began to wish for the re-establishment of the royal family. 6. In this exigence, Leicester, finding himself unable to oppose the concurring wishes of the nation, was resolved to make a merit of what he could not prevent ; and he ac- cordingly released prince Edward from confinement, and had him introduced at Westminster-hall, where his freedom was confirmed by the unanimous voice of the barons. But though Leicester had all the popularity of restoring the prince, yet he was politic enough to keep him still guarded by his emis- saries, who watched all his motions, and frustrated all his aims. 7. The prince, therefore, upon hearing that the duke of Gloucester was up in arms in his cause, took an opportunity to escape from his guards, and put himself at the head of his party. A battle soon after ensued ; but the earl's army ha- ving been exhausted by famine on the mountains of Wcues, were but il] able to sustain the impetuosity of young Ed- vi^rd's attack, who bore down upon them with incredible fury. During this terrible day, Leicester behaved with as- tonishing intrepidity ; and kept up the spirit of the action from two o'clock in the morning till nine at night. 8. At last, his horse being killed under him, he was compelled to fight on foot ; and, though he demanded quarter, y^A the ad- verse party refused it, with a barbarity common enough in the times we are describing. The old king, who was placed in the front of the battle, v;as soon wounded in the shoulder ; and, not being known by his friends, he was on the point of being killed by a soldier; but crying out, ♦■ 1 am Henry of Winchester, the king !" he was saved by a knight of the royal army. 9. Prince Edward, hearing the voice of his father, instantly ran Ut the spot where he lay, and had him conducted to a place of safety. The body of Leisester being found among the dead, was barbarously mangled by one Ro- ger Mortimer; and then, with an accumulation of inhuma- nity, sent to the wretched widow, as a testimony of the royal party's success. 1 0, This victory proved decisive ; and the prince, having thus restored peace to the kingdom, found his affairs so firmly established, that he resolved upon taking the cros% which was at that time the highest object of human ambition T- -V 84 HISTOmr OF ENGLAND. ki In pursuance of this s^solution, ^dward sailed from £ng!> land with a large Vby* and arrived at the c^mp of Lewis, king of France, which lay before Tunis, where he had the misfortune to hear of that good monarch's death before his arrival. The prince, however, no way discouraged by this ^vent, continued his voyage, and arrived at the Holy Land n safety; '\ 11. He was scarcely departed upon this pious expedition, when the health of the old king began to decline ; and he found not only his own constitution, but also that of the state, in such a dangerous situation, that he wrote letters to his son, pressing him to return with all dispatch. 12. At last, being overcome with the cares of government, and the infirmities of age, he ordered himself to be removed, by easy iourneys, from St. Edmunds to Westminster, and that same night expired in the sixty-fourth year of his age, and the fifty-seventh of his reign ; the longest to be met with in the annals of England, until that of George the Third.* ,.'; 10. 11. 12, ^ • Questiorufor Examtnatton, 1. What were the circumstances which warrapted the hopes conceived by prince Henry 7 2. what was the result of the battle between the king and Ijoicester 7 3. 4. By what means did Leicester endeavour to secura his power ? 5. Did the Parliament comply with his wishes 7 6. Why did Leicester resolve to release prince Edward ? i 8, 9. Can yon relate the circumstance which took place in the action be* tween prince Edward and Leicester? What were Edward's determination and conduct after this victory 7 Durine Edward's absence, what was the situation of the king and the na-> tionf At what age did Henry die 7 and how long did he reign 7 * The interest paid in diis reign, for money in tne East Indies, amounted it is said, to twenty-five, and even sometimes to thirty-six per cent. But in- stances occurred in England of fifty per cent being paia for money. No wonder, therefore, that the Jews, who were the only money-lenders, should be tempted to stay in the kingdom, notwithstanding the grievous extortions that were practised on them. Henry granted a charter to the town of Newcastle, in which he gave the inhabitants a license to dig coal. The houses of the city of London were t'll this pei.od mostly thatched with straw , for it appears that an order was issued, that all houses therein fhould be covered with tiles or slate, instead ofntfaw; more especially such as stood in the best strecis, which were then but few m comparison with the present for where Cheapside now stands (which is the heart t ^ the city), was at that time a field, the principal part of the city lying more eastward. From Tem- ple Bar to the ci^ (then the ,.>.llaffe) of Westminister, where the Strand now stands, was no more than a mere highway or country road, hav'-og, however, many noblemen's houses and gardens adjoining to it ; which have since given nunes to streets there erected. This, indeed, was the case in several subse- quent reigns. t :m "iWAMIJ''M.'5'-"'^ from En;- p of Lewis, he had the I before his iged by this Holy Land expedition, ne ; and he that of the te letters to h. 12. At mt, and the red, by easy d that same gBj and the with in the i.* EDWARD I. CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS 16 Popes. A.D. HonoriuB III 1216 Gregory IX 1227 Celestine IV. 1241 Innocent IV 1243 Alexander IV 1254 UrbanlV 1261 Clement IV 1265 Gregory X 1271 Emperor* of the East. Theodore 1 1204 John III 1222 Theodore II 1225 John IV 1269 Michael Vr/I. A.D. 1259 Emperor of the West. Frederick U 1211 Kings of France, Philip II. 1180 Louis VIII 1223 St. Louis IX 1226 Philip III 1270 Kings of Portugal. AlphonsoIII 1202 SanchoII 1233 EMINENT PERSONS. AlphomusIV..... vUl Kings of Denmark. Waldemar. 1203 Eric VI 1240 Abel I..... 1&5Q Christopher I .... 1253 Eric VIII 1259 King of Sweden. Waldemar. 1250 Kings of Scotland. Alexander IT 1214 Alexander III 1249 Richard Magnus, Edmund of Abingdon, Boniface, and Robert Kilwarby archbishops of Canterbury. Des Roches, bishop of Winchester, and Lord Chancellor.* Earl of Pembroke, protector. Montford, earl of Leicester general of the barons. conceived bjr aicester 7 ower? the action be- victory? ng and the na- ea, amounted sent But in- money. No nders, should lUB extortions 1 he gave the hatched with lerein rhould such as stood 1 the present ), was at that From Tern. Strand now ng, hovvever, e smce given everal subse- CHAPTER Xn. ->-#• EDWARD L Born 1338. Died July 7th, 1307. Began to reign Nov. 16th, 1373. Reigned 34 years. Tho red crooi flies in Holy Land, The Saracen his crescent waves. And English Edward's Rallant band Seek proud renown or glorious gravea. — Dibdin. 1. (A.D. 1274.) While the unfortunate Henry was thus vainly struggling with the ungovernable spirit of his subjects, his son and successor, Edward*, was employed in the holy wars, where he revived the glory of the English name, and made the enemies of Christianity tremble. He was stabbed, however, by one of those Mahometan enthusiasts, called Assassins, as he was one day sitting in his tent, and was cured not without great difficulty^. 2. Some say that he * In the reigns of the earlier Norman kmes the Lord Chancellor v/em usually a clergyman, and was frequently styled the keeper of the king's conscience. Th« Court of Chancery did not exist under the Saxon Dynastv. t From the great length and slenderness of his legs, he was sumaoi^ Longshanks. ""■» H HISTORY 07 ENGLAND. owed his safety to the piety of Eleanora, his wife^ who sucked the poison from the wound, to save his life at the hazard of her own. Though the death of the late king happened while the successor was so far from home, yet measures had been so well taken, that the crown was transferred with the greates* tranquillity. 3. As Edward was now come to an undisputed throne, the opposite interests were proportionably feeble. The barons were exhausted by 'ong and mutual dissensions ; the clergy were divided in their interests, and agreed only in one point, to hate the pope, who had for some time drained them with impunity; the people, by some insurrections against the convents, appeared to hate the clergy with equal animosity. But these disagreeing orders concurred in one point, that of esteeming and reverencing the king, who therefore thought this the most favourable conjuncture for uniting England with Wales. 4. The Welsh had for many ages enjoyed t^eir own laws, language, customs and opinions. They were the remains of the ancient Britons, who had escaped Roman and Saxon invasions, and still preserved their free- dom and their country uncontaminated by the admission of foreign conquerors. 5. But as they were, from their num- ber, incapable of withstanding their more powerful neigh- bours on the plain, their chief defence lay in the inaccessible mountains, those natural bu^arks of the country. When- ever England was distresse(ffy factions at home, or its forces called off by wars abroad, the Welsh made it a constant practice to pour in their irregular troops, and lay the open country waste wherever they came. 6. Nothing could be more pernicious to a country than several neighbouring independent principalities, under different commanders, and pursuing different interests ; the mutual jealousies cf such were sure to harass the people ; and, whenever victory was purchased, it was always at the expense of the general wel- fare. 7. Sensible of this, Edward had long wished to reduce that incursive people, and had ordered Llewelyn to do ho- mage for his territories : which summons the Welsh prince refused to obey, unless the king's own son should be deli- vered as a hostage for his safe return. The king was not displeased at this refusal, as it served to give him a pretext for his intended invasion. He therefore levied an army gainst Llewelyn, and marched into his country with certain tissurance of success. :i._ .;v.. EDWARD 1. 87 vfifet who 8 life at the d while the lad been so the greates* iited throne, The barons ; the clergy 1 one point, 1 them with against the ! animosity. oint, that of jre thoufrht ig England jes eiijoyed ns. They lad escaped i their free- Imission of their num- erful neigh- naccessible When- or Its forces a constant ly the open g could be ighbouring mders, and ies of such dctory was eneral wel- d to reduce 1 to do ho- elsh prince Id be deli- ig was not ] a pretext an army dth certain 8. Upon the approach of Edward, the Welsh prince took refuge among the inaccessible mountains of Snowdon,* and and there resolved to maintain his ground, without trusting to the chance of a battle. These were the steep retreats that had for many ages defended his ancestors against all the attempts of the Roman and Saxon conquerors. But Edward, equally vigorous and cautious, having explored every part of his way, pierced into the very centre of Llewelyn's ter- ritories, and approached the Welsh army in its vast retreats. 9. Here, after extorting submission from the Welsh prince, the king retired. But an idle prophecy, in which it was fore- told by Merlin that Llewelyn was to be the restorer of Bru- ton's empire in Britain, was an inducement sufficiently strong to persuade this prince to revolt once more, and hazard a decisive battle against the English. 10. With this view he marched into Radnorshire, and, passing the river Wye, his troops were surprised and defeated by Edward Mortimer, while he himself was absent from his army, upon a confer- ence with some of the barons of that country. Upon bis return, seeing the dreadful situation of his affairs, he ran desperately into the midst of the enemy, and quickly found that death he so ardently sought for. David, the brother of this unfortunate prince, soon after fell in the same cause ; and with him expired the independence of the Welsh nation, A. D. 1282. 11. It was soon after united to the kingdom of England, and made a principality, and given to the eldest son of the king. Foreign conquest might add to the glory, but this added to the felicity of the kingdom. The -Welsh are now blended with the conquerors ; and, in the revolution of a few ages, all national animosity was entirely forgotten. 12. Soon after, the death of Margaret, queen of Scotland, gave him hopes of adding Scotland also to his dominions. The death of this princess produced a most ardent dispute about the succession to the Scottish throne, it being claimed by no less than twelve competitors. The claims, however, of all the other candidates were reduced to three, who were the descendants of the earl of Huntingdon by three daugh ters : John Hastings, who claimed in right of his mother, as one of the co-heiresses of the crown ; John Baliol, who alleged his right, as being descended from the eldest daugh- ter, who was his grandmother ; and Robert Bruce, who was * From the sumrnit of wliich may be seen part of Ireland, Scotland, EiMjk laiid, and all North Wales, HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Ballol ramadwinc bit crowa to Mwud h the actual son of the second daughter. This dispute being referred to Edward's decision, with a strong degree of as- surance he claimed the crown for himself, and appointed Balioi his deputy. 13. Balioi being thus placed on the Scottish throne, less a king than a vassal, Edward's first step was sufficient to con- vince that people of his intentions to stretch the prerogative to the utmost. Upon the most frivolous pretence, he sent six different summonses for Balioi to appear in London, at different times in one year ; so that the poor Scottish king soon perceived that he was possessed of the name only, but not the authority of a sovereign. Willing, therefore, to shake off the yoke of so troublesome a master, Balioi re- volted, and procured the pope's absolution from his former oath of homage. 14. But no power the Scots could bring into the field was able to withstand the victorious army of Edward. He overthrew their forces in many engagements, and thus be- coming undisputed master of the kingdom, he took every precaution to secure his title, and to abolish those distinc- tions which might be apt to keep the nation in its former independence. Balioi was carried a prisoner to London, and compelled to surrender his crown ; and Edward care- SHIy destroyed all records and monuments of antiquity tha inspired the Scots with a spirit of national pride. EDWARD I. 80 Questions for Examination 1. What disaster befel Edward in the Holy Land i 2. To whoee care is it said he oweH his life? 3. What was the situation of the .- ',, rHota at Edward's accession T 4. What waa the state of the Welsh ut this time? 5. What was the constant practice of the Welsh towards England ? 7. What method did Edward pursue to reduce Wales I 8. Wiiat was its success 7 9. What induced Llewelyn again to revolt? 10. What followed this defeat ? 11. To whom was the principality of Waleb given after its union with England t 12. What happened, at this time, that gave Edward hopes of adding Scotland to liis dominions? How many competitors claimed the Scottish throne? and what were tho names of the three prmcipal ? 13. Wliat method did Baliol take lo slinke off the yrl;e of Edward 15. What was the result of this struggle for independence ? SECTION II. Slil) are tho ScntR drtprmincd lo oppuse And treat intrudinv Edwnrd'a friendt n« foes ; Till the revoneel'iil king, in proud arruy, Swears to make Scotland bond beneath bii twny,— MaedontUd» I. (A. D. 1296. j These expeditions, however, terminated "ather in glory than advantage ; the expenses which were requisite for carrying on the war were not only burdensome to the king, but even, in the event, threatened to shake him on his throne. In order at first to set the great machine in motion, he raised considerable supplies by means of his parliaments, and that august body was then iiv t modelled by him into the form in which it continues to th' day. 2. As a great part of the property of the kingdom wab, by the in- troduction of commerce, and th? improvement of agricul- ture, transferred from the barons to the lower classes of the people, so their consent was now thought necessary for the raising any considerable supplies. For this reason he issued writs to the sheriffs, enjoining them to send to parliament, along with two knights of the shire (as in the ♦brmer reign), two deputies from each borough within their county ; and these provided with sufficient power from their constituents to grant such demands as they should think reasonable fo» the safety of the state. 3. One of the first efFoi -, therefore, was to oblige the king's council to sign the Magna Cha.'ta, and to add a clause to secure the nation for ever against all impositions and taxes without the consent of parli?ment. This the king's council (for Edward was at th;.t time in^ Flanders) readily agreed to sign ; and tb«* ' ■ it himself, when h2 '4- 00 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ' u it was sent over to him, after soino hesitation, thought pro per to do the same. ." , Thesr couccssioiis he again con- lir.ued after his return : and, though it is probable he '■"■nh averse to granting *!:cin, yet he was at last brought tr >; ' 9 a plenary consent to all the articles that were demanded of him. Thus, after the contest of an age, the Magna Charta was finally established ; nor was it the least circumstance in its Hivour, that its confirmation was procured from one of the greatest and boldest princes that ever swayed the Eng- lish sceptre. 6. In the mean time William Wallace*, so celebrated in Scottish story, attempted to rescue Scotland from the Eng- lish yoke. He was a younger son of a gentleman who lived in the western part of the kingdom. He was a man of a gigantic stature, incredible strength, and amazing intrepidity ; eagerly desirous of independence, and possessed with the most disinterested spirit of patriotism. To this man had resorted all those who were obnoxious to the English govern* ment ; tiie proud, the bold, the criminal, and the ambitious. 6. These, bred among dangers and hardships themselves could not forbear admiring in their leader a degree of pa tience under fatigue and Aimine, which they supposed beyond the power of hur.ar. nature to endure ; he soon, therefore, became the prinrin;,! objcctof their affection and their esteem. His first exploii^. w 're confined to petty ravages, and occa sional attacks upi>'i the English ; but he soon overthrew the English armies and slew their generals. 7. Edward, who had been over in Flanders while these misfortunes happened in England, hastened back with im- patience to restore his authority, and secure his former con- quest. He quickly levied the whole force of his dominions and at the head of a hundred thousand men directed his course to the north, fully resolved to take vengeance upon the Scots for their late defection. 8. A battle was fought at Falkirk, in which Edward gained a complete victory, leaving twelve thousand of the Scots, or as some will have it, fifty thousand, dead upon the field, while the English had not a hundred slain. A blow so dreadful had not as yet entirely crushed the spirit of the Scottish nation ; and after a short interval they began to breathe from their calamities. 9. Y/allace, who had gained * He was of an ancient family, and was chosen regent of Scotland during the captivity of Baliol. ^i^t*.((^ kj»_-i^iLiL/,_5jikL* EDWARD I. 01 noin\ ; and, i into the had im- ru *f JLnglish complete all their rej^ards by his valour, showed that he still meriti^d them more by his declining the rewards of ambition. Per- ceiving liow much ho was envied by the nobility, and know ing how prejudicial that envy would prove to the interestB of his country, he resigned the regency of the kinirdom, and humbled himself to a private station. 10. He jiroposed Cummin as the most proper person to supply his room ; and that nobleman endeavoured to show himself worthy of thii pro-eminence. He soon began to ann.jy not content with a defensive war, made inci southern counties of the kingdom, whir ^ agined wholly subdued. They attacked lying at Koslin, near Edinburgh, and gain victory. 11. But it was not easy for any circumstances of bad fortune to repress the enterprising spirit of the king. He assembled a great fleet and army ; and entering the frontiers of Scotland, appeared with a force which the enemy could not think of resisting in the open field. Assured of suc- cess, he marched along, and traversed the kingdom from one end to the other, ravaging the open country, taking all the castles, and receiving the submissions of all the nobles. 12. There seen\ed to remain only one obstacle to the final destruction of the Scottish monarchy, and that was Williao) Wallace, who still continued refractory : and wandering with a few forces from mountain to mountain, preserved his native independence and usual good fortune. But even their feeble hopes from him were soon disappointed ; he was betrayed into the king's hands by Sir John Monteith, his friend, whom he had made acquainted with the place of his concealment, being surprised by him as he lay asleep in the neighbourhood of Glasgow. 13. The king, willing to strike the Scots with an example of severity, ordered him to be conducted in chains to London, where he was hanged, drawn and quartered, with the most brutal ferocity. Robert Bruce, who had been one of the competitors for the crown, but was long kept prisoner i-n London, at length escaping from his guards, resolved to strike for his country's freedom. 14. Having murdered one of the king's servants, he left himself no resource but to confirm by desperate valour what he had begun in cruelty, and he soon expelled such of the English forces as had fixed themselves in \he kingdom. Soon after he was solemnly crowned king, by *he bishop of St. Andrew's, in the abbey of Scone ; and •i :# VT ir N^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V 1.0 1.1 11.25 ■^ 122 |Z2 1^ 12.0 III ^U4 Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 33 WiST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SM (716)«72-4S03 '4^ 'V- 4r ^ €n 93 niSTORY OF ENGLAND. numbers flocked to his standard, resolved to confirm his pretensions. 16. Thus, after twice conquering tlie king* dom, and as often pardoning the delinquent ; after having spread his victories in every quarter of we country, and receiving the most humble submissions j the old king saw that his whole work w?3 to begin afrf»s|i, i^i^d ^hat nothing ve him uldi repress verging g blow, iearance. n ; and pletest )ned his rvice, to as thM general ody of but the final destruction of thefinhabilanta cou assurance of tranquillity. Bui no difficulties d the ardent spirit of this monarch, who, though towards his decline, yet resolved to strike ^ pa and to make the Scots once n ore tremble at 16. He vowed revenge agalnot the whole averred that nothing but reducing them to the bondage could satisfy his resentment. He sumi prelates, nobility, and all who held by kni rht*s meet him at Carlisle, which was appointed rendezvous : and in the mean time he deta4hed forces before him to Scotland, under th^ command of Aymer do Valence, who began the threatened infliction by a complete victory over Bryce, near Methven, in Perythshire. 17. Immediately after this dreadful bloy^, the resentful king appeared in person, entering Scotland^ ^^^i ^^^ Wniy di- vided into two parts, and expecting to find , in the^oppoe^i- lion of the people, a pretext for punishing- tflp. ^ut this brave prince, who was never crliel [but fro (n nafotives of policy, could not strike the poor submittinjf ^ — made no resistance. His anger V^as disapp^i: humiliation; and he was ashamedytjp extirp only opposed patience to his indi^ii&tion. put an end to the apprehensions of tlie Scots, rescued their country from total subiection.y and died at Carlisle, of a dysentery : \njoining his last breath, to prosecute the entjeVprise, and never desist till he had finally subdued tne\ kingdom. He ex- pired July 7, 1307, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, and the thirty-fifth of his reign ; after having added more to the solid interests of the kingdom than any|OfJthose who went before or succeeded him. \ who in their those who His death d effectaallv e sickened lis son with to Questions for Examination, 1. What circutnatances led to the modelling the parliament inU> its presen form? 2. What waa the manner ob«erved in framing the parliament t , 3. What waa one of their first efforts ? i EDWARD I. m 6. 7. a 4. Was the king at first favourable to the measure ? 5. By whom was an attempt made to rescue Scotland from the English yoke? Who were the first adherents of Wallace ? With what number of troops did Edward march towards the north ? Did any engagement take place between the forces of Edward and Wallace? What was the issue of this enngement? 9. What was the conduct of WaUace afterwards ? 12. In what manner was Wallace afterwards surprised t 13. What was the manner of his death i' 14. What took place after Bruce's escape from London T 15. What was me conduct of the king on this occasion ? 18. Where dicvlh^ king die ? ai^ what enterprise did he enjoin his stm to pros^ciHA? / / / SOVEREIGN& Kinga of Dgnmark. Eric VII 1259 Eric VIII 1286 Kings of Sweden. Magnus II 1279 Birgerll 1299 Kings of Scotland. Alexander III.... 1246 JohnBaliol 1293 Robert Bruce..... 1306 Gregory Innocent V 127( Adrian V 1276 John XXI 1276 Nicholas III 1277 Martin IV. ....... 1281 HonoriusIV 1285 JNichoIasIV 1288 CelestineV 1294 Boniface VIII 1294 Benedict IX 1303 Clement v.. 1305 Emperors of the East Michael VIU. 1259 A.D. . 1283 Emperors hf the West. Frederic II* 1S12 RodolphuB 1 1273 Adolplius of Nassau 1291 Albert 1298 Kings of France. Philip III 1270 PhUipIV. 1285 Kings of Portugal. AdolphusIII 1247 Dennis 1275 "m EMINENT PERSONS. John Peckham, Robert Winchelsea, Walter Reynolds, and John Stratford archbishops of Canterbury. Richard, carl of Cornwall. Rodger Bigod, earl of Norfolk. Huraphn^ Bohun, earl of Hereford. John Plantagenet, earl of Warwick. Roger Bacon. Wicklifle.'i' * After the death of Frederic II. there was an interregnum in the Western empire until Rodolphus ; during which the following princes either reigned, or were elected : Conrad III. ; William, earl of Holland ; Richard, earl of Cornwall ; Edward IV. ; and Alphonso, king of Castile. — Lochman. t Wickliffe was the first preacher of the reformed doctrines in England , he was the author of a valuable translation of the New Testament, and of several able tracts on the usurpations of the Romish church. 'W ■iTVT-'"W*TT?='' \ 94 HZSTOBY OF BNOLAin). CHAPTER XIII. EDWARD IIw Born 1384. Died Bept. 31, 1337. Began to reign July 7, 1307. Reigned SM) yean. SECTION I. Immened in wll effeminaey'i down. The feeble prince liii ■ubjecu' food negleeta For minioM, who mooopoliie the crown. And itain the loeptre which their vice protect!. — DMain. 1. (A. D. 1307.) Edward, sumamed Caernarvon,* was in the -twenty-third year of his age when he succeeded his father ; of an agreeable figure, of a mild harmless disposi- tion, and apparently addicted to few vices. But*}fe soon gave symptoms of his unfitness to succeed^^Sorgreat a mo- narch as his father ; he was rather fond of the enjoyment of his power than of securing it, and lulled by the flattery of his courtier^, he thought he had done enough for glory when he accepted the crown. 2. Instead, therefore, of prosecuting the war against Scotland, according to the in- junctions he had received from his dying father, he took no steps to check the progress of Bruce ; his march into that country being rather a procession of pageantry than a warlike expedition. - 3. Weak monarchs are ever governed by favourites ; and the first Edward placed his affections upon was Piers Gavestone, the son of a Gascon k* ^t, who had been em- ployed in the service of the laV ig. The young man was adorned with every accompirmment of person and mind that was capable of creating affection ; but he was utterly destitute of those qualities of heart and understanding that serve to procure esteem. He was beautiful, witty, brave, and active ; but then he was vicious, effeminate, de- bauched, and trifling. These were qualities entirely adapted to the *aste of the young monarch, and he seemed to think no rewards equal to his deserts. 4. Gavestone, on the other hand, intoxicated with his power, became haughty and overbearing, and treated the English nobility, from whom it is probable he received marks of contempt, with scorn and derision. A conspiracy, therefore, was soon formed against him, at the head of which queen Isabel and the earl of Lancaster, a nobleman of great power, were associated. 5. It was easy to perceive that a combination of the nobles, while the queen secretly assisted their designs, * From the place of his birth, Caernarvon Castle in Wales. ititittMilWHMaHi riii'Sniiiiilii EDWARD It. 05 man and would be iOO powerful against the efTorts of a weak king and a vain favourite. The king* timid and wavering, banished him (A.D. 1312) at their solicitation, and recalled him soon after. This was sufficient to spread an alarm over the whole kingdom ; all the great barons flew to arms, and the earl of Lancaster put himself at the head of this irresistible confederacy. The unhappy Edward, instead of attempting to make resistance, sought only for safety : ever happy in the company of his favourite, he embarked at Teignmouth, and sailed with him to Scarborough, where tie left Gavestone as in a pla^c of safety, and then went back to York himself, either to raise an army to oppose his enemies, or by his presence to allay their animosity. 6. In the mean time, Gavestone was besieged in Scarborough by the earl of Pembroke ; and, had the garrison been sufficiently supplied with provisions, the place would have been im« pregnable. But Gavestone, sensible of the bad condition of the garrison, took the earlieist opportunity to offer terms of capitulation. He stipulated that he should remain in Pembroke's hands as a prisoner for two months ; and that endeavours should be used in the mean time for a general accommodation. 7. But Pembroke had no intention that he should escape so easily : he ordered him to be conducted to the castle of Deddington, near Banbury, where, on pre- tence of other business, he left him with a feeble guard, of which the earl of Warwick having received information, attacked the castle in which the unfortunate Gavestone wa« confined, and quickly made himself master of his pe^ison. The earls of Lancaster, Hereford, and Arundel were soon apprized of Warwick's success, and informed that their common enemy was now in custody in Warwick castle. 8. Thither, therefore, they hastened with the utmost expe- dition, to hold a consultation upon the fate of their prisoner. This was of no long continuance ; they unanimously re- solved to put him to death, as an enemy to the kingdom, and gave him no time to prepare for his execution. They instantly had him conveyed to a place called Blacklow-hill, where a Welsh executioner, provided for that purpose, severed his head from his body. d. To add to Edward's misfortunes, he soon after suf> fered a most signal defeat from the Scots army under Bruce, near Bannockburn ;* and this drove him once more to seek * Near Stirling, fidward was so mire of conquest, that he brought with him William Baston, a Carmelite, and a femous poet, to celebrate his victory. JtS \'' •6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i' Li y- ;, for relief in some favourite's company. 10. The name of his new favourite was Hugh de Spenser, a young man of a noble English family, of some merit, and very engaging accomplishments. His father was a person of a much more estimable character than the son ; he was venerable for his years, and respected through life for his wisdom, his valour, and his integrity. 11. But these excellent qua- lities were all diminished and vilified from the moment he and his son began to share the king's favour, who even dis- possessed some lords unjustly of their estates, in order to accumulate them upon his favourite. This was a pretext the king's enemies had been long seeking for : the earls of Lancaster and Hereford flew to arms ; sentence was pro- cured from parliament of perpetual exile against the two Spensers, and a forfeiture of their fortunes and estates. 12. The king, however, at last rousing from his lethargy, took the field in the defence of his beloved Spenser, and at the head of thirty thousand men pressed the earl of Lan- caster so closely, that he had not time to collect his forces together ; and, flying from one place to another, he was at last stopped in his way towards Scotland by Sir Andrew Harcla, and made prisoner. 13. As he had formerly shown little mercy to Gavestone, there was very little extended to him upon this occasion. He was condemned by a court- martial ; and led, mounted on a lean horse, to an eminence near Pomfret, in circumstances of the greatest indignity) where he was beheaded by a Londoner. 14> A rebellion, thus crushed, served only to increase the pride and rapacity of young Spenser ; most of the forfeitures were seized for his use ; and in his promptitude to seize the delinquents, he was guilty of many acts of rapine and injus tice.* Questions for Examtnation, 1. What was tlie disposition of £dward II. ? ' 2. What was his conduct in regard to Scotland 7 3. What was the character of Gavestone, the king's first fitvourite? 4. Who formed a conspiracy against the king ? 5. What was the conduct of the king on this occasion f * In the year 1315, the perpetual rains and cold weather having not only destroyed the harvest, but produced a mortality among the cattle, the parlia* ment endeavoured to moderate the prices of provisions. The rates establish- ed were, of our prAseqt money, as follows : for the best ox, not corn fed, 22 8s., corn fed, 31. I2i. ; a fat hog, two years old, XOs. ; a fat wether, unshorn 6»., shorn, 3s. 6d. ; • fitt goose, sevenpence halfpenny ; a fat capon, Gd-. ; a fa>. hon W.; two chiftkenB, 3if • four pigeons 3<Z. ; and twenty-fonr eggs. dd. t m iirtr'iit'"rimtti] EDWARD II r tt. Where wu Gavettone besieged} and on what condidona did ha sur render himaelf ? 7, 8. Were these condidona observed T and vi'hat was die conductor die no bles towards himt 9. What misfortune did Eldward experience in Scotland } 10. Who were die Spensers f 11. On what pretext did the king alBneniies fly to arms f 12. How did the lung act on this emergency 13. What was the manner of executing the earl of Lancaster t SECTION n. Mark what convulaiou h«av« hit jnartyr'd breast — Lemi$- I. (A.D. 1325.) But he was 4iow to oppose a more for- midable enemy in queen Isabella, a cruel haughty woman, who fled over to France, and refused to appear in England till Spenser was removed from the royal presence, and ba- nished the kingdom. By this reply she gained two very considerable advantages : she became popular in England, where Spenser was universally disliked ; and she had the pleasure of enjoying the company of a young nobleman, whose name was Mortimer, upon whom she had lately placed her affections, and whom she indulged with all the familiari- ties that her criminal passion could confer. 2. The queen's court now, therefore, became a sanctuary for all the male contents who were banished their own country, or who chose to come over. Accordingly, soon after, accompanied by three thousand men-at-arms, she set out from Dort* harbour, and landed safely, without opposition, on the coast of Suf- folk. She had no sooner appeared than there seemed a ge- neral revolt in her favour : and the unfortunate king found tho spirit of disloyalty was not confined to the capital alone, but diffused over the whole kingdom. 3. He had placed some dependence upon the garrison which was stationed in the castle of Bristol, under the command of the elder Spen- ser ; but they mutinied against their governor, and that un- fortunate favourite was delivered up, and condemned by the tumultuous barons to the most ignominious death. He was hanged on a gibbet, in his armour ; his body was cut in pieces and thrown to the dogs ; and his head was sent to Winchester, where it was set upon a pole, and exposed t(> the populace. * Dort, or Dordrecht, is a city of Holland, situated on an island of the Mouse. By an irnrption of the river Meuse, seventy-two villages and one hundred thousand persons were lost It is said to have been occasioned by the maUce of a man, who wished to inundate his neighbour's ground, by d<) Itroying the dyke near his house- I V#&.;, HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 4. Younff Spenser, the unhappy son, did not long survive his father ; he was taken, with seme others who had follow- ed the fortunes of the wretched king, in an obscure convent in Wales, and the merciless victors resolved to glut their revenge in adding insult to cruelty. The queen h»i not pa- tience to wait the formality of a trial, but oidered him imme- diately to be led forth before the insulting populace, and seemed to take a savage pleasure in feasting her eyes with his distresses. 5. The gibbet erected foi*his execution was fifty feet high ; his head was sent to London, where the citi- zens received it in brutal triump^i, i^d fixkl it on the bridge. Several other lords also shavc^ h^s fate ; alldeserving pity in- deed, had they not themselves formerly justified the present inhumanity by setting a cruel example. 6. In the mean time, the king, who hoped to find refuge in Wales, was quickly discovered, and delivered up to his ad- versaries, who expressed their satisfaction in the grossness of their treatment. He was conducted to the capital, amidst the insults and reproaches of the people, and confined in the Tower. A charge was soon after exhibited against him, in which no other crimes but his incapacity to govern, his in- dolence, his love of pleasure, and his being swayed by evil counsellors, were objected against him. His deposition was quickly voted by parliament ; he was assigned a pension for nis support : his son Edward, a youth of fourteen, was fix- ed upon to succeed him, and the queen was appointed regent during the minority. 7. The deposed monarch but a short time survived his misfortunes : he was sent from prison to prison, a wretched outcast, and the sport of his inhuman keepers. He had been at first consigned to the custody of the earl of Lancaster ; but this nobleman showing some marks of respect and pity, he was taken out of his hands, and delivered over to lords Berkeley, Montravers, and Goumay, who were intrusted with the charge of guarding him a month about. 8. Whatever his treatment from lord Berkeley might have been, the other two seemed resolved that he should enjoy none of the comforts of life while in their custody. They practised every kind of indignity upon him, as if their design had been to accelerate his death by the bitterness of his sufier- ings. (A.D. 1328.) But when his persecutors saw that his death might not arrive, even under every cruelty, till a revolution had been made in his favour, they resolved to rid themselves of their fears by destroying him at once. 9. Accordingly his two keepers, Goumay and Montraycrs, r^ IliilifcfliiiHflillflintfMi ^*i^ . ^ MMiMi^ COWARD III. 90 with came to Berkeley castle, where Edward waa then confined and murdered him by a most cruel and torturing procesSv which left no marks of external violence. Quettunu for Exammation, ^ ^ 1. What other enemy had Edwaid now to oppoae t 2. Was there any revolt in the queen'i fiivour 7 and by whom waa ah* M eompanied f 3. What happened to the elder Spenser f > 5. In what manner wai the younger Spenaer ezepntedt 6. What were the proceedinn against the king T 7. Did the kina long survive nis misfortuneaf 8. Can jrou relate the indignities practised uixmi him f 9. What waa the manner of the kmg'a muroer T and by whom mittedt it Popta. A.D. Clement V 1305 JohnXXIL 1316 Emperor a cf the EtuL AndroaiouaU..... 1283 Andronicus III.... 1320 EMotrvrt tfike WetL Albert 1 1296 HeniyVni 1304 CONTEMPORARY SOV£REIGN& JGmg$ ^Damark. I J. Lewis IV 1314 Kinga of JPVanoe. Philip IV. 1284 LewuX 1314 PhUipV 1316 CharlesIV. 1322 Kinga tf PortugaL Dennis. 1273 Alphonsus IV..... 1325 EMINENT PERSONS. A.n Erie Vin. ISBS Christopher II 1319 Khtga of SwaHen. Berger 21 1396 Mapius m. 1330 Kiiut ef SooUand. RobertBruce 130(i John Offbrd, archbishop of Canterbuty. Thomaa Plantagenet, earl of Lan- caster. Roger, lord Mortimer { Piers Gaveetoue and the two Speoaeiai fiio vouritea of ute king. CHAPTER XIV. EDWARD IIL VorniaiS. Died Jane 31, 1377. Seigaad aeariy Began to reign Sept SS, 1317. 90 years. . w- SECTION I. ^ * * ,,-■■■* With fbrm and aspect to eoaunand respeet, Wilfa mind, deiert and talent to protect, Edwara (treienti a model (o admire; " His raoieeto' hearts b«>fbre tbeli sorereign aena, ',] , , The wridow's guardian and the orphan's sire ; Foe to the vicious, to the good a Triend. — Dit 1. (A.D. 1337.) The parliament by which young Ed- ward was raised to the throne, during the life of his father appointed twelve persons as his privy counsel, to direct the operations of government. Mortimer, the queen's favourite. S 100 HISTORY or ENGLAND. f- who mignt naturally be set down as one of the members^ artfully excluded himself, under a pretended show of mode- ration ; but at the same time he secretly influenced all the measures that came under their deliberation. 2. He caused the greater part of the royal revenues to be settled on the queen-dowager, and he seldom took the trouble to consult the ministers of government in any public undertak- ing. The king himself was even so besieged by the fa- vourite's creatures, that no access could be procured to him, and the whole sovereign authority was shared between Mortimer and the queen, who took no care to conceal her criminal attachment. 3. At length, however, Edward was resolved to shake ofl an authority that was odious to the nation, and particularly restrictive upon him. But such was the power of the fa- vourite, that it required as much precaution to overturn the usurper as to establish the throne. The queen and Morti- mer had for some time chosen the castle of Nottingham for the place of their residence ; it was strictly guarded, the gates locked every evening, and the keys carried to the queen. 4. It was therefore agreed between the king and some of the barons, who secretly entered into his designs, to seize upon them in the fortress ; and for that purpose Sir William Bland, the governor, was induced to admit them by a secret subterraneous passage, which had been formerly contrived for an outlet, but was now hidden with rubbish, and known only to one or two. It was by this, therefore, the noblemen in the king's interest entered in the night ; and Mortimer, without having it in his power to make any re- sistance, was seized in apartments adjoining those of the queen. 5. It was in vain that she endeavoured to protect him ; in vain she entreated them to spare her ** gentle Mor- timer ;" the barons, deaf to her entreaties, denied her that pity which she had so often refused to others. Her para- mour was condemned by the parliament, (which was then sitting, without being permitted to make hisldefence, or even examining a witness against him. He was hanged on a gibbet, at a place called Elms, about a mile from London, where his body was left hanging for two days after. 6. The queen, who certainly was the most culpable, was shielded by the dignity of her station ; she was only\iisgraced from all share of power, and confined for life in the castle of Ris- ings, with a pension of three thousand pounds a year. From this confinement she was never after set free ; and though EDWARD III. 101 para- then even on a idon, The eldea from Ris- 'rom DUgh the king annually paid her a visit of decent ceremony, yet she found herself abandoned to universal contempt and de- testation ; and continued, for about twenty-five years after, a miserable monument of blighted ambition. 7. In order still more to secure the people^s affections, Edward made a successful irruption into Scotland, in which, in one battle, fought ^L-UaidsiLJiulL about thirty thousand of the Scots were slami poon after, he turned his arms against France, which was at that time particularly unfortu- nate. Three sons of Philip the Fair, in full parliament, ac- cused their wives of adultery ; and in consequence of this accusation, they were condemned and imprisoned for life. 6. Lewis Hutin, successor to the crown of France, caused his wife to be strangled, and her lovers to be flayed alive. After his death, as he left only a daughter, his nexi brother, Philip the Tall, assumed the crown in prejudice of the daughter, and vindicated his title by the Salic law, which laid it down that no female should succeed to the crown. Edward, however, urged his pretensions, as being, by his mother Isabella, who was daughter to Philip the Fair, and sister to the three last kings of France, rightful heir to the crown. But first he, in a formal manner consulted his par- liament on the propriety of the undertaking, obtained their approbation, received a proper supply of wool, which he intended to barter with the Flemings ; and being attended with a body of English forces, and several of his nobility, he sailed into Flanders, big with his intended conquests. 9. The first great advantage gained by the English was in a naval engagement on the '^ftaflt pf r ^^^firPr in which the French lost two hundred and thirty ships, and had^Trty thousand of theijMseaTireiranaTwO~«(-theiiL3C^^ 10. The intelligence of Edward's landing, and the devas- tation caused by his troops, who dispersed themselves over the whole face of the country, soon spread universal conster- nation through the French court. Caen was taken and plundered by the English without mercy ; the villages and towns, even up to Paris, shared the same fate ; and the French had no other resource, but by breaking down their bridges, to attempt putting a stop to the invader's career. 11. Philip, then king of France, was not idle in making pre- parations to repress the enemy. He had stationed one of liis generals, Godemar de Faye, with an army on the oppo- site side of the river Somnie, over which Edward wis to '«..?»■ I2 102 HISTORY or LNQLAND. pass ; while he himself, at the head of o ne hu ndred thou* ■and fighting men, advanced to give the EnglisTi bnltle. 12. As both armies had for some time been in sight of each other, nothing was so eagerly expected on each side as a battle; and although the forces were extremely dispropor- tionate, the English amounting only to t hirt^ Ahousandj . the French to a hundred and twenty thousand, yet Edward re- solved to indulge the impetuosity of his troops, and to put all to the hazard of a battle. He accordingly chose his ground with advantage, near the village o f Crecy^ * and there deter- mined to wail with tranquillity the shbclc of the enemy. He drew up his men on a gentle ascent, and divided them into three lines. The first was commanded by the young prince of Wales ; the second was conducted by the earls of North- ampton and Arundel ; and the third, kept as a body of re- serve, was headed by the king in person. 13. On the other side, Philip, impelled by resentment, and confident of his numbers, was more solicitous in bring- ing the enemy to an engagement than prudent in taking measures for its success. He led on his army in three bodies opposite to those of the English. The first line con- sisted of fifteen thousand Genoese cross-bow men, the second body was led by the king of France's brother, and he him- self was at the head of the third. Queationa for Examination, 2. By whom, and in what manner, were tlie operationa of the government conducted 7 4. What waa the conduct of the king at this time t 5. What waa the fate of Mortimer ? What waa the queen'a punishment 7 7. In what undertaking did fldward succeed ? 8. What ia the Salic law 7 9. What waa the first advantage gained by the Engliah 7 10. What did the English in France 7 11. What preparationa did the king of France make to oppoae Edward T 12. Where did Edward choose hia ground 7 How did he draw up his army 7 and who conducted it 7 13 How did Philip lead on hia army 7 "^Here the king of Bohemia waa alain, and the motto, " Ich dien," I terve, waa found under the ostrich feathera which he wore on hia helmet Edward, the Black Prince, adopted thia motto, and it haa ever aince continued to be the motto of the prince of Walea. At thia battle, cannon were fint made uae o£ EDWARD lit. 103 SECTION II. In Trequtnt ihnwera their ihafla tha ireliera hail'd. In hendloni eharie •iincoMlva hiwU uiatlM: Hut inoiiunlcM •• hit own itUnrt't roekt, Uiidauntitd Ldward met their tbrioui ■hooks.— CvoA*. 1. (A.D. 1346.) About three in the afternoon, the famous battle of Crecy began, by the French king's ordering the Genoese archers to charge ; but they were so fatigued with their march, that they cried out for a little rest before they should engage. The count Alen^on, being informed of their petition, rode up, and reviled them as cowards, commanding them to begin their onset without delay. Their reluctance to begin was still more increased by a heavy shower, which fell at that instant, and relaxed their bow-strings ; so that the discharge they made produced but very little effect. 2. On the other hand, the English archers, who had kept their bows in cases, and were favoured by a sudden glf'am of sun- shine, that rather dazzled the enemy, let ffy their arrows so thick, and with such good aim, that nothing was to be seen among the Genoese but hurry, terror, and dismay. The young prince of Wales had presence of mind to take advan- tage of their confusion, and to lead on his line to the charge. The French cavalry, however, commanded by the count Alen^on, wheeling round, sustained the combat, and began to hem the English in. 3. The earls of Arundel and North- ampton now came to assist the prince, who appeared fore- most in the very shock ; anil, wherever he appeared, turned the fortune of the day. The thickest of the battle was now gathered around him, and the valour of a boy filled even veterans with astonishment but their surprise at his courage could not give way to their fears for his safety. Being ap- prehensive that some mischance might happen to him at the end, an officer was despatched to the king, desiring that suc- cours might be sent to the prince's relief. 4. Edward, who had all this time, with great tranquillity, viewed the engage- ment from a windmill, demanded, with seeming deliberation, if his son were dead ; but being answered that he still lived, and was giving astonishing instances of his valour, *' Then tell my generals," cried the king, ** that he shall have no as- sistance from me ; the honour of the day shall be his ; let him show himself worthy of the profession of arms, and let him be indebted to his own merit alone for victory." 5. This speech, being reported to the prince and his attendants, inspired them with new courage ; they made a fresh attack upon the French cavalry, and count Alcn^on, their bravest :#i m 104 HISTORY OF GNOLANtk. King Bdwud HI. ud tlMbwgeMM of Calaitt commander, was slain. This was the beginning of their total overthrow ; the French, beinp- now without a compe* tent leader, were thrown into confusion ; the whole army took to flight, and were put to the sword by the pursuers without mercy, till night stopped the carnage. 6. Never was a victory more seasonable, or less bloody to the English, than this. Notwithstanding the great slaughter of the enemy, the conquerors lost but one squire, three knights, and a few of. inferior rank. But this victory was attended with still more substantial advantages ; for Edward, as moderate in conques* as prudent in his methods to obtain it, resolved to secure an easy en- trance into France for the future. 7. With this view he laid siege to Calais, at that time defended by John de Vienne, an experienced commander, and supplied with every thing necessary for defence. These operations, though slow were at length successful. It was in vain that the governor made a noble defence, that he excluded all the uselesb mouths from the city, which Edward generously permitted to pass. 8. Edward resolved to reduce it by famine, and it was at length taken, after a twelve months' siege, the de- fendants having been reduced to the last extremity. He re- solved to punish the obstinacy of the townsmen by the death of six of the most considerable citizens, who oflered them- selves, with ropes round their necks, to satiate his indigna- tion ; but he spared their lives at the intercession of the queen Mm 5!pi|l*IMp*.*i*'|'JiW>.ii" ,..v-,.,-.r.^>. I wji^KMIiii^ppiJj^^g,!^ EDWARD III. 105 9. While Edward was reaping victories upon the conti- nent, the Scots, ever willing to embrace a favourable oppor- tunity of rapine and revenge, invaded the frontiers with a numerous army, headed by David Bruce, their king. This unexpected invasion, at such a juncture, alarmed the English, but was not capable of intimidating them. 10. Lionel, Edward*s son, who was left guardian of England during his father's absence, was yet too young to take upon }iim the command of an army ; but the victories on the continent seemed to inspire even women with valour. Philippa, Ed< ward's queen, took upon her the conduct of the field, and prepared to repulse the enemy in person : accordingly, hav- ing made lord Percy general under her, she met the Scots at a place called Nevil's Cross, near Durham, and offered them battle. 11. Thft Scots king was no less impatient to engage ; he imagined .S-^.t he might obtain an easy victory against undisciplined troops, and headed by a woman. But he was miserably deceived. His army was quickly routed and driven from the field. Fift een t housand of his, fpen were cut to pieces ; and he himself, wllft" many of his nobles and knights, were taken prisoners, and carried in triumph to London, A.D. 1346. 12. A. victory gained by the Black Prince,* near Poictiers, followed not long after, in which John, king of Fra:;.ce, was takeii prisoner, and led in triumph through London, amidst an amazing concourse of spectators. Two kings, prisoners in the same court, and at the same time, were considered ds glorious achievements ; but all that England gained by them was only glory. "Whatever was won in France, with all the dangers of war, and the expense of preparation, was successively, and in a manner, silently lost, without the mortification of a defeat. 13. The English, by their frequent supplies, had been quite exhausted, and were unable to continue an army in the field. Charles, who had succeeded his father John, who died a prisoner in the Savoy, on the other hand, cautiously forbore to come to any decisive engagement ; but was con- tent to let his enemies waste their strength in attempts to plunder a fortified country. When they were tired, he then was sure to sally forth, and possess himself of such places as they were not strong enough to defend. 14. He first fell upon Ponthieu ; the citizens of Abbeville opened their gates to him ; those of St. Yalois, Rue, and Crotoy imitated the * Edward, the Prince of Wales, from the color of his armor. He was called the Black Prince, '''■ittiJfr;i..'-T--.Ji^-. _■ -'4.i:i!i*'.. :%,: 106 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. example ; and the whole country was, in a little time, re- duced to total submission. The southern provinces were, in the same manner, invaded by his generals with equal suc- cess ; while the Black Prince, destitute of supplies from England, and wasted by a cruel and consumptive disorder, was obliged to return to his native country, leaving the affairs of the south of France in a most desperate condition. 16. But what of all other things served to cast a gloom over the latter part of this splendid reign was the approaching death of the Black Prince, whose constitution showed but too manifestly the symptoms of a speedy dissolution. This valiant and accomplished prince died in the forty-sixth year of his age, leaving behind him a character without a single blemish ; and a degree of sorrow among the people that time could scarcely alleviate. ' 16. The king was most sensibly affected with the loss of his son, and tried every art to allay his uneasiness. He removed himself entirely from the duties and burdens of the state, and left his kingdom to be plundered by a set of rapa- cious ministers. He did not survive the consequences of his bad conduct, but died about a year after the prince, at Sheene, in Surrey, deserted by all his courtiers, even by those who had grown rich by his bounty. He expired in the sixty-fifth year of his age, and fifty-first of his reign, 1377 ; a prince more admired than beloved by his subjects, and more an object of their applause than their sorrow. 17. It was in this reign that the order of the Garter was instituted ; the number was to consist of twenty-four per- sons besides the king. A story prevails, but unsupported by any ancient authority, that the countess of Salisbury, at a ball, happening to drop her garter, the king took it up, and presented it to her with these words, " Hbni sot qui mal y pmse ;"—-*^ Evil be to him that evil thinks.'' This accictent, it is said, gave rise to the onler and the motto,* A. D. 1349. Edward left many children by his queen, Philippa of Hainhault. His eldest son, the Black Prince, died before * " Some do affinne, that this order beganne fyrst by king Richard Coeiir de Lion, at the aiege of the citie of Acres, where m his sreate necessytie there <va« but twenty-five knighto that firmlve and surelye abode by him, where he rauaed all of them to wear thon^os or blue ley there aboute their legges, and «ilerwsnls they were called knights."— /{a3tett'« Chronide. EDWARD in. 107 hitn ; but he left a son named Richard, who succeeded to the (hrone.* Quettiom for Examination, 1. Deicribe the situation and conduct of the Genoeae arohen. 5. What circumitances operated in favour of the Engluih arohen 7 What advantaf[e did the prince of Walea take of it? 3. What aatonishme brarery did the prince display T 4. What answer did the king make, when he was requested to send nlief to the. prince 7 6. How many did the English lose in the battle 7 8. How long did Edward besiege Calais 7 / ' 9. What did the Scots in the mean time 7 ' , ■ 10. What female prepared to repulse the enemy 7 . .' 11. What was the fate of the Scotch 7 12. What did England gain by its royal prisoners 7 14. What obligedthe Black Prince to return to England 7 15. What character is given of the prince 7 17. When was the order of the Garter instituted 7 What accident is said to have given rise to the institution of this order I CX>NT£MFORARY SOVERElGNa :...v:,^i.-* Pcpe$. A.D. John XII 1316 Benedict XI 1334 Clement VI 1342 Innocent VI I3d2 Urban V 1362 Gregory XI 1370 Emperort of the East. AndronicusIII.... 1320 John V 1341 John VI 1355 Emperors of the West. Louis IV 1314 Charles IV 1347 Kings of France. Charles IV 1322 Philip VI 1328 John I 1353 Charles V 1364 Kings of PortugaL Alphonsus IV.... 1325 Pedro 1 1357 Ferdinand 1 1367 Kings of Denmark. Christopher II.... 1319 EMINENT PERSONS. Waldemarlll... 1340 Olausin 197ft Kings (f Suteden. Magnus III 1390 Albert 1369 Kings of Scotland. Robert Bruce.... 1306 David II 1330 Edward Baliol... 1333 David II. (restor.) 1342 Robert (Stuart) II. 1370 ,.^.^ Thomas Bradwardin, Simon Islip, Simon Lansham, William Whittlesey, and Simon Sudbury, archbishops of Canterbury. Edward, the Black Prince. Tohn Lord Chandos. Latimer, the lord chamberlain, &c. *In this reign the statute of high-treason was first enacted. St Stephen*! chapel (now ue house of commons) was built, and Windsor castle changed from a fortress to a palace. .4" -^ "■ i08 HISTORY OF BNOLANO. CHAPTER XV. [ I RICHARD n. Born 1367. Depowd Sept. 30, 1390. Died Jan. 10, 1400. Began to rein June Si, 1377. Beigned 33^ yean. SECTION I. 'i ,, Sprang from a lire and grandiire of renown, X et be waa acarce deMrnng of a orown. — Egerton. 1. (A. D. 1377.) Richard the Second was but eleven years old when he came to the throne of his grandfather, and found the people discontented and poor, the nobles proud and rebellious. As he was a minor, the government was vested in the hands of his three uncles, the dukes of Lancaster, York, and Gloucester ; and as the late king had left the kingdom involved in many dangerous and expensive wars, which demanded large and constant supplies, the murmurs of the people increased in proportion. 2. The expenses of armaments to face the enemy on every side, and a want of economy in the administration, entirely ex- hausted the treasury ; and a new tax of three groats on every person above fifteen was granted by parliament as a supply. The indignation of the people had been for some time increasing ; but a tax so unequitable, in which the rich paid no more than the poor, kindled the resentment of the latter into a flame. 3. It began in Essex, where a report was industriously spread that the peasants were to be destroyed, their houses burned, and their farms plundered. A blacksmith, well known by the name of Wat Tyler, was the first that incited them to arms. The tax-gatherers, coming to this man's house while he was at work, demanded payment for his daughter, which he refused, alleging she was under the age mentioned in the act. 4. One of the brutal collectors insisted on her being a full-grown woman, and behaved in the most indecent manner. This provoked the father to such a degree, that he instantly struck him dead with a blow of his hammer. The standers-by ap- plauded his spirit, and one and all resolved to defend his con* duct. He was considered as a champion in the cause, and appointed the leader and spokesman of the people. 5. It is easy to imagine the disorders committed by this tumultuous rabble ; the whole neighbourhood rose in arms : they burned .■■•-V. (.. ^ 1.1 J . » . -J kh ..' i ,^ ^^.'.ak'j^^.ijUi^..^:J:»3l^Si.^. floii M RICHARD II. 100 and plundered wherever they came, and revenged upon their former masters all those insults which they had long sus- tained with impunity. As the discontent was general, tlie insurgents increased in proportion as they approached the capital. The flame soon propagated itself into Kent, Here- fordshire, Surrey, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, and I^incoln. 6. They were found to amount to above a hundred thousand men by the time they arrived at Blackheath. At the head of one party of these was Wat Tyler, who led his men into Smithfield, where he was met by the king, who invited him to a conference, under a pretence of hearing and re- dressing his grievances. Tyler, ordering his companions to retire till he should give them a signal, boldly ventured to meet the king in the midst of his retinue, and accordingly began the conference. 7. The demands of this demagogue are censured by all the historians of the time as insolent and extravagant ; and yet nothing can be more just than those they have delivered for him. He required that all slaves should be set free, and all commonages should be open to the poor as well as the rich ; and that a general pardon should be passed for the late outrages. 8. Whilst he made these demands, he now and then lifted up his sword in a menacing manner; which insolence so raised the indignation of William Walworth, then mayor of London, attending on the king, that without considering the danger to which h? exposed his majesty, he stunned Tyler with a blow of his mace, while one of the king's knights, riding up, despatched him with his sword. 9. The mutine^trs, seeing their leader fall, prepared themselves to take revenge ; and their bows were now bent for execution, when Richard, though not yet quite sixteen years of age, rode up to the rebels, and with admirable presence of mind, cried out, " What, my people, will you then kill your king ? Be not concerned for the loss of your leader; I myself will now be your general; follow me now into the field, and yo" a'lall have whatever you desire." The awed multitude immediately desisted : they followed the king, as if mechanically, into the field, and there he granted them the same charter that he had before given to their companions, but which he soon afterwards revoked in parliament.* * Gower, the poet, wrote some Latin verses on this rebellion, TMurt of which are here inserted, as a specimen of the literature of this reign ; nor will they be less acceptable, we trust, from the ludicrous effect pr(Mluced by puttiDg lilnrlish nick-names into a Latin drsss .- K 'ir^ii^U^\ 'i*<-^Sl' I'.i'^iisi.'v^;-;- 1 110 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. r ',. )\ 10. Hitherto the king had acted under the control of the regency, who did all they could devise to abridge his power. However, in an extraordinary council of the nobility, as- sembled after Easter, he, to the astonishment of all present, desired to know his age ; and being told that he was turned of two-and-twenty, he alleged that it was time then for him to govern without help ; and that there was no reason that he should be deprived of those rights which the meanest of his subjects enjoyed. 11. Being thus set at liberty to conduct the business of government at discretion, it quickly appeared that he wanted those arts that are usually found to procure a lasting respect; he was fond of luxurious pleasures and idle ostentation ; he admitted the meanest ranks to his familiarity ; and his con- versation was not adapted to impress them with a reverence for his morals or abilities. 12. The cruelty shown to the duke of Oloucester, who, upon slight suspicions, was sent to confinement in Calais, and there murdered in prison, with some other acts equally arbitrary, did not fail to in- crease those animosities which had already taken deep root in the kingdom. The aggrandizement of some new favour- ites contributed still more to make the king odious; but though he seemed resolved, by all his actions, to set his subjects against him, it was accident that gave occasion for his overthrow. 13. The duke of Hereford appeared in parliament, and accused the duke of Norfolk of having spoken seditious words against his majesty in a private con- versation. Norfolk denied the charge, gave Hereford the lie, and offered to prove his innocence by single combat. " Watte vocat cui Thoma venit, neque Stuhv retardat, BATauB> GiBBB simul, Hykke venire subent. CoiXE furit quern Bobbe javat, nocumenta parantes, Cum quibuB ad damnum Wills coire volat Grigob rapit, dum Davie strepit, comes est quibus HoBBK Larkin et in medio non minor esseputat. HcDDE ferit, quem Judde terit, dum Tibbe juvatur, Jaoke domoeque viros vellit, et ense necat," &c> . Which are thus humorously trandated by Andrews. « Wat cries, Tom flies, nor Sthkin ataya aside ; And Batt and Gibb, and Hyke, they summon loud, Collin and Hob combustibles provide, While Will the mischief forwards in the crowd ; Greo hawls. Bob bawls, and Davt joins the cry, With Lary, not the least.amonKthe throng ; HoDQE drubs, Jude scrubs, while Tib stands grinning by, iVod Jack with sword and fire-brand madly strides along." ■^HJ !^i'»J!*.'1i".7fww^ '»"^*'V7T?''71 '?;^*J^.-H''r'!^K'f RICHARD II. Ill As proofs were wanting for legal trial, the lords readily ac- quiesced in that mode of determination ; the time and place were appointed, and the whole nation waited with anxious suspense for the event. 14. At length the day arrived on which the duel was to be fought ; and the champions having just begun their career, the king stopped the combat, and ordered both the combatants to leave the kingdom. The duke of Norfolk he banished for life, but the duke of Here- ford only for ten years. Thus the one was condemned to exile without being charged with any offence, and the othei without being convicted of any crime. The duke of Nor- folk was overwhelmed with grief and despondence at the judgment awarded against him : he retired to Venice, where, in a little time after, he died of a broken heart. 15. Here- ford's behaviour on this occasion was resigned and sub- missive, which 80 pleased the king, that he consented to shorten the date of his banishment four years ; and he also granted him letters patent, ensuring him the enjoyment of any inheritance which should fall to him during his absence ; but upon the death of his father, the duke of Lancaster, which happened shortly after, Richard revoked those letters, and retained the possession of the Lancaster estate to him* self. A.D. 1388. . ^ \ .- , • Queatiotu for Examination, 1. At what age and under what circumstances did Richard come to the throne ? 2. In whose hands was the government vested ? 3. Who was the first person that excited the people to arms ? - . 5, 6. What disorders were committed by the rebels? and who was their leader ? 7. What conditions were requested from the king by Wat Tyler ? 8. By whom was Wat Tyler slain ? What was the conduct of the king on this occasion? Did the subsequent conduct of the king serve to make him respected by his subjects ? What gave occasion to his overthrew ? 9. 10. 13. T*'! 14. With what severity did the king treat Norfolk and Hereford f SECTION II. O ! let ut then intestive diwsord shun, We ne'er can be but by ounelves undone. — Savage. 1. (A.D. 1398.) Such complicated injuries served lo inflame the resentment of Hereford against the king ; and although he had hitherto concealed it, he now set no bounds to his indignation, but even conceived a desire of dethroning r^ .. i. .^..■jB^Hf:j<fi.ki.*--Jil:'- """ V" ■ 1 ^■jr^tvy.--—^-' 112 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. <^> a person who had shown himself so unworthy of power Indeed, no man could be better qualified for an enterprise of this nature than the earl of Hereford; he was cool, ^ cautious, discerning, and resolute. 2. He had served with distinction against the infidels of Lithuania ; and he had ' thus joined to his other merits those of piety and valour. He was stimulated by private injuries, and had alliance and fortune sufficient to give weight to his measures. He only waited the absence of the king from England to put his schemes into execution ; and Richard's going over into Ire- land, to quell an insurrection there, was the opportunity he had long looked for. 3. Accordingly he instantly embarked at Nantz, with a retinue of sixty persons, in three small vessels, and landed at Ravenspur, in Yorkshire. The earl of Northumberland, who had long been a malecontent, together with Henry Percy, his son, who, from his ardent valour, was sumamed Hot- spur, immediately joined them with their forces. After this junction the concourse of people coming to enlist under his banner was so great, that in a few days his army amounted to sixty thousand men. 4. While these things were transacting in England, Richard continued in Ireland in perfect security. Contrary winds, for three weeks together, prevented his receiving any news of the rebellion which had begun in his native do- minions ; wherefore, upon landing at Milford Haven with a body of twenty thousand men, he saw himself in a dreadful situation, in the midst of an enraged people, without any friend on whom to rely ; and forsaken by those who, in the sunshine of his power, had only contributed to fan his follies. 5. His little army gradually began to desert him, till at last he found that he had not above six thousand men who followed his standard. Thus not knowing whom to trust, or where to turn, he saw no other hopes of safety but to throw himself upon the generosity of the enemy, and to gain from pity what he could not obtain by arms. He therefove sent Hereford word that he was ready to sub- mit to whatever terms he thought proper to prescribe, and that he earnestly desired a conference. 6, For this pur- pose the earl appointed him to meet at a castle within about ten miles of Chester, where he came next day with his army. Richard, who the day before had been brought thither by the duke of Northumberland, descrying his rival's approach from the walls, went down to receive him i RICHARD II. 113 pur- bout his mght his him* while Hereford, after some ceremony, entered the castle in complete armour, only his head was bare, in compliment to the fallen king. 7. Richard received him with that open air for which he had been remarkable, and kindly bade him welcome. ** My lord king," returned the earl, with n cool respectful bow, "I am come sooner than you appointed, because your people say, that for one-and-twenty years you have governed with rigour and indiscretion. They arc very ill satisfied with your conduct; but if it please God, I will help you to govern them better for the time to come.'* To this declaration the king made no other answer but *' Fair cousin, since it pleases you, it pleases us likewise." 8. But Hereford's haughty answer was not the only mortification the unfortunate Richard was to endure. After a short conversation with some of the king's attendants, Hereford ordered the king's horses to be brought out of the stable ; and the wretched animals being produced, Richard was placed upon one, and his favourite, the earl of Salis- bury, on the other. 0. In this mean equipage, they rode to Chester; and were conveyed to the castle with a great noise of trumpets, and through a vast concourse of people, who were no way moved at the sight. In this manner he was led triumphantly along from town to town, amidst mul- titudes, who scoffed at him, and extolled his rivals. *' Long live the good duke of Lancaster, our deliverer !" was the general cry ; but as for the king, to use the pathetic words of the poet, " None cried God bless him 1" 10. Thus, after repeated indignities, he was confined a close prisoner in the Tower, there, if possible, to undergo a still greater variety of studied insolence and flagrant contempt. The wretched monarch, humbled in this manner, began to lose the pride of a king with the splendours of royalty, and his spirit sunk to his circumstances. There was no great dif- ficulty, therefore, in inducing him to sign a deed, by which he renounced his crown, as being unqualified for governing the kingdom. 11. Upon this resignation Hereford founded his principal claim : but, willing to fortify his pretensions with every appearance of justice, he called a parliament, which was readily brought to approve and confirm his claim. A frivolous charge, of thirty-three articles, was drawn up, and found valid against the king ; upon which he was solemnly deposed, and the earl of Hereford elected ill his stead, by the title of Henry the Fourth. 12. Thus began the contest between the houses of York and Lancas- k2 114 HISTORY OP ENGLAND. Riehud U. inmiidariac hb erawa. ter ; ^hich, for several years after, deluged C.\e kingdom with blo«d ; and yet, in the end, contributed to settle and confirm the constitution. - 13. When Richard was deposed, the earl of Northum- berland made a motion in the house of peers, demanding the advice of parliament with regard to the future treatment of the deposed king. To this they replied, that he should be imprisoned in some secure place, where his friends and partizans should not be able to find him. This was accord- ingly put in practice ; but while he still continued alive, the usurper could not remain in safety. Indeed, some conspi- racies and commotions which followed soon after, induced Hciry to wish for Richard's death ; in consequence of which, one of those assassins that are found in every court, ready to commit the most horrid crimes for reward, went down to the place of this unfortunate monarch's confinement in the castle of Pomfret, and with eight of his followers, rushed into his apartments. 14. The king, concluding their design was to take away his life, resolved not to fall un- revenged, but to sell it as dearly as he could; wherefore, wresting a pole-axe from one of the murderers, he soon laid four of their number dead at his feet. But he was at length overpowered, and struck dead by the blow of a pole- axe ; although some assert that he was starved in prison. 15. Thus died the unfortunate Richard, in the thirty-fourtli 11 RICHARD It. 115 year of his age, and the twenty'third uf his reign. Though his conduct was blameable, yet the punishment he suflfeied was greater than his offences ; and in the end his sufferings made more converts to his family and cause than ever his most meritorious actions could have procured them. He left no posterity, eitlier legitimate or otherwise. ' . ' * i Queatioru for Examination, -' 1. B/ whom wai the king oppoaed f ' * '"^^ . . / :- . • 3. By whom wuHereibra joined on his arrival in England t - »t V'\ 4. In what manner did the lung conduct himmlf ? * 6. Can you mention the indignities the kinjg afterwards miflered f 7. How did Richard receive the earl of Hereford T and what paMed at the interview between them ? 8. 9. To what other mortifications was the king obliged to submit T 10. What circumstances preceded his resignation of me crown 7 11. By whom was he succeeded 7 .•', 12. What dreadful contest now commenced t - ..- 13. After Richard was deposed, in what manner waa he treated f 14. Relate the circumstances which attended the murder of Richard. 15. Describe his character. , . '■■ CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Pope$. A.D. Gregory XI 1370 Urban VI 1378 Boniface IX 1389 Emperors of the Ea$t. John VI 1355 Emanuel II 1391 Emperors of the West, CharieB IV 1347 Winceslaua 1378 Kings cf France. A.D. Charles V 1364 Charles VI 1380 Kings of Portugal. Ferdinand. 1367 John 1 1385 King and Queen of Denmark. OlausIII 1375 A.D. Margaret 1385 Q.iue<% of Sweden. Margaret held Sweden with Denmark 1397 Kings of Scottand. Robert II 1370 Robert III 1390 EMINENT PERSONS. William Courtney, Thomas Arundel, archbishops of Canterbury. William Walworth, lord mayor of London. Roger Mortimer ; earl of March, grand, eon to Clarence, heir apparent. Henry of Bolingbroke. Vere, duKO of Ireland. William of Wykeham, bishop of Winchester, founder of Winches ter College, and of Merton College, Oxford. % no HISTORY OF BNOLANO. CHAPTER XVI. HENRY IV. BornlWr. Died Mar'^h 90, I4ia Baftn to reign Oelobtr 1, UW. Raignad 13 yetri. Heaven knowi by what bjre-patha and crooked wan I met (hii crown ; anil I mraellknow well Huw truublesome it lat u(>on my bruw. — Shaksp$ari, 1. (A.D. 1300.) Henry soon found that the throne of an usurper is but a bed of thorns. Such violent animosities broke out among the barons in the first session of this nar- liament, that forty challenges were given and recp'ved. '!;id forty gauntlets were thrown down as pledges of the ?iu< cniy nf their resentment. But though these commotions were seemingly suppressed by his moderation for that time, yet one conspiracy broke out after another, and were detected in the formation, or actually punished in the field. 2. That formed against him by the earl of Northumber- land was the most formidable. It was in a skirmish between the Scots and English that Archibald, earl of Douglas, witli many of the Scots nobility, were taken prisoners by the earl of Northumberlaii'l, and carried to Alnwick castle. When Henry received intelligence of this victory, he sent the earl orders not to ransom his prisoners, as he intended to detain them, in order to increase his demands in making peace with Scotland. 3. This message was highly resented by the earl of Northumberland, who, by the laws of war that pre- vailed in that age, had a right to the ransom of all such as he had taken in battle. The command was still more irk- some, as he considered the king his debtor, both for his se- curity and his crown. Accordingly, stung with this supposed injury, he resolved to overturn a th . ,ip vhich he had the chief hand in estn! lishing. 4. A scheme was laid, in which tl r b.wts and Welsh were to unite their forces, and to assist Northumberland in ulevating Mortimer, as the true heir to the crown of Eng- land. When all things were prepared for the intended in- surrection, the earl had the mortification to find himself uns'l'le to lead on the troops, being seized with a sudden Uiness at Berwick. But the want of his presence was well supplied I y his son, Henry Percy, surnamed Hotspur, who took the command of the troops, and marched them towards Shrewsbury, in order to join his forces with those of Glen HENRY IV. 117 vV elsh ind in Eng- ed in- mself udden well who warda Glen dower, a W< ' 'h chiei'tain, who some time before had beon exchanged irom prison, and had now advanced with his forces as fm ns Shroti^uire. 5. Upon the junction of these two armies, tlic) published a miinifesto, which aggravated their real grievances and invented more In the mean time, Henry, who had received no intelligence of their designs, was at first greatly surprised at the news of this rebellion. But fortune seemed to befriend him on this f^ccasion : he had a small army in readiness, which he had levied for an in- tended war against the Scots, and knowmg the importance of despatch against such active enemies, he instantly hurried down to Shrewsbury, that he might give the rebels battle. 6. Upon the approach of the two armies, both sides seen • ed willing to give a colour to their cause by showing a dt- ' sire of reconciliation ; but, when they ame to open their mutual demands, the treaty was turned into abuse and re- crimination. On one side was objected ebellion and ingra- titude ; on the other, tyranny and usurpation. 7. The two armies were pretty nearly equal, each consisting of about twelve thousand men ; the animosity on b ith sides was in- flamed to the highest pitch ; and no prudence nor military skill could determine on which side the victory might in- cline ; accordingly, a very bloody engagem ent ensued, in which the generals on both sides exerted themselves witW great bravery. Henry was seen everywhere m the thickest of the fight ; while his valiant son, who was a 'terwards the renowned conqueror of France, fought by his side ; and, though wounded in the face by an arrow, still kept the field, and performed astonishing acts of valour. 8. On the other side, the daring Hotspur supported that renow n which he had acquired in so many bloody engagements, and every- where sought out the king as a noble object of i idignation. At last, however, his death from an unknown hand decided the victory ; and the fortune of Henry once more prevailed. On that bloody day, it is said, that no less than two thousand three hundred gentlemen were slain, and about six thousand private men, of whom two-thirds v/ere of Hotspur's army. 9. While this furious transaction was going forward, Nor- thumberland, who was lately recovered from his indisposi- tion, was advancing with a body of troops to reinf )rce the army of malecontents, and take upon him the command: but hearing by the way of his son's and brother's mieforlune, he dismissed his troops, not daring to keep the field with so small a iorcet before an army superior in number; and flush- u ^ 118 HISTORY Q£ ENGLAND. ed with recent victory. 10. The earl, therefore, for a while, attempted to find safety by flight ; but at last, being pressed by his pursuers, and finding himself totally without resource, he chose rather to throw himself upon the king's mercy than lead a precarious and- indigent life in exile. Upon his appearing before Henry at York, he pretended that his sole intention in arming was to mediate between the two parties ; and this, though but a very weak apology, seemed to satisfy the king. Northumberland, therefore, re- ceived a pardon ; Henry probably thinking that he was suf- ficiently punished by the loss of his army and the death of his favourite son. 11. By these means Henry seemed to surmount all his troubles ; and the calm whioh was thus produced was em- ployed by him in enueavours to acquire popularity, which he had lost by tho severities exercised during the preceding part of his reign. For that reason, he often permitted the house of commons to assume powers which had not been usually exercised by their predecessors. A.D. 1407. 12. In the sixth year of his reign, when they voted him the supplies, they appointed treasurers of their own, to see the money disbursed for the purposes intended ; and required them to deliver in their accounts to the house. They pro- l^sed thirty very important articles for the government of me king's household ; and, on the whole, preserved their privileges and freedom more entire during his reign than in that of any of his predecessors. 13. But while the king thus laboured, not without success, to retrieve the reputation he had lost, his son Henry, the prince of Wales, seemed equally bent on incurring the public aversion. He became notorious for all kinds of debauchery, and ever chose to be surrounded by a set of wretches, who took pride in commit- ting the most illegal acts, with the prince at their head. 14. The king was not a little mortified at this degeneracy in his eldest son, who seemed entirely forgetful of his sta- tion, although he had already exhibited repeated proofs of his valorous conduct and generosity. Such were the ex- cesses into which he ran, that one of his dissolute compa- nions having been brought to tfial before Sir William Gas- coigne, chief justice of the king's bench, for some misde- meanour, the prince was so exasperated at the issue of the trial, that he struck the judge in open court. 15. The ve- nerable magistrate, who knew the reverence that was due 10 his siaiiop, behavi^u w:u> i uiguitv tiiat became his ouice HENRY IV. no and immediately ordered the prince to be committed to pii- son. Wiien this transaction was reported to the king, who was an excellent judge of mankind, he could not help ex- claiming in a transport — " Happy is the king that has a magistrate endowed with courage to execute the laws upon such an offender : still more happy in having a son willing to submit to such a chastisement 1" This, in fact, is one of the first great instances we read in the English history of a magistrate doing justice in opposition to power ; since, upon many former occasions, we find the judges only ministers of royal caprice. 16. Henry, whose health had for some time been declin- ing, did not long outlive this transaction. He was subject to fits, which bereaved him for the time of his senses ; and which a.* last brought on his death at Westminster, in the forty-sixth year of his age, and the fourteenth of his reign 4. 7. Questions for Examination. 1. In what situation did Henry find himself on ascending the throne ? 2. Who was the most formidable opponent of Henry ? For what purpose were the Scots and Welsh to unite their forces? Relate the valorous conduct of the king and prince. 8. What was the fate of Hotspur? 10. What became of the earl of Northumberland ? 12. What at this time were the powers assumed by the house of commons ^^ 13. What was the conduct of the prince of Wales ? fl|| 15. For what offence did the chief justice imprison him ? ^^ What did the prince exclaim when he heard the of prince's committal ? 16. What caused the death of the king ? CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popes. A.D. Boniface IX 1389 Innocent VI 1 1404 Gregory XII 1406 Alexander V 1409 John XXIII 1430 Emperor of the East. Emanuel II 1391 Emperors of the West. A.D. Winceslaus 1378 Robert Le Pet.... 1400 Sigismund 1410 King of France. Charles VT 1380 King of Portugal. John 1 1385 King and Queen of Denmark and Sweden. A.D Margaret 1385 EricXIII 1411 King of Scotland. Robert m. 1390 / EMINENT PERSONS. Thomas Arundel, archbishop of Canterbury. Edward Mortimer Henry Percy, sumamed Hotspur. Chief Justice Gascoigne. Sir Robert Knowles. Sir Richard Whittington, lord mayor of London. John Gower, and Geoffrey Chaucer. 1 20 HISTOnY OP ENGLAND. CHAPTER XVII. HENRY V. Born 1388. Died Aug. 31, 1422. Began to reign March 20, 1413. Reigned 9i years. Now terror leemed to make the field its own. — Egerton. 1. (A. D. 1413.) The first steps taken by the young king confirmed all those prepossessions entertained in his favour. He called together his former abandoned companions : ac- quainted them with his intended reformation ; exhorted them to follow his example ; and thus dismissed them from his presence, allowing them a competency to subsist upon till he saw them worthy of further promotion. 2. The faithful ministers of his father at first began to tremble for their former justice in the administration of their duty ; but he soon eased them of their fears by taking them into his friendship and confidence. Sir William Gascoigne, who thought himself the most obnoxious, met with praise instead of reproaches, and was exhorted to , persevere in the same rigorous and impartial execution of jiistice. ^ 3. About this time the heresy of Wickliffe,* or Lol- Iwrdism, as it was called, began to spread every day more and more, while it received a new lustre from the protec- tion and preaching of sir John Oldcastle, baron of Cobham, who had been one of the king's domestics, and stood high in his favour. The primate, however, indicted this noble- man, and, with the assistance of his suffragans, condemned him as a heretic to be burnt alive. 4. Cobham, however, escaping from the Tower, in which he was confined, the day before his execution, privately Went up to London to take a signal revenge on his enemies. But the king, apprized of his intentions, ordered that the city gates should be shut ; and coming by night with his guards into St. Giles's-fields, seized such of the conspirators as appeared, and afterwards laid hold of several parties that were hastening to the ap- • John Wickliffe, a celebrated English divine, was the father of the re- formation of tlie English cluirch from popery. He first opposed the authority of the pope, and being cited to appear before the bishop of London, it caused great tumult. His tenets were solemnly condemned in an assembly held at ixford ; he, however, escaped the malice of liis enemies, and died peaceably -• T ...« .U !— *<10J Ui i^iiiiurwuriii. III loot. HENRY r. ISt the re- ithority caused held at iceably pointed place. 5. Some of these were executed, but the grreater number pardoned. Cobham himself found means of escaping for that time, but he was taken about four years after ; and never did the cruelty of man invent, or crimes draw down, such torment as he was made to endure. He was hung up with a chain by the middle, and thus, at a slow fire, burned, or rather roasted, alive. 6. Henry, to turn the minds of the people from such hideous scenes, resolved to take advantage of the troubles in which France was at that time engaged ; and assembling a great fleet and army at Southampton, landed at Harfleur, at the head of an army of six thousand men-at-arms, and twenty-four thousand foolTnidstly-arcbensu But although the enemy made but a feeble resistance, yet the climate seemed to fight against the English, a contagious dysentery carrying off three parts of Henry's army. 7. The English monarch, when it was too late, began to repent of his rash inroad into a country where disease and a powerful army everywhere threatened destruction ; he, therefore, began to think of retiring into Calais. The enemy, however, resolved to intercept his retreat ; and after he had passed the small river of Tertois, at Blangi, he was surprised to observe, from the heights, the whole French army drawn up in the plains of Agincourf.* and so posted, that it was impossible for him to proceed on his march without coming to an engagement. 8. No situation could be more unfavourable than that in which he found himself. His army was wasted with disease : the soldiers* spirits worn down with fatigue, destitute of pro- visions, and discouraged by their retreat. Their whole body amounted to but nine thousand men, and these were to sustain the shock of an enemy nearly ten times their number, headed by expert generals, and plentifully sup- plied with provisions. 9. As the enemy were so much superior, he drew up his army on a narrow ground between two woods, which guarded each flank ; and he patiently expected, in that position, the attack of the enemy. The constable of France was at the head of one army, and Henry himself, with Edward, duke of York, commanded the other. 10. For a time both armies, as if afraid to begin, ke^i silently gazing at each other, neither willing to ** Agincourt ia a villase Freocb NetherUnda. Bi the proYinca of Artoii. formerly put of th« .29 lUBTORV OF KNflLANO. ■ break (hoir ranki hy making tho onset ; which Ilonry per- ooiving, with n choorful coimtonanco criod out, ** My frionds, sinco they will not begin, it is ours to set tho oxtiinplo ; come on, and tlio blessed Trinity be our pro- tection !" Upon this the whole army sot forward with a shout, while tlie French still waited their approach with intrepidity. 11. The English archers, who had long been famous for their great skill, first let fly a shower of arrows three feet long, which did great execution. The French cavalry advancing to repel these, two hundred bowmeni who lay till then concealed, rising on a sudden, let fly among them, and produced such a confusion, that the archers threw by their arrows, and rushing in, fell upon them sword in hand. The French at first repulsed tho .issailants, who were enfeebled by disease ; but they soon made up the defect by their valour; and, resolving to conquer or die, burst in upon tho enemy with such impetuosity, that the French were soon obliged to give ^ny. 12. They were overthrown in every part of the field; their numbers, being crowded into a very narrow space, were incap.nble of either flying or making any resistance, 8o that they covered the ground with heaps of slain. After all appearance of opposition was over, there was heard an alarm from behind, which proceeded from a number of peasants who had fallen on the English baggage, and were putting those who guarded it to the sword. 13. Henry, now seeing the enemy on till sides of him, began to enter- tain apprehensions from his prisoners, the number of whom exceeded even tliat of his army. He thought it necessary, therefore, to issue general orders for putting them to death ; but on a discovery of a certainty of his victory, he stopped the slaughter, and was still able to save a great number. 14. This severity tarnished the glory which his victory would otherwise have acquired, but all the heroism of tliat age is tinctured widi barbarity. In tliis battle the French lost tettihousaud men and fourteen tliousand prisoners : the English only forty men in all.* 15. France Wiis at that time (A. D. 1417) in a wretched situation ; tlie whole kingdom appeared as one vast tlieatre ■ ] i Th« duk« ol York aiid earl of Suffolk were among the few who fell ii this baUle on the side of the Kiigtiah. Also three valiant Welshmen named Davy Gam. Roger Vaughan, and Walker Llo>'d. who had rescued the king, ana were afterwards knighted by him w they lay bleeding to de^th HfiNRY V. 123 of crimes, murders, injustice, and devastation. The duke of Orleans was assassinated by the duke of Burgundy ; and the duke of Burgundy, in his turn, fell by the treachery of the dauphin. 16. A state of imbecility, into which Charles had fallen, made him passive in every transaction ; and Henry, at last, by conquests and negotiation, caused himself to be elected heir to the crown. The principal articles of this treaty were, that Henry should espouse the princess Catharine, daughter of the king of France ; that king Charles should enjoy the title and dignity for life, but that Henry should be declared heir to me crown, and should be intrusted with the present administration of the government; that France and England should for ever be united under one king, but should still retain their respective laws and privileges. 17. In consequence of this, while Henry was everywhere victorious, he fixed his residence at Paris ; and while Charles had but a small court, he was attended witli a very magnifi- cent one. (A. D. 1421.) On Whit-Sunday, the two kings and their two queens, with crowns on their heads, dined to- gether in public ; Charles receiving apparent homage, but Henry commanding with absolute authority.* 18. Henry, at that time, when his glory had nearly reached its summit, and both crowns were just devolved upon him, was seized with a fistula, a disorder which, from the unskilfulness of the physicians of the times, soon became mortal. He expired with the same intrepidity with which he had lived, in the thirty-fourth year of his age, and the tenth of his reign. Questions for Examination. 1. What were the firat steps taken hy the young klngT 3. What remarkable circumstanoe did the heresy of Wicklifie produce f 5. What was the melancholy fate of sir John Olacastle, baron of Cobham f * The revenues of the government, and the grants of parliament, were so inttdDquat« to Henry's expensive armies and expeditions, that he was forced to pawn his crown to his uncle. Cardinal Beaufort, for a large sum ; and cer- tain jewels to the lord mayor of London, for ten thousand marks ; he was also obliged to pledge two gold chased basons, weighing together 281b. 8oz. to two canons of St Paul's, for six hundred marks ; and two golden shells to the dean of Lincoln, for one hundred more. Thn cost of his army was great, each knight received 20s. per diem ; a s(]^uire 10s. and each archer 5s. Be- sides which, he had a costly band of music, among which were ten clarions, K'hich piayed an hour, night and morning, befoj-e his tent. — Bertrand de 124 HISTORY or ENGLAND. 6. What caiued Henry to anemble an army in France f What waa the amount of hia army T 7. Where did the enemy attempt to intercept hii retreat t 8. In what condition was the English army t 9. Who commanded the respective armies 7 10. Relate the particulars of the battle of Agincourt 14. What tarnished the glory of thia victory f What was the situation of France 7 J5. What were the principal articles of trea^ between England and France? 18. What was the age of Henry at his death 7 and how long did he reign 7 CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Pcpet. lohn:^XIIl 1410 Marun V 1417 Emperor of the East Emanuel II 1394 Emperor of the West. A. D. Sigismund 1410 King of France. Charles VI 1380 King of Portugal. Johnl 1385 King of Denmark and Sweden. EricXnf 1411 King of Scotland. Robert IIL 1390 EMINENT PERSONS. Henry Chicheley, archbishop of Canterbury. Cardinal Beaufort, bishop of Winchester, younger son of John of Gaunt, and preceptor and SixtL Talbot, eail (^Shrewsbury. preceptor to Henry the Fiflh CHAPTER XIII. HENRY VI. |:^- Bom 1431. Deposed March 5, 14r>l. Died April 31, 1471. Began to reign Augasi 31, 1422. Reigned %i years. SECTION I. From fiekti obieuie darts forth a vfllace maid. '- Dibdin, 1. (A. D. 1422.) The duke of Bedford, one of therjiost accomplished princes of the age, and equally experienced both in the cabinet and the field, was appointed by parlia- ment protector of England, defender of the church, and first counsellor to the king during his minority, as he was not yet a year old ; and as France was the great objoct that engrossed all consideration, he attempted to exert the rfforts of the nation upon the continent with all his vigour. 2. A new revolution was produced in that kingdom, by HENRY VI. 12ft means apparency the most unlikely to be attended with success. In the village of Domreni, near Vaucoleurs, on the borders of Lorrain, there lived a country girl, about twenty-seven years of age, called Joan of Arc. This girl had been a servant at a small inn, and in that humble sta- tion had submitted to those hardy employments which fit the body for the fatigues of war. She was of an irreproachable life, and had hitherto testified none of those enterprising qualities which displayed themselves soon after. 3. Her mind, however, brooding with melancholy steadfastness upon the miserable situation of her country, began to feel several impulses, which she was willing to mistake for the inspira- tions of Heaven. Convinced of the reality of her own ad- monitions, she had recourse to one Baudricourt, governor of Vaucoleurs, and informed him of her destination by Hea- ven to free her native country from its fierce invaders. Baudricourt treated her at first with some neglect : but her importunities at length prevailed ; and willing to make trial of her pretensions, he gave her some attendants, who con- ducted her to the French court, which at that time resided at Chinon. 4. The French court were probably sensible of the weak- ness of her pretensions ; but they were willing to make use of every artifice to support their declining fortunes. It was, therefore, given out that Joan was actually inspired ; that she was able to discover the king among the number of his courtiers, although he had laid aside all the distinctions of his authority ; that she had told him some secrets which were only known to himself; and that she had demanded and minutely described a sword in the church of St. Cathe- rine de Firebois, which she had never seen. 5. In this manner the minds of the vulgar being prepared for her appearance, she was armed cap-k-pie, and shown in that martial dress to the people. She was then brought before the doctors of the university, and they, tinctured with the credulity of the times, or willing to second the imposture, declared that she had actually received her commission from above. 5. When the preparations for her mission were completely blazoned, their next aim was to send her against the enemy. The English were at that time besieging the city of Orleans, the last resource of Charles, and every thing promised them a speedy surrender. Joan undertook to raise the siege ; and to render herself still more remarkable, girded herself with the miraculous sword, of which she had before such extra l2 .■.*- IM HISTORY OF KN0LAN9. ordinary notices. Thus equipped, she ordered all the sot diers to confess themselves before they set out; she dis- played in her hand a consecrated banner, and assured the troops of certain success. 7. Such confidence on her side soon raised the spirits of the French army ; and even the English, who pretended to despise her efforts, felt them- selves secretly influenced with the terrors of her mission ; and relaxing in their endeavours, the siege was raised with great precipitation. From being attacked, the French now in turn became the aggressors. One victory followed an- other, and at length the French king was solemnly crownc* at Rheims, which Joan had promised should come to pass. 8. A tide of success followed the performance of this so- lemnity ; but Joan having thrown herself into the city of Compeign, with a body of troops, that was then besieged by the duke of Burgundy, she was taken prisoner in a sally - which she headed against the enemy, the governor shutting the gales behind. The doke of Bedford was no sooner informed of her being taken, than he purchased her of the count Yendome, who had made her prisoner, and ordered her to be committed to close confinement. 9. The credulity of both nations was at that time so great, that nothing was too absurd to gain belief that coincided with their passions. As Joan, but a little before, from her successes, was re- garded as a saint, she was now, upon her captivity, consi- dered as a sorceress, forsaken by the demon who had granted her a fallacious and temporary assistance ; and accordingly, being tried at Rouen, she was found guilty of heresy and witchcraft, and sentenced to be burnt alive, which was exe- cuted with the most ignorant malignity. 10. From this period the English affairs became totally irretrievable. The city of Paris returned once more to a sense of its duty. Thus ground was continually, though slowly, gained by the French ; and in the lapse of a few years, Calais alone remained of all the conquests that had been made in France ; and this was but a small compensa- tion for the blood and treasure which had been lavished in that country, and which only served to gratify ambition with transient applause.* A.D. 1443. * The duke of Bedford died about this time ; and when the dauphin of France was advised to demolish the monument of black marble which had *ioen erected to his memory, he generously replied, "Let him repose in ;}f.'uce, and be thankful that he does repose ; were he awake, he would the sfAu^sst of us tramble." HENRY VI. i> > 127 1 1 . But the incapacity of Henry began to appear in a fuller light ; and a foreign war being now extinguished, the people began to prepare for the horrors of intestine strife. In this period of calamity a new interest was revived, which had lain dormant in the times of prosperity and triumph. Richard, duke of York, was descended, by the mother's side, from Lionel, one of the sons of Edward the Third ; whereas the reigning king was descended from John of Gaunt, a younger son of the same monarch : Richard, there- fore, stood plainly in succession before Henry ; and he began to think the weakness and unpopularity of the present reign a favourable moment for ambition. The ensign of Richard was a white rose, that of Henry a red : and this gave name to the two fiictions, whose animosity was now about to drench the kingdom with slaughter. 12. Among the number of complaints which the unpopu- larity of the government gave rise to, there were some which even excited insurrection ; particularly that headed by John Cade, which was of the most dangerous nature. This man was a native of Ireland, who had been obliged to fly over to France for his crimes ; but seeing the people, upon his re- turn, prepared for violent measures, he assumed the name of Mortimer; and at the head of twenty thousand Kentish men, advanced towards the capital, and encamped at Black- heath. The king, being informed of this commotion, sent a message to demand the cause of their assembling in arms ; and Cade, in the name of the community, answered "that their only aim was to punish evil ministers, and to procure a redress of grievances for the people. 13. But committing some abuses, and engaging with the citizens, he was aban- doned by most of his followers ; and retreating to Rochester, was obliged to fly alone into the woods of Kent, where, a price being set upon his head by proclamation, he was dis- covered and slain.* 14. In the mean time the duke of York secretly fomented these disturbances, and pretending to espouse the cause of the people, still secretly aspired to the crown ; and, though he wished nothing so ardently, yet he was for some time prevented by his own scruples from seizing it. What his in- * The inscription on Cade's standard consisted of the following doggere) RufTiciently indicative of the levelling doctrines of him and his rebel compa iiiuiis : " When Adam delv'd and Eve span. Who was then a geniieman ?" 128 UISTORV OF £NaLANO. trigues failed to bring about, accident produced according to his desires. 15. The king falling into a distemper, which so far increased his natural imbecility that it even rendered him incapable of maintaining the appearance of royalty York was appointed lieutenant and protector of the king* dom, with powers to hold and open parliaments at pleasure. Queatirtrufor Examination, 1. What happened on the death of the lung ? 2, 3. Relate the history of Joan of Arc. 4. By what artifices did the French court support their declining fortunes t 6. What enterprise did Joan undertake f 7. Were the French successful ? 8. In what manner was Joan of Arc made prisoner? 9. What was the fate of this extraordinary woman ? 10. In what state were the English affairs at this timet 11. What new interest was now revived against Henry '( ?uid to whatcoiue* quences did it lead 1 12. Mention the particulars of an insurrection which OMk place, and the cause which occasioned it. 13. What was the fate of the principal conspirators T 14. Wlio secretly fomented these disturbances 7 15. Who was appointed protector of the kingdom? and on what occasion ? SECTION II. While aecond Riehard'i blood for veaseance calli, Doom'd for bit grandiire'i guilt, puor Henry falls. — Smage. 1. (A.D. 1452.) Being thus invested with a plenitude of power, he continued in the enjoyment of it for some time ; but at length the unhappy king recovered from his lethargic complaint ; and, as if waking from a dream, perceived with surprise that he was stripped of all his authority. Henry was married to Margaret of Anjou,* a woman of a masculine understanding, who obliged him to take the field, and in a manner dragged him to it, where both sides came to an en- gagement, in which the Yorkists gained a complete victory.f 2. The king himself being wounded, and taking shelter in a cottage near the field oi battle, was taken prisoner, and treated by the victor with great respect and tenderness. Henry was now merely a prisoner, treated with the splen- did forms of royalty ; yet, indolent and sickly, he seemed * Daughter of Ren^, titular king of Sicily ; an ambitious, enterprising, and courageous woman. She supported the rights of her husband with great fortitude and activity, till the fatal defeat at Tewkesbury, which put an end to all her enterprises. t This battle was the first of St Alban's. HENRY VI. NV pleased with his situation, and did not regret that power which was not to be exercised without fatigue. But Mar- garet once more induced him to assert his prerogative. 3. The contending parties met at Bloreheath, on the borders of Staffordshire, Sept. 23, 1459, and the Yorkists gained some advantages ; but Sir Andrew Trollop deserted with all his men to the king; and this so intimidated the whole army of the Yorkists, that they separated the next day, without strik- ing a single blow. Several other engagements followed, with various success ; Margaret being at one time victorious, at another in exile ; the victory upon Wakefield-green,* in which the duke of York was slain, seemed to fix her good fortune. 4. But the earl of Warwick, who now put himself at the head of the Yorkists, was one of the most celebrated gene- rals of the age, formed for times of trouble, extremely artful, and incontestibly brave, equally skilful in council and the field ; and incp.red with a degree of hatred against the queen that nothing could suppress. He commanded an army, in which he led about the captive king, to give a sanction to his attempts. 5. Upon the approach of the Lancastrians, he conducted his forces, strengthened by a body of London- ers, who were very affectionate to his cause, and gave battle to the queen at St. Alban's. In this, however, he was de- feated. About two thousand of the Yorkists perished in the battle, and the person of the king again fell into the hands of his own party, to be treated with apparent respect, but real contempt. 6. In the mean time young Edward, the eldest son of the late duke of York, began to repair the losses his party had lately sustained, and to give spirit to the Yorkists. This prince, in the bloom of youth, remarkable for the beauty of his person, his bravery, and popular deportment, advanced towards London with the remainder of Warwick's army; and, obliging Margaret to retire, entered the city amidst the acclamations of the people. Perceiving his own popularity, he supposed that now was the time to lay his claim to the crown ; and his friend Warwick, assembling the citizens in St. John's Fields, pronounced an harangue, setting forth the title of Edward, and inveighing against the tyranny and usurpation of the house of Lancaster. A.D. 1461. 7. Both sides at length met near Towton, in the county of York, to * In the West Riding of YorkshirOi 130 UIBTORV or ENGLAND. decide the fate of the empire, and never was England do- populated by 80 terrible an engagement. It was a dreadful sight to behold a hundred thousand men of the same country engaged against each other ; and all to satisfy the ambition of the weakest or the worst of mankind. While the army of Edward was advancing to the charge, there happened a great fall of snow, which, driving full in the face of the enemy, blinded them ; and this advantage, seconded by ar impetuous onset, decided the victory in his favour. Edward issued orders to give no quarter ; and a bloody slaughter ensued, in which near forty thousand of the Lancastrians were slain. 8. The weak and unfortunate Henry, always imprudent, and always unsuccessful, was taken prisoner, carried to London with great ignominy, and conducted to the Tower. Margaret was rather more fortunato : she contrived to escape out of the kingdom, and took refuge with her father in Flan- ders.* 9. Edward being now, by means of the earl of Warwick, fixed upon the throne, reigned in peace and security, while his title was recognised by parliament, and universally sub- mitted to by the people. A.D. 1464. He began, therefore, to give a loose to his favourite passions, and a spirit of gal- lantry r mixed with cruelty, was seen to prevail in his court. The very same palace which one day exhibited a spectacle of horror, was to be seen the day following with a mask or pageant; and the king would at once gallant a mistress and inspect an execution. 10. In order to turn him from these pursuits, which were calculated to render him unpopulai, the earl of Warwick advised him to marry ; and with his consent went over to France, to procure Bona of Savoy, as queen, and the match was accordingly concluded. But whilst the earl was hastening the negotiation in France, the * Margaret, flying with her son into a forest, was attacked during the night by robbers, who despoiled her of her rings and jewels, and treated her with the utmost indignity. The partition of this great booty having raised a vio- lent quarrel among them, she took an opportunity of flying wim her son into the thickest part uf the forest, where she wandered till she was overcome with hunger and fatigue. While in this wretched condition, she saw a rob- ber approaching with his naked sword ; she suddenly embraced the resolution of trusting entirely to his faith and generosity, and presenting to him the young prince, " Here, my friend," said she, " I commit to your care ihe safety of the king's son." The man, struck with the singularity of the event, and recalled to virtue by the flattering confidence reposed in him, vowed, not only to abstain from all injury against the princess, but to devote himself entirely to her service. By his means she reached the sea-coast, and embarked for Flanders. — De Moteville. ^c. HENRY TI. lai he night txet with sd a vio- j son into Ivercome \w a rob- ^solutioM him the tie safety tent, anii 1 not only entirely irked for king himself rendered it abortive at homo, by marryinff Elizabeth Grey,* with whom he had fallen in love, and whom he had vainly endeavoured to debauch. 11. Having thus given Warwick real cause of offence, he was resolved to widen the breach by driving him from the council. War- wick, whose prudence was equal to his bravery, soon made use of both to assist his revenge ; and formed such a com- 1^ hination against Edward, that he was in his turn obliged to fly the kingdom. Thus, once more, the poor, pnxnive king Henry was released from prison to be placed upon a danger- ous throne. A parliament was called, which confirmed Henry's title with great solemnity ; and Warwick was i.im- self received among the people under the title of king- maker. 12. But Edward's party, though repressed, was not de- stroyed. Though an exile in Holland, he had many partisans at home ; and, after an absence of nine months, being seconded by a small body of troops, granted to him by the duke of Burgundy, he made a descent at Ravenspur, in Yorkshire. Though, at first, he was coolly received by the English, yet his army increased upon his march, while his moderation and feigned humility still added to the number of his partisans. London, at that time ever ready to admit the most powerful, opened her gates to him ; and the wretched Henry was once more plucked from a throne to be sent back to his former mansion. 13. Nothing now, therefore, remained to Warwick, but to cut short an anxious suspense, by hazarding a battle. Edward's fortune prevailed. They met at St. Alban's, and the Lancastrians were defeated ; while Warwick himself, leading a chosen body of troops into the thickest of the slaughter, fell, in the midst of his eucmies, covered with wounds. Margaret, receiving the fatal news of the death of the brave Warwick, and the total destruction of her party, gave way to her grief, for the first time, in a torrent of tears ; and, yielding to her unhappy fate, took sanctuary in the abbey of Beaulieu, in Hampshire. 14. She had not been long in this melancholy abode be- * Elizabeth Grey was daughter of sir Richard Woodville. The king first saw her at court, whither she had repaired to present a petition for the reco- very of the confiscated lands of her late husband, sir John Grey, who was •lain in arms on the side of Henry. She told Edward, when he first addressed her on the subject of his love, that though too humble to be his wife, she was too his^h to become his concubine 189 ItlRTOMV or KNOI.AND. far«« nhn found iomn (ow Ctmuln nlilt wnilinf( to aiNiiil hrr !nll(!n forUinrM. 8hn hml now fiMiglit hntlluM in iiliiioMt nvory provinnt* in l'in)(lntut ; 'rnwkPHbury-piirit wnii tho limt ncnno tinit tonninntrd iter iittpmptii. lA. Tlio diiko of Honu^mot liPiulod Iter nrniy : n ninn who Imd iiimrod hnr dun^orN, nnd h»d pvor bcon «tVi\dy in hor ctiuiio. Whon I'Mwnrd 11 wt nl- tunlcf d iiim in \\\» inlrfinrhinontn, iin n^pnitund him with nuch vitfour, thtit thu onrniy nHirtnl with prooipitution ; upon wnicli thn dui<o, nuppoxing thoin routed, pumntHl, nnd order- od lord VVnnlock to stipport hiM chiirgo. Hut uni'orttnnitply, thiM lord diRohoyod his ordors ; nnd HomnrROt's lorcm wort? Boon ovorpoworml hy nnmhorn. 10. In thi« drnidful rxi- gpnpo, the duico (Indinff that all wtiR ovor, hocamo unf^ovrrU' uhlo in hill nigp ; und hoholding VVindork inuctivo, nnd remnining in tho vnry pliuni whrro ho hml first drnwn up his niLMi, giving wny to bin fury, with \v« heavy hnttlo-nxo in both handi ho ran upon the cowurd, and witii ono blow tlashod otit hiR brniuM. 17. The quoon and tho prince worn taken prisoners nflnr iho bntllo, and brought into tho prooonco of I'^alwurd. Thu young prince appeared before the conqueror with undaunted maj^esty ; and being asked, in an inHulting manner, how ho dared to invade England without leave, more mindful of his high Iflfth than of his ruined fortunes, lie boldly replied, •• I have entered tho dominions of my father, to revenge his in- juries, nnd to rctlress my own." 18. The barbarous I'M- wnrd, enraged at his intrepidity, struck him on his mouth with his gauntlet ; and this sorved ns n signal for further brutnlity : the dukes of Gloucester, Clarence, and others, like wild beasts, rushing on the unarmed youth at once, stabbed him to the heart with their ihiggers. To complete tho tragedy, Henry himself was soon after murdered in cold blood. Of all thoHo that were taken, none were suffered to survive but Margaret ..^^rself. 10. It was perhaps expected that she would be ransomed by tbe king of France ; and in this they vere not deceived, as that monarch paid the king of England fifty thousand crowns for her freedom. This extraordinary woman, after having sustained the cause of her husband in twelve battles, after having survived her friends, fortunes, and children, died a few years after in privacy in France, very miserable indeed ; but with few other claimi to our pity, except her courage and her distresses.* * Diiriiiff lliiR ami aeveral prcvioun roignu, a moot nlwunl rnahion was fol lOVVvu by iiiO pCt'iiiiv. li won Ciii^iOiiiHry io Weuf iiie uvaki of |iOinui ofihstr HRivnv VI. 188 Qumtionti fiir ExitmumtUm. I. Wlml wnH tlin Iwiiit «>!' llin (Int linlUn lifltwnrii tlin liourai of York anij liHiiniMliir f li. VVhf^r wiiN llin i'tirtinin ot'llonry ? 2), VVIinrn did llin noiilniHlliig iHirtlpm iinxt iiirfil ? Wliiil ('ir)-iiiiiHlniM<oN ^nvn lliniidvniiliiKnIo I tniiry*« pnrty t 4. VVIto WHM llin (tomiiimidnr (tl'llin Yorkiata? n. VVIiiil wn* llin Hii('i'(4M f {\. Wilt) now liiid rlHiiii lo llin cmwii ? 7. Wliitl worn llin pnrlinulnrM ol'thn nclioti M Towlim? H WIml linpitniind lo Mnrgnrnl niid llin yoiiiiK prliicn nOor thu bnttle t U. How did Kdwiird noiidiirl liitiinnirnlinr liin itrrnNNion ? II l''or wliiil miiMoii did Wiirwirk roniliiiin iiHuitwl Kdwnrd ? My wlitil lilln whn Warwick rnt<nivnd ntiiotiK llin |ino|iln ? Wliiit wiiM llin liirliitin tiCllin iinul biittln \ Wliiil lollownil Ihin nii^;nK(^iiiniil, ? Wlinl wiiN llin niiNwnr ol'llin young |iriiinn to Kdwnrd ? IH. Wliitl wiin lim lr«Miltiiniit / Wliiil WIIN llin lilln orilniiry ? I IK WliaiorMiirKnrntt i:<. H. 17 CONTKMI'OUAUV HOVKIUadNa /•((/(Pd. A.I). Mnrlin V 1417 lOiiKniiiim VI I4:il Niidioliw V 1447 Ciilixtim III 14nft Piiia II 14ri8 r.mtwrorn t>f th« En»t. lOinnniinl II VM John VII 14*iU ('oimlnrtliiin til. nndlnHlOlirlNtinn ninpnnir. Hiio- onodnd liy liin noiii|iirror Mii- Uoiuot II. whu tmik(^inNtntitiiii>* tlin by iUiriUiMny ay A.D. 1453 HiuiMniiiiid 1410 Aflinrl II I4:W Krndnrick III 1440 Kh\Ki* »f Vranrt- Clmrbw VII 1452 biiiiM XI 14i;i K\na* of Vortuaah John I 1386 A.n Kdwnrd 1433 Alpliunmia 1438 King* t\f Denmurk and liwmtm. KrioIX 1411 (MtriMUmhor III.... 1439 ChrinUanl 144t) A'lnir* of ScotlantL Uobnrtlll 1390 JnmnNi 1484 JnimiNlI 1437 JnmuH 111 1460 KMINKNT FKKSONS. John Kirntrord nnd John Knin|i, nrrhbiNhniM of Cnnlorhiiry. Dff La Pbl«. diikn oi' Hirtliilk. Tlio Diikon of BodCord, (JlouroHtor, Kxnlnr, nnd binbop of WincliORtori rnKnntu nnd giiiirdiiiiiN In ilio king. Ricliiird, duko of York. RhonN MO long, Ihnt it wiw nnneRonry to tie thnni up lo thnir knnnM with Incnt or cImiiiN, lo niinblo llinni to wulk without Htiirnliling : gnntlniiinn lined for Ihin piir|MMO clmiim nindn of'xilvnr, r Nilvnr gill, luid olhora loind locnn. Thin ridiniloim cuiitoin wao now (A.I). 1407) proliibilnd.on thn fbrtflitiirn of iwon* tv NliillingH, nnd thn imin of nirNing by llin rinrgy. Whiilnvnr iilwiirditiim in ilroNH niiiy linvn Ixjcii rundnrnd liudiioimblo in inudorit liiun», curlninly nono have exceeded this fblly oi'oiir nn<;«Ntoni. M 184 HISTORY OF BNOLAND. CHAPTER XIX. (' ''\. EDWARD IV. Born 1441. Died April 0th, 1488. Began to reign March 5th, 1461. Reigned 9S yean. Edward, to each voluptuoim vice a ilave, Cruel, iDtemp'rate, vain, iiiipioioui, brave.— J;#«r(«n. I. (A.D. 1478.) Edward, being now free from great enemies, turned to the punishment of those of lesser note ; so that the gibbets were hung with his adversaries, and their estates confiscated to his use. Whilst he was rendering himself terrible on the one hand, he was immersed in abandoned pleasures on the other. Nature, it seems, was not unfavourable to him in personal charms ; as he was universally allowed to be the most beau- tiful man of his time. 2. His courtiers also seemed willing to encourage those debaucheries in which they had a share ; and the clergy, as they themselves practised every kind of lewdness with impunity, were ever ready to lend absolution to all his failings. The truth is, enormous vices had been of late too common. Among his other cruelties, that to his brother, the duke of Clarence, is the most remarkable. The king, hunting one day in the park of Thomas Burdet, a creature of the duke*s, killed a white buck, which was a great favourite of the owner. Burdet, vexed at the loss, broke into a passion, and wished the horns of the deer in the belly of the person who had advised the king to that insult. For this trifling exclamation, Burdet was tried for his life, and publicly ex- ecuted at Tyburn. 4. The duke of Clarence, upon the death of his friend, vented his grief in renewed reproaches against his brother, and exclaimed against the iniquity of the sentence. The king, highly offi ided with this liberty, or using that as a pretext against him, had him arraigned be- fore the house of peers, and appeared in person as his ac- cuser. 6. In those times of confusion, every crime alleged by the prevailing party was fatal ; the duke was found EDWARD V. 185 l^ilty ; and, being granted a choice of the manner in which he would die, was privately drowned in a butt of malmsey in the Tower: a whimsical choice, and implying that he had an extraordinary passion for that liquor. 6. However, if this monarch's reign was tyrannical, it was but short ; while he was employed in making prepara- tions for a war with France, he was seized with a distemper, of which he expired in the forty-second year of his age, and counting from the deposition of the late king, in the twenty- third of his reign. Queatioru for Examinatton, 1. What was now the conduct of Edward 7 2. For what was Burdet tried and executed f 4. Relate the cruelty of Edward towards his brother. 5. What kind of death did the duke of Clarence prefer t 6. How long did Edward the Fourth reign ? CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popef. A.D. Pius II 1458 Paul II 1464 SextuslV 1471 Emperor of Oermany. Frederic Hi 1440 Emperor 9 of the Turks. Mahomet II 1453 A.D. Bajaxet II 1481 King of France. Louis IX......... 1461 Kings of Portugal. AlphonsusV. 1438 John 11 1481 Kings of Denmark an& Sweden. A.D. Christian 1 1440 John 1 1481 King of Scotland. j.\meaIII 1469 EMINENT PERSONS. Thomas Borlieur, archbishop of Canterbury ; Nevil, earl of Warwick, call< ed the king-maker; Beaufort, duke of Somerset ; Richard, duke of Gloucea* (er ; Tiptoit, earl of Worcester; William Caxton, mercer of London, the first printer (practised his art in Westminster Abbey, 1471). Jane Shore. CHAPTER XIX. EDWARD V. Born 1470. Died June, 1483. Began to reign April 9, 1483. Reigned 3 months. What'i this That riioi like the iMue ofa kinv, And bean upon hit baby bruw the round And topofiov'reigntyl Shaktpeare, 1. (A.D. 1483.) The duke of Gloucester, who had been made protector of the realm, upon a pretence of guarding the persons of the 4ate king's children from danger* convey them both to the Tower. »j»4 130 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. I Having thus secured them, his next stop was to spread a report of their illegitimacy ; and by pretended obstacles, ttf Eut off the day appointed for young Edward's coronation, [is next aim was to despatch Lord Hastings, whom he knew to be warmly in the young king's interest. 2. Having summoned Lord Hastings to a council in the Tower, he entered the room knitting his brows, biting his lips, and showing, by a frequent change of countenance, the signs of some inward perturbation. A silence ensued for some time : and the lords of the council looked upon each other, not without reason expectiiig some horrid catas- trophe. 3. Laying bare his arm, all shrivelled and decayed, he accused Jane Shore and her accomplices of having pro- duced this deformity by their sorceries ; upon which Hast- ings cried, <' If they have committed such a crime, they deserve punishment.''- — ♦♦ If!" cried the protector, with a loud voice ; •♦ dost thou answer me with ifs ? I tell thee they have conspired my death ; and that thou, traitor, art an ac- complice in the crime." 4. He struck the table twice with his hand, and the room was instantly filled with armed men. • 1 arrest thee," continued he, turning to Hastings, " for high-treason ;" and at the same time gave him in charge to the soldiers. Hastings was obliged to make a short con- fession to the next priest that was at hand ; the protector crying out, by St. Paul, that he would not dine till he had seen his head taken ofT. He was accordingly hurried out to the little green before the Tower chapel, and there beheaded on a log of wood that accidentally lay in the way. 6. Jane Shore, the late king's favourite, was the next that felt his indignation. This unfortunate woman was an ene- my too humble to excite his jealousy : yet, as he had ac- cused her of witchcraft, of which all the world saw she was innocent, he thought proper to make her an example for those faults of which she was really guilty. 6. She had been formerly deluded from her husband, who was a goldsmith in Lombard-street, and continued to live with Ed- ward, the most guiltless favourite in his abandoned court. It was very probable that the people were not displeased at seeing one again reduced to her former meanness who had for a while been raised above them, and enjoyed the smiles of a court. 7. The charge against her was too notorious to be denied ; she pleaded guilty, and was accordingly con- demned to walk barefooted through the city, and to do pe nance in St. Paul's church in a white a1ipo4 imritVi a urny EDWARD V. 137 ead 8 es, W iiliun. Ill ho n the ig his ;e, the bU for 1 each catas- cayed, Ig pro- Hast- !, they 1 a loud e they ; an ac- 36 with id men. 8, " for large to jrt con- rotector he had d out to eheaded ext that an ene- had ac- 3aw she sxample 6. She ) was a vith Ed- d court, eased at vho had le smiles lotorious gly con- to do pe- h a was taper in her hand, before thousands of spectators. Slie lived Hbove forty years after this sentence, and was reduced to the most extreme indigence. 8. The protector now began to throw off the mask, and to deny his pretended regard for the sons of the late king, thinking it high time to aspire to the crown more openly. He had previously gained over the duke of Buckingliam, a man of talents and power, by bribes and promises of future favour. This nobleman, therefore, used all his arts to cajole the populace and citizens at St. Paul's cross ; and, construing their silence into consent, his followers cried " Long live king Richard !*' Soon after, the mayor and aldermen waiting upon Richard with an offer of the crown* he accepted it with seeming reluctance Questions for Examination, 1. What was the conduct of the duke of Gloucester towards the young princes 7 2, 3. By what vile arts did he get rid of lord Hastings? A. Who next felt his indignation ? 6. Who was Jane Shore ? 7. What punishment did she sufler ? 8. In what maruter did Richard contrive to procure an offer of the crown f CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNa Pope. A.D. SextusIV 1471 Emperor of Qermany. Frederic III. 1410 Emperor of the Turks. B^jazetll 1481 King of France. A.D. Charles VIII 1483 Xing of Portugal. John II 1481 EMINENT PERSONa King of Denmark ana Sweden. John. A.D. 1481 King of Scotland. Jamesfll 1460 Richard, duke of Gloucester, protector. Edward, earl of Warwick ; Margaret, countess of Salisbury (children of Georse, duke of Clarence) Earl Grey ; marquis of Dorset ; William Lord Hastings. William Caxton, mercer, of London, the first English printer ; he established a printing press in Westminster-abbey, A. D. 1471. m2 ■Pm 138 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. CHAPTER XXI. RICHARD III. Born HSO. Died Aug. 33, 14i^5. Dngan to reign June 37, 1483. Ucigned 3 years. Tetchy and wnyward wa« hit infancy ; tin tclionl-dayi Crighirul, dnsperale, wild, and Turioui; Mill primn ofniiinliodd dnrintt, bold end vunliiroui ; Ilii age ounflrm'd, proud, aubtle, tly, and bloudy.— £ikaJlt*peara. !.• (A. D. 1483.) One crime ever draws on another; justice will revolt against fraud, and usurpation requirer •ecurity. As soon, therefore, as Richard was seated upon the throne, he sent the governor of the Tower orders to put the two young princes to death ; but this brave man, whose name was Brackenbury, refused to be made the instrument of a tyrant's will ; but submissively answered, that he knew not how to imbrue his hands in innocent blood. A fit in- strument, however, was not long wanting; sir James Tyrrel readily undertook the office, and Brackenbury was ordered to resign to him the keys for one night. 2. Tyrrel, choosing three associates, Slater, Deighton, and Forest, came in the night-time to the door of the chamber where the princes were lodged, and, sending in the assassins, he bid them ex- ecute their commission, while he himself stayed without. They found the young princes in bed, and fallen into a sound sleep : after suffocating them with a bolster and pil- lows, they showed their naked bodies to Tyrrel, who ordered them to be buried at the stairs' foot, deep in the ground, under a heap of stones. 3. But while the usurper thus endeavoured to establish his power, he found it threatened in a quarter where he least expected an attack. The duke of Buckingham, who had been instrumental in placing him on the throne, now took disgust, being refused some confiscated lands for which he solicited. He therefore levied a body of men in Wales, and advanced with hasty marches towards Gloucester, where he designed to cross the Severn. 4. Just at that time the river was swoln to such a degree, that the country on both sides was deluged, and even the tops of some hills were covered with water. The inundation continued for ten days ; during which Buckingham's army, composed of * See tlie note at the end of the reifni of Henry VI!. ^ igned nother ; require* ipon the put the , whose itrument he knew A fit in- s Tyrrel ordered choosing le in the I princes them ex- without. n into a : and pil- rel, who ep in the establish e he least who had now took which he in Wales, ,er, where time the ' on both liills were id for ten iposed of MCHARD III. 13U Welshmen, could neither pass the river nor find subsistence on their own side ; they were therefore obliged to disperse, and return honie, notwithstanding all the duke's efforts to prolong their ^tay. 5. In this helpless situation, the duke, after a short deliberation, took refuge at the house of one Bannister, wlilp had been his servant, and who had received repeated obliga,tions from his family ; but the wicked seldom rind, as they se(ldom exert, friendship. Bannister, unable to resist the temptation of a large reward that was set upon the duke's head, went and betrayed him to the shciiff of Shropsh re : who, surrounding the house with armed men, seized the duke, in the habit of a peasant, and conducted him to Salisbury ; where he was instantly tried, condemned, and executed, according to the summary method practised in those days. 6. Amidst the perplexity caused by many disagreeable occurrences, the king received information that the earl of Richmond was making preparations to land in England, and assert his claims to the crown. Richard, who knew not in what quarter he might expect the invader, had taken post at Nottingham, in the centre of the kingdom ; and had given commission to several of his creatures to oppose the enemy wherever he should land. 7. Some time after, however, the earl of Richmond, who was a descendant from John of Gaunt, by the female line, resolved to strike for the crown. He had been obliged to quit the kingdom ; but he now, knowing how odious the king was, set out from Harfleur, in Normandy, with a retinue of about two thousand persons, and after a voyage of six days, arrived at Milford-haven, in Wales, where he landed without opposition. 8. Upon news of this descent, Richarcl, who was pos- sessed of courage and military conduct, his only virtues, instantly resolved to meet his antagonist and decide their mutual pretensions by a battle. Richmond, on the other hand, being reinforced by sir Thomas Bouchier, sir Walter Hungerford, and others, to the number of about six thou- sand, boldly advanced with the same intention ; and in a few days both armies drew near Bosworth-field,* where the contest that had now for more than forty years filled the kingdom with civil commotions, and deluged its plains with blood, was determined by the death of Richard, who was * In Leicestershirt. The battle fought at this place was the ln«t of thi^ «Ben between the houses of York and I^nco^ter. 140 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ulain in battle : while Richmond was naluted king by tb« title of Henry the Seventh.* Qu'ittioru for Examination, 1. What wai the first act of Richard 7 2. In what manner were his ordcn executed T 3. From what quarter and on what occasion waa Richard fint threatened 4. What obliged Budtingham's army to disperse ? 5. What was the fate of the duke of Buckmgham? 6. With what new opposer did Richard now contend f 7. V/here did Richmond land ? 8. By whom wns he joined ? Where did the armies meet? What was the result of the battle ? . CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popes, A.D. SextusIV 1471 Innocent Vlll 1484 Emperor of Oermany. Frederic II 1440 Emperor of the Turks. Bajazetll 1481 King of France. Charles VIII 1483 King of Portugal. John II 1481 EMINENT PERSONS. King of Denmark and Swedeti John 14& King of Scotland. James ni 146( Henry Tudor, earl of Richmond. Staflford, duke of Buckingham. Vere, earl of Oxford. Thomas, lord Stanley. Howard, duke of Norfolk. Francis, viscount Lovel. Sir Richard Ratclifie. Sir William Catesby. * Richard's body, afler being exposed, was buried in the church of the Grey Friars, at Leicester. Henry vll. bestowed a monument on it, which was demolished at the dissolution of abbeys under Henry VIII. ; wd the monarch's stone coffin actually served for a horse-trough, at the White Horse t / — ■• v_ • '■' i \ ( ' / , ' 1 1 / „ /.:/ 4 '^- /v X 4 1 I \ f A.C (' <] -I O t LP-^ HINRY VII. CHAPTER XXII. HENRY VII. Bornl4M. Died A.wil S9, 1500. Began to reign Aug. 93, 1485. Rsigned 831 yean. SECTION I. Bqt oh I how aliorad wu the mournfbl tone. When Hnrry Richmond, armed with title true, Hit baldriclc 'crow hia ahoulder flung, 6 And with eniiv'ninf trumpet blew call to arnit that through the ialand rung ! ia claim announoiog tu the Engliah throne. — Dihibn. 1. (A. D. 1485.) Henry's first care, upon coming to the throne, was to marry the princess Elizabeth, daughter of Edward the Fourth ; and thus be blended the interest of the houses of York and Lancaster, so that ever after they were incapable of distinction. 2. A great part of the miseries of his predecessors pro- ceeded from their poverty, which was mostly occasioned by riot and dissipation. Henry saw that money alone could turn the scale of power in his favour; and, therefore, hoarded up all the confiscations of his enemies with the utmost frugality. Immediately after his marriage with Elizabeth, he issued a general pardon to all such as Chose to accept it ; but people were become so turbulent and factious, by a long course of civil war, that no governor could rule them, nor any king please ; so that one rebellion seemed extinguished only to give rise to another. 3. There lived in Oxford one Richard Simon, a priest, who possessing some subtlety, and more rashness, trained up Lambert Sininel, a baker's son, to counterfeit the person of the earl of Warwick, the son of the duke of Clarence, who was smothered in a butt of nnalmsey. But, as the im- postor was not calculated to bear a close inspection, it was thought proper to show him first at a distance ; and Ireland was judged the fittest theatre for him to support his assumed character. 4. In this manner Simnel, being joined by lord Lovel, and one or two lords more of the discontented party, re- solved to pass over into England ; and accordingly landed in Lancashire, from whence he marched to York, expecting the country would rise and join him as he marched along. But in this he was deceived; the people, averse to join a body of German and Irish troops, by whom he was sup- 142 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ported, and kept in awe by the king*8 reputation, remained in tranquillity, or gave all their asaistance to the royal cause. 5. The opposite armies met at Stoke, in the county of Nottingham, and fought a battle, which was more bloody, and more obstinately disputed, than could have been ex- pected from the inequality of their forces. 6. But a vic< tory at length declared in favour of the king, and it proved decisive. Lord Lincoln perished in the field of battle : lord Lovel was never more heard of, and it is supposed he shared the same fate. Simnel, with his tutor Simon, were taken prisoners; and four thousand of i,he common men fell in the battle. Simon, being a priest, could not be tried by the civil power, and was only committed to close con- finement. 7. Simnel was too contemptible to excite the king's fear or resentment ; he was pardoned, and made a scullion in the king's kitchen, whence he was afterwards advanced to the rank of falconer, in which mean employ- ment he died. 8. A fresh insurrection began in Yorkshire. The people resisting the commissioners who were appointed to levy the taxes, the earl of Northumberland attempted to enforce the king's command ; but the populace, being by this taught to believe that he was the adviser of their oppressions, flew to arms, attacked his house, and put him to death. The mutineers did not stop there; but, by the advice of one John Archamber, a seditious fellow of mean appearance, they chose sir John Egremont for their leader, and prepared themselves for a vigorous resistance. 0. The king, upon hearing of this rash proceeding, immediately levied a force, which he put under the earl of Surry: and this nobleman, encountering the rebels, dissipated the tumult, and took their leader, Archamber, prisoner. Archamber was shortly after executed, but sir John Egremont fled to the court of the dutchess of Burgundy, the usual retreat of all who were obnoxious to government in England. 10. One would have imagined, that from the ill success' of Simnel's imposture, few would be willing to embark in another of a similar kind ; however, the old dutchess of Burgundy, rather irritated than discouraged by the failure of her past enterprises, was determined to disturb that go- vernment which she could not subvert, A. D. 1492. She <irst procured a report to be spread that the young duke of York, said to have been murdered in the Tower, was still living ; and finding the rumour greedily received, she soon HENRY VII. 143 mccess' ark in ess of failure liat go- She ike of as still .e soon produced a young man who aHsumed his name and cha- racter. 1 1 . The person chosen to sustain this part was one Osbeck, or Warbeck, the son of a converted Jew, who had been over in England during the reign of Edward IV. where he had this son named Peter, but corrupted, after the Flemish manner, into Peterkin, or Perkin. 12. Tho dutchess of Burgundy found this youth entirely suited to ner purposes ; and her lessons, instructing him to personate the duke of York, were easily learned and strongly retained by a youth of very quick apprehension. In short, his graceful air, his courtly address, his easy manner, and elegant conversation, were capable of imposing upon all but such as were conscious of the imposture. The English, ever ready to revolt, gave credit to all these absurdities ; while the young man's prudence, conversation, and deportment served to confirm what ttieir disaffection and credulity had begun. 13. Among those who secretly abetted the cause of Perkin were lord Fitzwalter, sir Simond Mo'intford, sir Thomas Thwaits, and sir Robest Clifford. But the person of the greatest weight, and the most dangerous opposition, was sir William Stanley, the lord chamberlain, and brother to the famous lord Stanley, who had contributed to place Henry on the throne. This personage, either moved by a blind credulity, or more probably by a restless ambition, entered into a regular conspiracy against the king ; and a correspondence was settled between the malecontents in England and those in Flanders. 14. "While the plot was thus carrying on in all quarters, Henry was not inattentive to the designs of his enemies. He spared neither labour nor e^'ji'ense to detect the false- hood of the pretender to his crown ; and was equally assi- duous in finding out who were his secret abettors. For this purpose he dispersed his spies through all Flanders, and brought over, by large bribes, some of those whom he knew to be in the enemy's interest. 15. Among these, sir Robert rHifTord was the most remarkable, both for his con- sequence, and the confidence with which he was trusted. From this person Henry learnt the whole of Perkin's birth and adventures, together with the names of all those who had secretly combined to assist him. The king was pleased with the discovery ; but the more trust he gave to his spies, the higner resentment did he feign against them. 16. At first he was struck with indignation at the ingra- 144 ItlBTORV OP KNOr.AND. titiide of mnny of those about him ; but, concealing hi« resentment for n proper opportunity, he almost at the same instant arrested Fitzwaiter, Mountf«)r(l, and Thwaits, to- (fether with William Danbury, Robert Ratcliff, Thomas Cressenor, and Thomas Antwood. All these were arraigned, convicted, and condemned for high<treason. Mountford, KatcliO', and Danbury were immediately executed ; the rest received a pardon. Questiona for Examination, 1. Whtt WM II«nry'i firat cnro T 8. What priulftiit mfiamirPB did he Inko t<> nociiro hia power? 3. Who cuuiilerteilfld the pfinmii uf the eurl of Warwick? Ry whiiin wiu Simnul joiiu'd 7 o, n. Wluit w(tn) th(> cunaeaiiencoi nl thii rebellion T 7. What beraino of 8imnel f 8. Whnt cnuMtuI a fresh iiuurroction ? and what waa the conduct of th« iniiliii«oi*M f 10. What other ini|MMttire wiw now undertaken ? 11. Who waa choaen to ))cn<uiiUe the duke uf York? 12. Who inatructed Perkin to poraonate him ? 13. Who werv hia nhettora? • 14. Ift. What waa Henry 'a conduct on thia occnaien ? 16. What waa the fate of thoao who oppoaed the king? SECTION II. Jnmri bncked thn rauio of that weak prince Warb<*rk, that Fleiriiih cuuiitorfnit, Wbu on the gibbet paid the cheat. — SeoU. 1. (A.D. 1494.) The young adventurer, thus finding his hopes frustrated in England, went next to try his fortune in Scotland. In that country his luck seemed greater than in England, J:\me8 IV., the king of that country, receiving him with great cordiality. He was seduced to believe the story of his birth and adventures ; and he carried his con- fidence so far, as to give him in marriage lady Catharine Gordon, daughter of the earl of Huntley, and a near kins- woman t)l" his own ; a young lady eminent for virtue as well as beauty. 2. But not content with these instances of favour, he was resolved to attempt setting him on the throne of England. It was naturally expected that, upon Perkin's first appearance in that kingdom, all the friends of the house of York would rise in his favour. Upon this ground, therefore, the king of Scotland entered England with a numerous army, and proclaimed the young adven- *urer wherever he went. But Perkin's pretensions, attended IIKNRY VII. US Ig hii I ■anio t8, to- homns signed, nlford, ^e reHt ct or th« ing lu8 brtune er tlmn ceiving ieve the lis con- tharine ar kins- rtue as islances on the it, upon ends of Don this England adven- ttended liy rr peatcd disappointments, were now become stale, even ii\ the eyes of the popuhice ; so that, contrary to expecta- tion, none were ftnind to second his views. 8. In this manner the restless Perkin, being dismissed Hcolliind, and meeting with a very cold reception from the Flemings, who now desired to be at peace with the English, resolved to continue his scheme of opposition, and took re- fuge among the wilds and fastnesses of Ireland. A. I). I'lOT. Impatient of an inactive life, he held a consultation with his followers, Heme, Hkelton, and Astley, three broken triidesmcn ; and by their advice he resolved to try the affec- tions of the (/Ornish men ; and he no sooner made his ap- pearance among them at Uodmid, in ('ornwall, than the populace, to the number of three thousand, flocked to his standard. 4. Elated with this appearance of success, ho took on him, for the first time, the title of Richard the Fourth, king of England ; and, not to suffer the spirits of liis adherents to languish, he led them to the gates of Exeter. Finding the inhabitants obstinate in refusing to admit him, and being unprovided with artillery to force an entrance, he broke up the siege of Exeter, and retired to Taunton. 6. His followers, by this time, amounted to seven thousand men, and appeared ready to defend his cause ; but hin heart failed him upon bein^ informed that the kir< ^ was coming down to oppose him; and, instead of briuifing his men into the field, he privately deserted them, :iiul took sanctuary in the monastery of Beaulieu, in the New Forest. His wretched adherents, left to the king's mercy, found him still 'Willing to pardon ; and except a few of the ringleaders, none were treated with capital severity. 6. Af the same time some other persons were employed to treat with Perkin, and to peisuade him, under promise of a pardon, to deliver himself up to justice, and to confess and explain all the circumstances of his imposture. His affairs being altogether desperate, he embraced the king's offer without hesitation, and quitted the sanctuary. Henry being desirous of seeing him, he was brought to court, and conducted through the streets of London in a kind of mock triumph, amidst the derision and insults of the populace, which he bore with the most dignified resignation. 7. He was then compelled to sign a confession of his former life and conduct, which was printed and dispersed throughout the nation ; but it was so defective and contradictory, that instead of explaining the pretended imposture, it left it stil! " N ue HISTORY or KNULAND. moro (loubtful Uinu botbro ; niul this youtli's roal nretcniioua arc* to tliis vt^ry tiny nii object of diaputo ninong tbo Umrnotf. After nttoinntiiiK ^^^^^^ <^^ twice to OMcapo from custody, ho wna hiuigcd nt Tyburn : and Mtworal of liis adiioronts suf- fered the same ignominious dcatii. H. There luid been hitlierto nothing in this reign but plots, treasons, insurrections, impostures, and executions ; and it ic probable tlnit llenry*ii severity proceeded from the continual alarm in wiiich they held him. It is certain tluit no prinoo ever loved noace more than he ; and nnich of the ill will of his subiects arose from his attempts to repress their inclinations tor war. The usual preface to all his treaties was, ** That, when Christ came into the world, peace was sung ; and when he went out of the world, pcaco was bequeathed.** 0. He had all along two points in view ; one to depress the nobility and clergy, and the other to exalt and hunuini/o tljo populace. With this view ho procured an act, by wiiii^h tlie nobility were gr:uitod a power of disposing of their estates ; a law infinitely pleasing to the commons, and not disagreeable oven to Uie nobles, since they had thus an im- mediate resource for supplying their taste for prodigality, and answering the demands of their creditors. The blow reached them in their posterity alone ; but tliey were too ignorant to be allectod by such distant distresses. 10. He was not remiss also in abridging the pope's power, while at tlie same time he professed the utmost sub- mission to his commands, and the greatest respect for the clergy. But while he thus employed his power in lowering the intluence of the nobles and clergy, he was using every art to extend the privileges of the people. In fact, his greatest etlbrts were directed to promote trade and commerce, because they naturally introduced a spirit of liberty, and disengaged tliem from all dependence, except upon the laws and the king. 11. Before this great era, all our towns owed Uieir origin to some strong castle in the neighbour- hood, where some powerful lord generally resided. Theso were at once fortresses for protection, and prisons for all sorts of criminals. In this castle there was usually a gar- rison armed and provided, depending entirely on the noble- man's support and assistance. VI. To tliese seats of pro- tection, artificers, victuallers, ajid shopkeepers naturally resorted, and settled on some adjacent spot, to furnish the lord and his attendants with all the n»iessariea they mighi HENRY VII. 147 •lOM rned. y. »»o I 8Uf- II but lionci ; from orln'm much pts to I to nil wurlilf pence leprcas uuni/o \vl)i('li if their uu\ not nil im- igality, o blow L>re too pope's tst sub- for the )\vcring every act, his luncrcc, :ty, nnil le laws towns ghbour- Theso for all y a gar- e noble- of pro- lalurally iiish the ... ...:<»i>ii rfquiffl. The farmers also, and the husbandmen, in tlie neighbourhood, built tlioir houses there, to bo protected ngainst the numerous gangs of robbers, r.allcd Hobortsmen, that hid tliemsolvcs in the woods by day, and infested the open country by night. IS. llonry endeavoured to bring the towns from such a neighbourhood, by inviting the in- iiabitants to a more commercial situation, lie attempted to teach them frugality, and a just payment of debts, by his own example ; and never once omitted the rights ol the merchant, in all his treaties with foreign princes. H. Henry having seen England, in a great measure, civilized by his endeavours, his people pay tlieir taxes with* out constraint, the nobles confessing subordination, the laws ;done indicting punishment, the towns beginning to live in- dependent of the powerfid, commerce every day increasing, the spirit of faction extinguisiied, and foreigners cither fearing England or seeking its alliance, he began to see the approach(!H of his end, and died of the gout in his stomach, (A. D. 1500), having lived fifty-two years, and reigned twenty-three. The reign of Henry VH. produced so many beneficial changes in the condition of England, and the manners of its I)eoplo, that many historians have attributed to the monarch a larger share of wisdom and virtue than is justly his due He was a faithless friend, a bitter enemy, a cruel husband to an amiable consort, an undutiful son to his venerable mother, a careless father, and an ungenerous master. He maintained peace because Ids avarice disinclined him to the expenses of war ; ho increased the power of the people through jealousy of the nobles, and he checked the papal encroachments, bjcauso they interfered with his taxes. In- ordinate love of money and unrelenting hatred of the house of York* were his ruling passions, and the chief sources of all his vices and all his troubles. * The preteiuioM of Perkin Warbeck, the lost who claimed the crown in right ot the house of York, will naturally occur to the reader's mind, and some anxif.t/ will be felt to loam whether he was really an unfortunate prince or a crafty impostor. The latter opinion seems to have prevailed principally on the autliority of Shakspeare and lord Bncon, certainly the two greatent names in our literature, but as certainly witneHses wholly unworthy of credit in the present inMtanco. They wrote to please qneen Klizaboth, who was naturally anxious to raise the character of her grandfather Henry VII. and depreciate that of his rival Kiclmrd III. The first {wint to be ascertained is the fact of the murder of the two young princes, and this, which would at once have decided the pretensions of Warbeck, was bo far from being proved, that the inquisition taken and published by Heniy's comraund is bo full of contradictions and palpable ,.^,r^' ■,.:;>■. 148 HISTORY OF KNOLAND. Queattons for Examination, I. Where next did the young adventurer try his fortune 7 aiid what was liis Buccosa ? 3. Afler hin diHap|H>intment in Scotland, what wu Perkin'a flit«ire Mheme of o^ipoeition ? 4. Whut litlo did Pcrkin aasunie? 5. What waH \m ronduut ailerwards? 6. In what ninniii*r did Henry treat him? 7. or what natiiru was hia conleaHiun? and what hia fate? 8. Fruin what rniittt) pn)cvcdfd Henry's severity ? Whnt wns his iiNiinl preiUce to his treaties ? 0. Whnt wore the two points which Henry had always in view ? and wliat plan did he pursue to attain them? 10. How did lie abridge the power of the pope ? 11, 12. Before this era, what was the stole of the towns in £ngland ? 13, 14. By what means did Henry civilize his country ? When did the king die ? and what was his character ? CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Pmei. Innocent Vlll. .. A.D. Kings of France. A.n. H .. 1484 A.D. Emanuel 1495 Alexander VI . . . .. 1492 Charles Vm 1483 i Pius HI .. 1503 Louis XII 1498 King of Denmark and Julius HI .. 1503 Kina and Queen ofSjmin. Ferdinand* the Sweden. John 1481 Etnperon of Ge Frederick II.... rmany. ,. 1440 Catholic, and Kings of Scotland. James IH 1460 Maximilian I . 1493 Isabella 1475 James IV 1489 Emperor of the Turkt. Kings of Portugal. BiuaMtn . 1481 John 1481 abaurdities, that Henry himself never made use of it in any of his later declnratioiis. Besides, the persons who were said to have confessed the mnrder wore never brought to trial for the crime. The next evidence brought forward on the side of Henry is the confession «fXtor(»d from WarlH>ck after he was made prisoner. Like the former, it bears internal evidence of its own falsehood, though the unfortunate young man is said to have repi^ated it at the time of his death. On the other side, we have the evidence of the dutchess of Burgundy, who could have had tie possible motive for joining in such u foul cunHpirncy against the husband of hor own niece ; and to say nothing of a host of irieiula of the house of York, we have the negative evidence of the dowager-queen, whom Henry kept in close confinement from the moment of Waroeck's ap- pearance. To have bn)ught him into her presence would at once have set the aiiestioii at rest, for surely the mother would have known whether it was Iter soti or not that stood before her. But Henry took especial care to prevent such an interview, nnd the inference is, that he had just reason to dread that its consequonues would be a confirmation of Warbeck's preten- sions.— T. • Till this period, Spain had been divided into three different governments, vtz. Leon, Castile and Arrngon, under distinct sovereigns; but by the mar- ringo.of^ Ferdinand and Isabella, heiress of Castile and Arragon, the whole Was uniiou in Otav ninsrdom. "T HENRY Vlll. 149 EMINENT PERSONS. Jolin Morton, Honry Chichelcy, Thomas Langton, archbishops of Canter* bury. Marsaret, countess of Richmond, mother of the king. Caniinal Morton, lord chancellot. Fox, bishop of Winchester. Sebastian Cabot, a great navigator. Empson and Dudley, extortionate ministers of tiie king. CHAPTER XXIII. iiENRY VIII. A.I>. 1495 •nmentfl, 10 mnr- le whole i Burn 1401. P«d Janunrv 28, 1547. Began to rciin April 33, 1500. Reigned 37| years. SECTION I. Now flcnryr roigns, to loarninR much inctiii'd, But ofitrong paisiona, and a savage Riind. — Egerton, 1. (A.D. IC09.) No prince ever came to the throne with a conjuncture of circumstances more in his favour tliau Henry the Eighth, who now, in the eighteenth year of his age, undertook the government of the kingdom. As he was at the head of a formidable army, fifty thousand strong, and as a war with France was the most pleasing to the peo- ple, he determined to head his forces for the conquest of that Idngdom. 2. But France was not threatened by him alone : the Swiss, in another quarter, with twenty-five thousand men, were preparing to invade it ; while Ferdinand of Arragon, whom no treaties could bind, was only waiting for a convenient opportunity of attack on his side to advantage. Never was the French monarchy in so distressed a situation ; but the errors of its assailants procured its safety. 3. After an ostentatious but ineffectual campaign, a truce was con- cluded between the two kingdoms ; and Henry continued to dissipate, in more peaceful follies, those immense sums which had been amassed by his predecessor for very differ- ent purposes. 4. In this manner, while his pleasures on the one hand engrossed Henry's time, the preparations for repeated ex- peditions exhausted his treasures on the other. As it was natural to suppose the old ministers, who were appointed to direct him by his father, would not willingly concur in these idle projects, Henry had, for some time, discontinued asking their advice, and chiefly confided in the counsels of n2 150 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Thomas, afterwards cardinal Wolsey, who seemed to second him in his favourite pursuits. 5. Wolsey was a minister who complied with all his master's inclinations, and flattered him in every scheme to which his sanguine and impetuous temper was inclined. He was the son of a private gentle* man, at Ipswich. He was sent to Oxford so early, that he was a bachelor at fourteen, and at that time was called the boy bachelor. He rose by degrees, upon quitting college, from one preferment to another, till he was made rector of Lymington by the marquis of Dorset, whose children lie had instructed. 6. He was soon recommended as chaplain to Henry the Seventh ; and being employed by that mo- narch in a secret negotiation respecting his intended mar- riage with Margaret of Savoy, he acquitted himself to tlie king's satisfaction, and obtained the praise both of diligence and dexterity. 7. That prince having given him a commis- sion to Maximilian, who at that time resided at Brussels, was surprised in less than three days to see Wolsey present himself before him ; and, supposing he had been delinquent, began to reprove his delay. Wolsey, however, surprised him with an assurance that he had just returned from Brus- sels, and had successfully fulfilled all his majesty's com- mands. 8. His despatch on that occasion procured him the deanery of Lincoln ; and in this situation it was that be was introduced by Fox, bishop of Winchester, to the young king's notice, in hopes that he would have talents to sup- plant the earl of Surry, who was the favourite at that time ; and in this Fox was not out in his conjectures. Presently after being introduced at court, he was made a privy coun- sellor ; and as such had frequent opportunities of ingratia- ting himself with the young king, as he appeared at once complying, submissive, and enterprising. 9. Wolsey used every art to suit himself to the royal temper; he sung, laughed, and danced with every libertme of the court; neither his own years, which M'ere nearly forty, nor his character as a clergyman, were any restraint upon him, or tended to check, by ill-timed severities, the gayety of his companions. To such a weak and vicious monarch as Henry, qualities of this nature were highly pleasing ; and Wolsey was soon acknowledged as the chief favourite, and to him was intrusted the chief administration of affairs. 10. The people began to see with indignation the new fa- vourite's mean condescensions tc the king, and his arro- They had long regarded the vicious ranee to tiieiiiscivcs. -6' HENRY VIII. 151 haughtiness and the unbecoming splendour of tlie clergy with envy and detestation ; and Wolsey's greatness served to bring a new odium upon that body, already too much the object of the people's dislike. His character, being now placed in a more conspicuous point of light, daily began to manifest itself the more. 11. Insatiable in his acquisitions, but still more magnificent in his expense ; of extensive ca- pacity, but still more unbounded in enterprise ; ambitious of power, but still more desirous of glory ; insinuating, en- gaging, persuasive, and at other times lofty, elevated, and commanding ; haughty to his equds, but aijfable to his de- pendants ; oppressive to the people, but liberal to his friends ; more generous than grateful ; formed to take the ascendant in every ' ;crcourse, but vain enough not to cover his real superiority. 12. In order to divert the envy of the public from his inordinate exaltation, he soon entered into a correspondence with Francis the First, of France, who had taken many methods to work upon his vanity, and at last succeeded. In consequence of that monarch's wishes, Henry was per- suaded by the cardinal to an interview with that prince. This expensive congress was held between Guisnes ana Andres, near Calais, within the English pale, in compliment to Henry for crossing the sea. Questions for Examination, 1. Wliat combination of circumstances favoured Henry the Eighth on com- ing to the throne ? 3. Whnl was the conduct of Henry after the truce with France T 4. In what counsels did Henry chiefly confide ? 5 Whose son was cardinal Woisey ? 6 What disgraceful circumstance happened to Woisey ? 7, 8. What circumstances led to Wolsey's advancement? 9. What were the ai ts used by Woisey to please the king ? 10. What were the consequences? 1 1. In what manner did Wolsey's character now manifest itself? 12 Witli whom did he enter into a correspondence ? d affairs, new fa- is arro- vicious SECTION II. At GuimM, where Fiance and Encland met In dazzling panoply of gold. — Dibdin, 1. (A.D. 1520.) Some months before, a defiance had beer, sent by the two kings to each other's court, and through all the chief cities of Europe, importing that Henry and 152 HI8T0RV OF ENGLAND. Francis, with fourteen aids, would be ready in the plains of Picardy to answer all comers, that were gentlemen, a tilt and tournay.* Accordingly, the monarchs, now '^1. gorgeously apparelled, entered the lists on horseback Francis, surrounded with Henry's guards, and Henry with those of Francis. 2. They were both at that time the most comely personages of their age, and prided themselves on their expertness in the military exercises. The ladies were the judges in these feats of chivalry ; and they put an end to the encounter whenever they thought proper. In these martial exercises, the crafty French monarch gratified Henry's vanity by allowing him to enjoy a petty pre-eminence iii these pastimes. 3. By this time all the immense treasures of the late king were quite exhausted on empty pageants, guilty pleasures, or vain treaties and expeditions. But the king relied on Wolsey alone for replenishing his coffers ; and no person could be fitter for the purpose. 4. His first care was to get a large sum of money fVom the people, under the title of a benevolence ; which, added to its being extorted, had the mortification of being considered as a free gift. Henry little mmded the manner of its being raised, provided he had the enjoyment of it; however, his minister n^et with some oppo- sition in his attempts to levy these extorted contributions. In tue first place, having exacted a considerable sum from the clergy, he next addressed himself to the house of com- mons ; but they only granted him half the supplies he de- manded. 5. Wolsey was at first highly offended at their parsimony, and desired to be heard in the house ; but as this would have destroyed the very form and constitution of that august body, they replied, that none could be permitted to sit and argue there but such as had been elected mem- bers. This was the first attempt made in this reign to render the king master of the debates in parliament. Wolsey first paved the way, and, unfortunately for the kingdom, Henry too well improved upon his plans soon after. 6. Hitherto the administration of all affairs was carried on by Wolsey ; for the king was contented to lose, in the embraces of his mistresses, all the complaints of his sub- jects ; and the cardinal undertook to keep him ignorant, in order to continue his uncontrolled authority. But now a period was approaching that was to put an end to this * This game was instituted by Henry I. of Germany, A.D. 919, ana abo* lished ir. 1560. HENRY VIII. 168 Tried n the sub- )rant, now this la abo' minister's exorbitant power. One of the most extraordi- ijary and important revolutions that ever employed the attention of man was now ripe for execution. This was no less a change than the reformation. 7. The vices and impositions of the church of Rome were now almost come to a head ; and the increase of arts and learning among the laity, propagated by means of printing, which had. been lately invented, began to make them resist that power, which was originally founded on deceit. A.D. 1519. Lee the Tenth was at that time pope, and ^gerly employed in building the church of St. Peter, at Rome. In order U procure money for carrying on that expensive undertaking he gave a commission for selling indulgences, a practic. that had often been tried before. 8. These were to free the purchaser from the pains of purgatory ; and they would serve even for one's friends, if purchased with that inten- tion. The Augustine friars* had usually been employed in Saxony to preach the indulgences, and from this trust had derived both profit and consideration ; but the pope's minister, supposing that they had found out illicit methods of secreting the money, transferred this lucrative employ- ment from them to the Dcminicans.t 9. Martin Luther, professor in the university of Wirtemberg, was an Augus- tine monk, and one of those who resentea this transfer of the sale of indulgences from one order to another. He began to show his indignation by preaching against their efficacy ; and being naturally of a fiery tenf-sr, and pro- voked by opposition, he inveighed against the authority of the pope himself. Being driven hard by his adversaries, still as he enlarged his reading, in order to support his tenets, he discovered some new abuse or error in the church of Rome. 10. In this dispute, it was the fate of Henry to be champion on both sides. His father, w^o had given him the education of a scholar, permitted him to be instructed in school divinity, which thei? was the princi- pal object of learned inquiry. Henry, therefore, willing to convince the world of his abilities in that science, obtained the pope's permission to read the works of Luther, which * They observed the rule of St. Augustine, prescribed them by pope AIex« ander IV. m 1256. This rule was, to have all things in common : the rich, wlio entered among them, were compelled to sell their possessions, and give them to the poor. t In some places called jacobins, and in others predicants, or preaching friars ; they were obliged to take a vow of absolute poverty, and to abandcm entirely their revenues and possessions. 154 nilTORT OF ENGLAND. had been forbidden under pain of excommunication. 11. In consequence of this, the king defended the seven sacraments, out of St. Thomas Aquinas ; and showed some dexterity in this science, though it is thought that Wolsey had the chief hand in directing him. A book being thus finished in haste, it was sent to Rome for the pope's approbation, which it was natural to suppose would not be withheld. The pontiff, ravished with its eloquence and depth, compared it to the labours of St. Jerome, or St. Augustine, and re- warded the author of it with the title of defender of the FAITH ; little imagining that Henry was soon to be one the most terrible enemies that ever the church of Rome had to contend with. Questions for Examination, 1, 2. Relate the particulars of the congress that took place in the plains of Picardy. 3. In what manner were the late king's treasures exhausted ? 4. How were the king's cofTers replenished ? 5. What was the first attempt made to render the king master of the de- bates in parliament ? 6. Why did Wolsey endeavour to keep the king ignorant of the complaints of his subjects? 7. What practices led to the reformation ? 9. In what manner did Luther oppose the transfer of the sale of induJ ■ences 7 10, 11. What was the king's conduct on this occasion! and what was his reward? * ^•1 SECTION III. When, thundentruck, that eagle Wobey Tdl.— Fowv. 1. (A.D. 1527.) Henry had now been eighteen yeayis married to Catharine of Arragon, who had been brought over from Spaiii, and married to his eldest brother, who died a few months after. But, notwithstanding the submis- sive deference paid for the indulgence of the church, Hen- ry's marriage with this princess did not pass without scru- ple and hesitation, both on his own side and on that of the people. 2. However, his scruples were carried forward, though perhaps not at first excited by a motive much more powerful than the tacit suggestion of his conscience. It happened that among the maids of honour then attending the queen, there was one Anna BuUen, the daughter of sir Thomas BuUen, a gentleman of distinction, and related to most of the nobility, He had been employed by the king HENRY VIII. 165 n. 11. In jacraments, e dexterity ley had the I finished in ition, which held. The ,, compared ip», and re- )ER OF THE ) be one the ome had to in the plains of i! taster of the de« }f the complaints le sale of indui nd what wa» his \nt- ghteen years )een brought jrother, who ig the submis- church, Hen- without scru- on that of the rried forward, ve much more onscience. It hen attending laughter of sir and related to ed by the king / \\i several embassies, and was married to a daughter of the duke of Norfolk. 3. The beauty of Anna surpassed what- ever had hitherto appeared at this voluptuous court; and her education, which she had received at Paris setoff her personal charms. Henry, who had never learned the art of restraining any passion that he desired to gra- tify, saw and loved her ; but, of course, could not marry her without previously divorcing his wife, queen Catha* rine of Arragon. 4. This obstacle, therefore, he hardly undertook to remove ; and as his own queen was now become hateful to him, in order to procure a divorce, he alleged that his conscience rebuked him for having so long been married to the wife of his brother. In. this pretended perplexity, therefore, he applied to Cle ment the Seventh, who owed him many obligations, desir- ing him to dissolve the bull of the former pope, which had given him permission to marry Catharine ; and to declare that it was not in the power, even of the holy see, to dis- pense with the law so strictly enjoined in Scripture. 5. The unfortunate pope, unwilling to grant, yet afraid to re- fuse, continued to promise, recant, dispute, and temporize ; hoping that the king's passion would never hold out during the tedious course of an ecclesiastical controversy. In this he was entirely mistaken. Henry had been long taught to dispute as well as he, and quickly found or wrested many texts in Scripture to favour his opinions, or his passions. 6. During the course of a long perplexing negotiation, on the issue of which Henry's happiness seemed to depend, he had at first expected to find in his favourite Wolsey a warn^ defender and a steady adherent ; but in this he found him- self mistaken. Wolsey seemed to be in pretty mujh the same dilemina with the pope. On the one hand, he was lo please his master the king, from whom he had received a thovoand marks of favour ; and on the other hand, he feared to disoblige the pope, whose servant he more imme- diately was, and who, besides, had power to punish his dis- obedience. 7. He, therefore, resolved to continue neuter in the controversy ; and, though of all men the most haughty, he gave way on this occasion to Campeggio, the pope's nun- cio, in all things, pretending a deference to his skill in canon law. Wolsey's scheme of temporizing was highly displeas- ing to the king, but for a while he endeavoured to stifle his resentment, until he could act with more fatal certainty. 150 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. He for some time looked out for a man of equal abilities and less art ; and it was not long before accident threw in his way one Thomas Granmer, of greater talents, and probably of more integrity. 8. Thus finding himself provided with a person who could supply Wolsey's place, he appeared less reserved in his resentments against that prelate. The attorney-general was ordered to prepare a bill of indictment against him ; and he was soon after commanded to resign the great seal. Crimes are easily found out against a favourite in disgrace, and the courtiers did not fail to increase the catalogue of his errors. He was ordered to depart from York-place palace ; and all his furniture and plate were converted to the king's use. 9. The inventory of his goods being taken, they were found to exceed even the most extravagant surmises. He was soon after arrested by the earl of Northumberland, at the king's command, for high-treason, and preparations were made for conducting him from York, where he then resided, to London, in order to take his trial. 10. He at first refused to comply with the requisition, as being a cardinal ; but find- ing the earl bent on performing his commission, he com- plied, and set out by easy journeys to London, to appear as a criminal, where he had acted as a king. In his way he stayed a fortnight at the earl of Shrewsbury's ; where one day, at dinner, he was taken ill, not without violent suspi- cions of having poisoned himself. Being brought forward from thence, he with much difficulty reached Leicester-ab- bey ; where the monks coming out to meet him, he said, " Father Abbot, I am come to lay my bones among you :" and immediately ordered his bed to be prepared. 11. As his disorder increased, an officer being placed near him, at once to guard and attend him, he spoke to him a little before he expired to this effect : ** Had I but served God as dili- gently as I have served the king, he would not have given me over in my gray hairs. But this is the just reward 1 must receive for my indulgent pains and study ; not regard- ing my service to God, but only to my prince." He died soon after, in all the pangs of remorse, and left a life which li^d all along been rendered turbid by ambition, and wretch- ed by mean assiduities. '12. The tie that held Henry to the church being thus broken, he resolved to keep no farther measures with the pontiff. He, therefore, privately married Anna BuUeni ^'r"',K^'lJ^Ws IJJ^t'pmg'T^*" T3 " -'' ;-:?*"«" U-^V*-^ < «. ^ < « «^---'' IISNSY VIII. '^^T Bullen« DMih of QuMB CathariM of Amgon. whom he had created marchioness of Pembroke ; the duke of Norfolk, uncle to the new queen, her father, and Dr. Cranmer, being present at the ceremony. Soon aAer, cir- cumstances compelled him publicly to own his marriage ; and, to cover his disobedience to the pope with an appear* ance of triumph, he passed with his beautiful bride through London with a magnificence greater than had ever been known before. But though Henry had thus seceded from the church, yet he had not addicted himself to the system of the reformers. 13. As the monks had all along shown him the greatest resistance, he resolved at once to deprive them of future power to injure him. He accordingly empowered Thomas Cromwell, who was now made secretary of state, to send commissioners into the several counties of England to inspect the monasteries, and to report with rigorous exactness the conduct and deportment of such as were resident there. This employment was readily undertaken by some creatures of the court, namely, Layton, London, Price, Gage, Peter, and Bellasis, who are said to have discovered monstrous disorders in many of the religious houses. The accusations, whether true or false, were urged with great clamour against these communities, and a general horror was excited in the nation against them. 14. Queen Catherine of A.rragon, Henry*s first wife, lived in retirement after her divorce until her decease. She was ono of the brightest characters in English history. Her charac* ter and death are admirably depicted by Shakspeare. u 158 IIIITORT Of INOLAIVD. Quatioru for -#■ Who WM Henry'i lint wife f Whom did he afterwardi wuh to obtain t What dfltcription ii given of Anna Bullen T What pretenM did Henrv allege to procure • divoroe * What wae the conduct or the pope f What were the circunutancea Which put an end to WolMjr'a power I In what manner did tlie liing act towards himt 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 9. What account it given of the inventory of hie goods t 10. What circumstances preceded the death of Wotsejr f " • ' ' rU death 11. Relate Wolsey's eipression immediately before 18. What followed Wolsey's death T 13. What commission did the king give to Cromwell t 14. What is said of queen Catharine f ji SECTION IV. 7V/ 1^. \ wu; IVrtnnio eraeltr, voluptuoua prid«, IfiMtiabl* liotintiouineM and luiilt, 8o ihara thii monarch, we can ne'er decide On what one vice hii rnliOK wiah waa btiilt.^Dibdin. 1. (A.D. 1536.) A NEW visitation of the religious houses was soon after appointed, and fresh crimes were also pro- duced ; so that his severities were conducted with such seem- ing justice and success, that in less than two years he became possessed of all the monastic revenues. These, on the whole, amounted to six hundred and forty-five, of which twenty-eight had abbots who enjoyed a seat in parliament. Ninety colleges were demolished in several counties ; two thousand three hun- dred and seventy-four chantries and free chapels, and a hun- dred and ten hospitals. 2. The whole revenue of these esta- blishments amounted to one hundred and pixty-one thousand pounds, which was about a twentieth part of the national income. But as great murmurs were excited by some on this occasion, Henry took care that all those who could be useful to him, or even dangerous in case of opposition, should be sharers in the spoil. He either made a gift of the revenues of the convents to his principal courtiers, or sold them at low prices, or exchanged them for other lands on very disadvantageous terms. 3. Henry's opinions were at length delivered in a law, which, from its horrid consequences, was afterwards termed the Bloody Statute ; by which it was ordained, that who- ever, by word or writing, denied transubstantiation, whoever maintained that the communion in both kinds was necessary, whoever asserted that it was lawful for priests to marry, whoever alleged that vows of chastity might be brokenf whoever maintained that private masses were unprofitable, or that auricular confession was unnecessary, shculd be found essary, marry, iroken, fikable, -tnn 150 ffuilty of heresy, ^^^^^^r hll!|ed as the court should determine. 4. Ali^^^MPvvjiire at that time chiefly com* posed of those wh^^^^ecf the opinions of Luther, and such as still adhered to the pop^ this statute, with Henry's former decrees, in some mealltflr included both, and opened a field lor persecution, whi^ soon after produced its dread- ful harvests. Bainham and Bilney were burned for theii Oi>po8ition to popery. Sir Thomas More and bishop Fisher were beheaded for denying the king's supremacy. 6. These severities, however, were preceded by one of a different nature, arising neither from religious nor political causes, but merely from a tyrannical caprice. Anna BuUen, his queen, had always been favourable to the reformation, and consequently had many enemies on that account, who only waited some fit occasion to destroy .' jr cred? with the king, and that occasion presented itself but too oon. 6. The king's passion was by this time abated, an ' lie became as desirous to divorce thf" queen as he bad formerly b>'*n to marry her. He was now fallen in lov \ if we may so prostitute the expression, with anothei, and was desirous to marry Jane Seymour, who had for some time been maid of honour to the queen. , . 7. In the mean time her enemies were not remiss in rais- ing an accusation against her. The duke of Norfolk, from his attachment to the old religion, took care to produce seve- ral witnesses, accusing her of impropriety with some of the meaner servants of the court. Four persons were par« ticularly pointed out as her favourites ; Henry Norris, groom of the stool ; Weston and Breton, gentlemen of tho king's bedchamber; togethf with Mark Smeaton, a musi* cian. 8. AccordiiL^ly, soou ''-or, Norris, Weston, Breton, and Smeaton were tried in Westminster-ihall, when Smeaton was prevailed upon, by the promise of a pardon, to confess a criminal correspondence with the queen ; but he was never confronted with her ho accused ; and his execution with the rest, shortly after, served to acquit her of the charge. 9. Norris, who had been much in the king's favour, had an offer of his life if he would confess his crime, and accuse his mistress ; but he rejected the proposal with contempt, and died professing her innocence and his own. The queen and her brother were tried by a jury of peers ; but upon what proof or pretence the crime was urged against them is unknown: the chief evidence, it is said, amounted to no more than that Rochford had b@en seen to lean on her -if'-?j ■■v:i^»,'v.>jjs ^.yiQjuL -"a 100 bed before some co her was, that she hadd never had her heart upon the throne, and str he charge against ants that the king !^sidered as a slander jyto a breach of law by statute, by which it was declared dlQilinal to throw any slander upon the king, queen, or thoir issue^^he unhappy queen, though unassisted by counsel, defended herself with great judgment and presence of mind ; and the spectators could not forbear declarin;^ her entirely innocent. 11. She answered distinctly to all the charges brought against her : but the king*s authority was not to be controlled ; she was declared guilty, and her sen* tence ran that she should be burned or beheaded at the king's pleasure. On tlie morning of her execution, her sentence being mitigated into beheading, she sent for Kingstone, the keeper of the Tower, to whom, upon entering the prison, she said, ** Mr. Kingstone, I hear I am not to die till noon, and I am sorry for it ; for I thought to be dead before this time, and free from a life of pain." 12. The keeper attempting to comfort her by assuring her the pain would bo very little, she replied, *' I have heard the executioner is very expert; and (clasping her neck with her hands, laughing) I have but a little neck." When brought to the scaffold, from a con- sideration of her child Elizabeth's welfare, she would not inflame the minds of the spectators against her prosecutors, but contented herself with saying, that '* she was come to die as she was sentenced by the law." 13. She would ac- cuse none, nor say any thing of the ground upon which she was judged ; she prayed heartily for the king, and caUed him ** a most merciful and gentle prince : that he had always been to her a good and gracious sovereign ; and if that any one should think proper to canvass her cause, she desired him to judge the best." She was beheaded fa^(HBid execu- tioner of Calais, who was brought over, as muclnKore expert than any in England. 14. The very next day after her execution he married the lady Jane Seymour, his cruel heart being no way softened by the wretched fate of one that had been so lately the object of his warmest affections. He also ordered his parliament to give him a divorce between her sentence and execution, and thus he endeavoured to render Elizabeth, the only child he had by her, illegitimate, as he had in the same manner, formerly, Mary, his only child by queen Catharine. a HENRY VIII. m rainst king ander atutc, upon lough ^ment )rbear inctly horily er sen- king's ! being keeper e said, 1 1 am le, and ting to \f little, Bxpert ; ave but a con- iild not icutors, ome to »uld ac- lich she caUed always hat any desired execu- experl *ter her lel heart ;hat had He also leen hei render , as he ihUd by Questions for Examination, 1. What monofitic ro venues now catno into tho king's pjaaessionf 2. Wlint was tho nmouiit ui* thoHo revenues 7 3. Whnt were the opinions of Henry ? 4. What were the horrid consequences? 5. What tyrannical act preceded these severities ? 7. Relate the charges alleged against Anna BuUen. 9. What is said to nave been the chief evidence against her t 10. What strange charge was brought against her? 11. What was hor behaviour on the trial? 12,13. What at hor execution? i 14. In what manner did tho king ac;<, after her execiition f SECTION V. Superior Crnnmer, in a crowd niono, Darov fricndiihip with tho viituoua I'tillon own. — Diftdtn. 1. (A.D. 1537.) In the midst of these commotions tlie fires of Smithfield were seen to blaze with unusual fierce- ness. Those who adhered to the pope, or those who fol- lowed the doctrines of Luther, were equally the objects of royal vengeance and ecclesiastical persecution. From the multiplied alterations which were made in the national sys- tems of belief, mostly drawn up by Henry himself, few knew what to think, or what to profess. 2. They were ready enough to follow his doctrines, how inconsistent or contradictory soever ; but, as he was continually changing them himself, they could hardly pursue so fast as he advancea before theiH: Thomas Cromwell, raised by the king's ca- price from being a blacksmith's son to be a royal favourite (for tyrants ever raise their favourites from the lowest of the people), together with Cranmer, now become archbishop of Canterbusy^, were both seen to favour the reformation with all their eftdeavours. 3. On the other hand, Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, together with the duke of Norfolk, were for leading the king back to his original faith. In fact, Henry submitted to neither ; his pride had long been so inflamed by flattery, that he thought himself entitled to regulate, by his own bingle opinion, the religious faith of the whole nation. \ 4. Soon after, no less than five hundred persons were im- prisoned for contradicting the opinions delivered in the Bloody Statute : and received protection only from the lenity of Cromwell. Lambert, a schoolmaster, and doctor Barnes, who had been instrumental in Lambert's execution, felt the o2 102 HISTORY OF ENGLAND- severity of the persecuting spirit, and by a bill in parliament, without any trial, were condemned to the flames, discussing theological questions at the very stake. "With Barnes were executed one Gerrard, and Jerome, for the same opinions. Three catholics also, whose names were Abel, Featherstone, and Powel, were dragged upon the same hurdles to execu- tion ; and who declared that the most grievous part of their punishment was the being coupled with such heretical mis- creants as were united in the same calamity. 5. During these horrid transactions, Henry was resolved to take another queen, Jane Seymour having died ; and after some negotiations upon the continent he contract- ed marriage with Anne of Cleves, his ain being, by her means, to fortify his alliance with the princes of Ger- many. 6. His aversion, however, to the cueen secretly increased every day ; and he at length resolved to get rid of her and his prime minister together. He had a strong cause of dislike to him for his late unpropitious alliance ; and a new motive was soon added for increasing his displeasure. Henry had fixed his affection on Catharine Howard, niece to the duke of Norfolk ; and the only method of gratifying this new passion was, as in the former cases, discarding the present queen to make room for a new one. The duke of Norfolk had long been Cromwtirs mortal enemy, and eagerly embraced this opportunity to destroy a man he considered as his rival. 7. He therefore, made use of all his niece's arts to ruin the favourite ; and when this project was ripe for execution, he obtained a commission from the king to arrest Cromwell for high-treason. His disgrace was no sooner known, than all his friends forsook him, except Cranmer, who wrote such a letter to Henry in his behalf, as no other man in the kingdom would have presumed to offer. How- t i'er, he was accused in parliament of heresy and treason • and without even being heard in his own defence, condemn- ed to suffer the pains of death, as the king should think proper to direct. 8. When he was brought to the scaffold, his regard for his son hindered him from expatiating upon his own innocence. He thanked God for bringing him to death for his transgressions ; confessed he had often been seduced, but that he now died in the catholic faith. But the measure of Henry's severities was not yet filled up. He had thought himself very happy in his new mar- riage. He was so captivated with the queen's accomplish- ments, that he gave public thanks for his felicity, and desired HENRY VIII. 16a J : I uvsiicu his confessor to join with him in the sams thanksgiving. 0. This joy, however, was of very short duration. While the king was at York, upon an intended conference with the king of Scotland, a man of the name of Lassels waited upon Cranmer at London ; and, from the information of his sis- ter, who had been servant to the dutchess-dowager of Nor- folk, he gave a very surprising account of the queen's crimi- nality. When the queen was first examined relative to her crime, she denied the charge ; but afterwards, finding that her accomplices were her accusers, she confessed her crime in part, but denied some of the circumstances. 10. Three maids of honour, who were admitted to her secrets, still further alleged her guilt; and some of them made such confessions as tended to augment the nature of her crime. The servile parliament, upon being informed of the queen's crime and confession, quickly found her guilty, and petitioned the king that she might be punished with dodth ; that the same penalty might be inflicted on the lady Rochford, her friend and confidant ; and that her grandmother, the dutchess-dowager of Norfolk, together with her father, mother, and nine others, men and women, as having been privy to the queen's irregularities, should participate in her punishment. With this petition the king was most graciously pleased to agree ; they were condemned to death by an act of attainder, which, at the same time, made it capital for all persons to conceal their knowledge of the criminality of any future queen. 11. The queen was beheaded on Tower-hill, together with the lady Rochford, who found no great degree of compa^jsion, as she had herself before tampered in blood. Questions for Examination. I What cruel persecution followed the multiplied alterations in the nationa. belief? 2. Who favoured the reformation ? 3. Who endeavoured to lead the king back to popery ? 5. Upon whom did Henry fix his atltsctions ? G. What caused Henry's dislike to Cromwell ? and what was the conse quence ? ■\.-; 164 9. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. In nrbat maaiMr was th« king infoimed of the oriminalily of hi* queen 7 10. Who were the witnenes that alleged her guilt f 11. What was the Ate of the queen f j j,-, / j, ,^. ;v, , j ji ■• "Wi^^Ki'^l '*<' ''/^■v\ ___^ -^ I'- ■■'.)■ M ^'^KV«-> •vi>y, JaT'^K/v , ^ ■ ■ . ;"'»^;tfPi'.#' -jjf'jT- .■^- ;■ 'Jf«^f?f*^ x:'>^>'»V'..i. >:U '■"•i •'■f*'*'-:Aj'------..---^ ■■■-, K- < ; ■-■/•■■ ^ .-,■ jT;.'- '*.rn-n?*^w t^iW'.^^^a SECTION VL .,.,:/...,;/ Z^'^^^.v S*;«v^!,^? "!-?< I wooM not htre luob a heart in my boMin ?-»^ / 1. (A.D. 1643.) In about a year after the death of the last queen, Henry once more changed his condition, by marrying his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr, who was a widow. She was the widow of the late lord Latimer : and was considered ai a woman of discretion and virtue. She had already passed the meridian of life^ and managed this capricious tyrant*ii temper with prudence and success. 2. Still, however, tlie (king's severity to his subjects con- tinued as fierce as ever. For some time he had been incom- moded by an ulcer in his leg ; the pain of which, adde^ to his corpulence and other infirmities, increased his natural irascibility to such a degree, that scarcely any of his domes- tics approached him without terror. It was not to be ex- pected, therefore, that any who differed from him in opinion should, at this time particularly, hope for pardon.,V;»^:i/ .- ,i»a 3. Though his health was declining apace, yet his im- placable cruelties were not the less frequent. His resentment was diffused indiscriminately to all ; at one tim^ a protes- tant, and at another a catholic, were the objects of his se- verity. The duke of Norfolk, and his son, the earl of Surry, were the last that felt the injustice of the tyrant's groundless suspicions. 4. The duke was a nobleman who had served the king with talent and fidelity ; his son was a young man of the most promising hopes, who excelled in every accomplishment that became a scholar, a courtier, and a soldier. He excelled in all the military exercises which were then in request ; he encouraged the fine arts by his practice and example ; and it is remarkable that he was the first who brought our language, in bis poetical pieces, to any degree of refinement. 6. He celebrated the fair Geraldine in all his sonnets, and maintained hei superior beauty in all places of public contention. Thecit ..,^,... .,.-..: HENRY VIII. 166 qualifications, however, were no safeguard to him against Henry's suspicions ; he had dropped some expressions of resentment against the king's ministers, upon being dis-^ placed ^rom the government of Boulogne ; and the whole family was become obnoxious from the late conduct of Catharine Howard, the queen, who was executed. 6. From these motives, therefore, private orders were given to arrest father and son; and accordingly they were ar- rested both on the same day, and confined in the Tower.' Surry being a commoner, his trial was the more expe- ditious : and as to proofs, there were many informers base enough to betray the intimacies of private confidence, and all the connexions of blood. The dutchess-do wager of I Richmond, Surry's own sister, enlisted herself among the number of his accusers; and sir Richard Southwell also, his most intimate friend, charged him with infidelity to the king. 7. It would seem that, at this dreary period, there was neither faith nor honour to be found in all the nation. Surry denied the charge, and challenged his ac- cuser to single combat. This favour was refused him ; and it was alleged that he had quartered the arms of Edward the Confessor on his escutcheon, which alone was sufiicient to convict him of aspiring to the crown. To this he could make no reply ; and indeed any answer would have been needless; for neither parliaments nor juries, during this reign, seemed to be guided by any other proofs but the will of the crown. 8. This young nobleman was, therefore, condemned for high-treason, notwithstanding his eloquent and spirited defence ; and the sentence was soon after exe- cuted upon him on Tower-hill. In the mean time the duke endeavoured to mollify the king b}' liters of submission ; but the monster's hard heart was rarely subject to tender impressions. 9. The parlianent meeting on the fourteenth day of January (A.D. 1546), a bill of attainder was found agamst the duke of Norfolk ; as it was thought h': could not so easily have b^an convicted on a fair hearing by his peers. The death-warrant was ?r.ade out, and in^'"i liately sent to the lieutenant of the Tower. The duke pr ;■ red for death ; the following morning was to be his last ; but an event of greater consequence to the kingdom intervened, r. =.l prevented his execution. 10. The king had been for some time approaching fast towards his end ; and for several days all those about his person plainly saw that his speedy death was inevitabln. 160 nilTORY OP ENGLAND. The disorder in his leg was now grown extremely painful j and this, added to his monstrous corpulency, which ren- dered him unable to stir, made him '.o.^ru fari^us than a '^shained liort. He had been very stnm and sev ve ; hm was now outra^iftous. In this state he hud CMifinuet' for nf»arly four years before his death, the terror oii all, and th > tor- ment^jr of himself; his couriers li!'/ir;g vj:- Ir. lin^fiov to make an enemy of iiim, as ihoy wer.o more ardently cm- ployed in conspiring the death af eael) other.* 11. In this manner, therefore, he vr v; suffered to struggle, without any of his domeMicfi having ihe courage to w rn him o<* lu.^ ap- proaching end J as more than v)nce^ during this nj^gn, per- sons 1i:\d been pat to death ff>r faieteiling the death of the king. At last, sir Anthony Donuy had the Cx*. rage to dis- cl.o'^e k<> him this dreadful secrel; ; »nd, coiUrary to his usual cfj^'i^Ti,. he ;«,'Ceived the tidings with an expression of resig- iietiaiLi. 12. His anguish and remorse were at this time ^rt i'.Uir tlum can be expressed ; he desired that Cranmer Might be sent for ; bii,t before thiit prelate could arrive he was speechless. Cranmer desired him to give some sign of his dying in the faith of Christ i he squeezed his haiid» and immediately expired, after a reign of thirty-seven years and nine months, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. 13. Some kings have been tyrniits from contradiction and revolt ; some from being misled by favourites ; and some from a spirit of party ; but Henry was cruel from a • The irritability of the king was ao ungovernable, that many fell victim* to iti and his qreoa. who constantly attended hiin with the meet tender nnci datiful rare, bad also, aa will be seen by the following account, nearly fallen a saerifico. Henry's favourite topic, of conversation was theology, and (/athahne hiF^d unwarilv ventured to raise objections against his arguments Henry, highly provoked that she should presume to difier from his opinion complainM of her obstinacy to Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, the chancel lor, who inflamed his anger by representing the queen as a donff ..^-ous hero tic Hurried by their insinuations, he went so far as to direct the chancellor to draw up articles of impeachment, which he signed. This paper fortu« ■ nately fell into the hands of one of the queen's friends, who immediately car* ried tne intelligence tt her. Next moniing she paid her usual visit to the king, and finding him disposed to challengejher to an argument on divinity she modestly declined the conversation, sa^' ;g, that it did not becomes weak woman to dispute with one, who, by ' :. iperior leamin?, was enti- tled to dictate, not only to her, but to the v. v^orld ; and that if ever Bh« had ventured to object to any thing he at'' .< < d, it was only for the sake of he, -^wn instruction, and to eng"w hi: \ >./« topics which diverted his inine. '^'his seasonable piece of flati. r-' f,\. enly revived his ail^ictionB, and Ib^ .''iCellor coming soon afler w; ; .^ . liisrous escort, to «ei/e the qu»»en ana carry her to the Tower, the kin;. f>-.id him very roughly, calling? am knave, niol, and beast, and comiaa'^d Kim to be gone — Be MatevUk'i O fot Britain. ".■'iiFinfV""-*",^ ■r-i:*: r^m"y.'\ HENRY VIII. 107 >pinioi> inncel 18 hero ^ incellor fortu* ely car« to the ivinity como a /aa cnt'- iver uh* he Bake rted hiR ons, and e qiipen inj? 'lim oUtOk'i depraved disposition alone ; cruel in government, cruel in religion, and cruel in his family. Our divines have taken some pains to vindicate the character of this brutal prince, as if his conduct and our reformation had any connexion with each other. There is nothing so absurd as to defend (he one by the other ; the most noble designs are brought about by the most vicious instruments ; for we see even that cruelty and injustice were thought necessary to be employed in our holy redemption. ■% ' / Queationa for Examination, 1. To whom was the king now married 7 2. What at thia time increased the king's irascibility ? , ,i^, 3. Who were the last who felt this severity f 4, 5. What character is given of the eari of Surry T • ' ■ 6. Who appeared amone the number of Surry's accusers ? 7. What was the chief charge alleged against this nobleman f 8. Where was he executed T 9. What was the fate of his father, the duke of Norfolk ? ' > 10. What description is given of the king during his illness? . /''I' ' - CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popes. A.D. Julius II 1503 LeoX 1513 Adrian VI 1522 Clement VII 1523 PaulIII 1534 Emperors of Qermany. Maximilian 1 1493 Charles V 1519 Fmperors of the Turks. Bajazetll 1481 SelimI 1512 SoUmanll 1520 Kings of France, a.d. Louis XII 1498 Francis I. .., 1515 Kings and Qu, of Spain. Philip 1 1504 Joan 1506 Charles 1 1516 Kings of Portugal. Emanuel 1495 John III 1512 Kings of Denmark and Sweden. John 1481 EMINENT PERSONS. Christian II. • • • • • A.a 1513 Kings of Denmark alone. Frederick 1 1524 Christian III 1533 King of Sweden alone. Gustavus Vasa*... 1522 Kings and Queen of Scotland. James IV 1498 James V. , 1514 Mary 1542 Thomas Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury ; cardinal Wolsey and sir Thomas More, lord chancellors ; Thomas, lord Cromwell ; Gardiner, bishop of VVim nester; Henry Howard, earl of Surry; Nicholas, lord Vaux; John Btmrch;,-!, lord Bemers; George Boleyn, viscount Rochfbrd; John, lord Lun>(6y : Edward, lord Sheffield; dean Collet * GusTAVus Vasa de -vered Sweden from the Danish yoke, and for hn recomoense was elect': a its independent sovereign. "■•■m-:''- .n r b I if H '>/y\J- il L/-1l^XJ ;ri.^ ,? (■ ! IQR HISTORY OF ENOLANr. ^u . ' ' f .iio;^}.ijvi;>:..7i ' CHAPTER XXIV. ■■■■/'.'.;' ■ - -r, ' ' ^ EDWARD VI. ^ - ^^ norn 1537. Died July 6, 1553. Began to reign Jan. SO, 1547. Reigned 6| years. Men periih in advance, u if the tun Should let ere ooon. Young. ' • 1. (A. D. .1547.) Henry the Eighth was succeeded on the throne by his only son, Edward the Sixth,' now in the ninth year of his age. The late king, in his will, which he expected would be implicitly obeyed, fixed the majority of the prince at the completion of his eighteenth year ; and, in the mean time, appointed sixteen executors of his will, to whom, during the minority, he intrusted the government of the king and kingdom : the duke of Somerset, as protector, being placed at their head. 2. The protector, in his schemes for advancing the re* formation, had always recourse to the counsels of Cranmer, who, being a man of moderation and prudence, was averse to violent changes, and determined to bring over the people by insensible innovations to his own peculiar system. 3. A committee of bishops and divines had been appointed by the council to frame a liturgy for the service of the church ; and this work was executed with great moderation, precision, and accuracy. A law was also enacted, permit- ting priests to marry ; the ceremony of auricular confession, though not abolished, was left at the dir .retion of the people, who were not displeased at being freed from the spiritual tyranny of their instructors ; the doctrine of the real pre- sence was the last tenet of popery that was wholly aban- doned by the people, as both the clergy and laity were loth to renounce so miraculous a benefit as it was asserted to be. 4. However, at last, not only this, but all the principal opinions and practices of the catholic religion, contrary to what the Scripture authorizes, were abolished ; and the reformation, such as we have it, was almost entirely com- pleted in England. With all these innovations the people and clergy in general acquiesced ; and Gardiner and Bon- ner were the only persons whose opposition was thought of any weight ; they were, therefore, sent to the Tower, and threatfined with the king's further displeai lire in case of d'S- obedience. A.D. 1548. •^ '^^'^'.■''""r*'^'^^''"''.^!?''"'''*''""--'"!''' '•■■f-'tr"- ■' "n'-j;" EDWARD VI^ ie<* ''8- 6. For all these the protector gained great applause and popularity ; but he was raised to an enviable degree of eminence, and his enemies were numerous in proportion to his exaltation. Of all the ministers at that time in council, Dudley, earl of Warwick, was the most artful, ambitious, and unprincipled. Resolved, at any rate, to possess the principal place under the king, he cared not what means were to be used in acquiring it. However, unwilling to throw ofi' the mask, he covered the most exorbitant views under the fairest appearances. Having associated himself — with the earl of Southampton, he formed a strong party in ^— the council, who were determined to free themselves from the control the protector assumed over them. That noble- man wasv in fact, now grown obnoxious to a very prevailing party in the kingdom. 7. He was hated by the nobles for his superior magnificence and power ; he was hated by the catholic party for his regard to the reformation ; he was disliked by many for his severity to his brother ; besides, the great estate he had raised at the expense of the church and the crown rendered him obnoxious to all. The palace* which he was then building in the Strand served also, by its magnificence, and still more so by the ^iijust methods; that were taken to raise it, to expose him to ih" r^y "'ires of the public. The parish church of St. Mary, tv' i three bishops' houses, were pulled down to furnish ground and materials for the structure. 8. He was soon afterwards sent to the Tower ; and the chief article of which he was accused was his usurpation of the government, and taking all the power into his own hands ; but his great riches were the real cause. Several others of a slighter tint were added to invigorate this accu- sation, but none of them could be said to amount to high- treason. 9. In consequence of these, a bill of c:*i binder was preferred against him in the house of lords . l>ut Somerset " contrived for this time to elude the rigour of their sentence,. 1^:,;; by having previously, on his knees, confessed the charge ' before the members of the council. 10. In consequence of this confession, he was deprived of all his offices and goods, together with a great part of his landed esti\tes, which were forfeited to the use of the crown. This fine on his estate was soon after remitted by the king ; and Somerset, once more, contrary to the expectation of all, recovered his li if?S:;'' * StiM called Somenet houM, m -fli*-> 'A^r i i70 HISTORY or ENGLAND. berty. He was even readmitted into the council. Happy for him if his ambition had not revived with his security ! 11. in fact, he could not help now and then bursting out into invp< »; cs a'^amstthe kingand government, which were quioVly ca*j "c to his secret enemy, the earl of Warwick, who wad now become the duke of Northumberland. As he wa' surrounded with that nobleman*8 creatures, they took care to reveal all the designs which they had themselves first suggested ; and Somerset soon found the fatal effects of his rivd*s resentment. "* He was, by Northumberland's command, arrested, with many luore accused of being his partisans, and was, with his wife, the dutchess, also thrown into prison. He was now accused of having formed a design to raise an insurrection in the north ; of attacking the train-bands on a muster-day ; of plotting to secure the Tower, and to excite a rebellion in London. 13. These charges he strenuously denied ; but he con- fessed one of as heinous a nature, which was, that he had laid a project for murdering Northumberland, Northampton, and Pembroke at a banquet, which was to be given them oy lord Paget. He was soon afler brought to trial before the marquis of Winchester, who sat as hi^ steward on th'^ occasion, with twenty-seven peers more, including Northum- berland, Pembroke, and Northampton, who were at once his judges and accusers ; and being found guilty, was brought to the scaffold a Tower-hill, where he appeared without the least emotion, in the midst of a vast concourse of the popul-ice, by whom he was beloved. 14. He spoke to them with great C( mposure, protesting that he had always proi v)ied tY". servi( of his king, and the interests of true religion to the best ot' his power. The people attested their belief of what he said by crying out, " It is most true." An unive^-al .amult was V-eginning to take place ; but Somerset desiring them to be still, and not interrupt his last medita- tions, but to join with him in prayer, lie laid down his head, and submitted tc the l ^ oke of the executioner. 15. In the n. i time, Northumberland had long aimed at the first au. .tit) and the infirm state of the king's iiealth opened a-iluring prospects to his ambition. He re- presented to that young prince that his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, who were appointed by Henry's will to succeed in failure of direct heirs to the crown, had been declared ille- gitimate by parliament ; that the queen of Scots, his aunt, stood excluded by the king's will, and, being an alien also, EDWARD VI. Ifl limed ting's [e re- ly and Icceed Idille- aunt, also, lost all right of succeeding. 16. And, as the three princesses were thus legally excluded, the succession naturally devolved to the marchioness of Dorset, whose next heir was the lady Jane Grey, a lady every way accomplished for government, as well by the charms of her person as the virtues and ac- quirements of her mind. The kin^, who had long sub- mitted to all the politic views of this designing minister, agreed to have the succession admitted to council, where Northumberland had influence soon after to procure an easy concurrence. 17. In the mean time, as the king*8 health declined, the minister laboured to strengthen his own inter sts and con- nexions. His first aim was to secure the interest of the marquis of Dorset, father to lady Jane Grey, by procuring for him tho title of duke of Suffolk, which was lately become extinct, ilaving thus obliged this nobleman, he then pro- posed a match between his fourth son, lord Guildford Dud- ley and the lady Jane Grey. 18. Still bent on spreading his interests as widely as possible, he married his own daughter to Lord Hastings, and had these marriages solem- nized with all possible pomp and festivity. IVleanwhile, Edward continued to languish, and several fatal symptoms of consumption began to appear. It was hoped, however, that his youth and temperance might get the better of his disorders ; and, from their love, the people were unwilling to think him in dangf^r. 19. It had been remarked, indeed, by some, that his health was visibly seen to decline from the moment that the Dudleys were brought about his per- son. The character of Northumberland might have justly given some colour to suspicion ; and his removing all, ex- cept his own emissaries, from about the king, still farther increased the distrusts of the people. Northumberland, however, was no way uneasy at their muraiurs ; he was as- siduous in his attendance upon the king', and professed the most anxious concern for his safety ; but still drove forward his darling scheme of transferring the succession to his own daughter-in-law. 20. The young king was put into the hands of an igno- rant woman, who very confidently undertook his cure. After the use of her medicines, all the bad symptoms in- creased to a most violent degree ; he felt a difficulty of speech and breathing ; his pulse failed ; his legs swelled ; his colour became livid, and many other symptoms appeared of his approaching end. He expired ai Greenwich, in the six- ".^- ■-%■■ V 172 HISTORY or KNOLAND. ' ' '\i_ Kill Edward TL nftelDi to plac* bU foot ea tbo BibU, t^enth year of his age, and the seventh of his reign, grratly regretted by all, as his early virtues gave a prospect of the continuance of a happy reign, July 0, 1553. An anecdote is related of this king to illustrate his piety and reverence for the Scriptures. When in his library, one day, being desirous to reach a book on a high shelf, he was offered a large Bible as a footstool. But he refused the offer, with strong expressions of disapprobation towards the attendant who had made it. t I \. Queatiorufor Examination, 1. Who succeeded Henry the Eighth ? Who was appointed protector during the king's minority ? 3. By what methods was the reformation begun and completed ? Who were sent to the Tuwor for their aversion to i the reformation? By whom was the protector opposed ? For what reasons was he universally disliked 7 -. What was the chief article of accusation against him 1 9. By what means did he elude the rigour of his sentence ? 10. Did the protector regain his authority ? 1 1. In what manner did he then conduct himself ? 12. By whose command was he afterwards arrested f Of what was he accused ? 13. What confession did he make 7 14. What was his behaviour when brought to the scaflold 7 15. Who next aspired to the chief authority? 16, 17. What means did he take to secure It 7 18,19. What circumstances preceded the king's death ? 20. Where and at what age did Edward the Sixth die 7 v..v;.\iJ'''.'- J? ■A MART. 173 CX)NTEMFORARY SOVEREIGNS. Pftul III 1534 /uliua III 15A0 Emperor tf Qtrmmny and King of Spmin. Charl« V......„ 1M7 Emperor tftke Turk*. A.D. SoUnuuiII 1590 King of Freatce. Henry II 1M7 King of PortugoL John in 1541 King of Denmnrk. A.D. CharlM II 1534 King of Sweden. OuatavuaVMa.... 1523 Queen of Scotland. Mary 154S EMINENT PERSON& i .. . Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury. Heath and Day. Uahopa of Worcester and Chietieeter. Lord Seymour. Dukes of SomerMt and NortbunberlMwi uutldrord. Lord Dudley. Lady Jane Grey. .•l^ t.tv^M< ^A'^'^ ' CHAPTER XXV. MARY. '■.hr.7.V fiom 1516. Died December 1, lUa Began to re<gn July 5 years. ^hen peneoutiDf seel m\d» roral iport mth rorel imoeenoe in Msir't eourt. Then Bonmr, birtlie ai ilieplierd at a wakcL kiuojr'd ue now, and danced about the itue. — Cnoptr. 16. 1563. Reigned 1. (A.D. 1563.) Upon the death of Edward, two candi' dates put in their pretensions to the crown ; Mary, Henry''* daughter by Catharine of Arragon, relying on the justict* her cause ; and lady Jane Grey, being nominated 'V late young king's will, ailtHipon the support of the . Northumberland, her father-in law. Mary was stro igiy bs goted to the popish superstitions, having been bredu^ r niot]g churchmen, and having been even taught to prefer . ..ujf dom to a denial of her belief. 2. As she had lived in conti- nual restraint, she was reserved and gloomy ; she had, even during the life of her father, the resolution to maintain her sentiments, and refused to comply with his new institutions. Her zeal had rendered her furious ; and she was not only blindly attached to her religious opinions, but even to the popish clergy who maintarned them. 3. On the other hand, Jane Grey was strongly attached to the reformers ; and, though yet but sixteen, her judgment had attained to such \.a degree of maturity as few have been found to possess. All historians agree that the solidity of her understanding, improved by continual application, rendered her the wonder of her age. Jane, who was in a great measure ignorant of v2 lfeii(iL'«Ji:&;fc ■.■> 174 HISTORT OF ENGLAND. '■t : all the transactions in her favour, was struck with eqaa grief and surprise when she received intelligence of them. She shed a flood of tears, appeared inconsolable, and it was not without the utmost difficulty that she yielded to the en- treaties of Northumberland, and the duke her father. 4. Orders were given also for proclaiming her throughout the kingdom ; but these were but very remissly obeyed. When she was proclaimed in the city, the people heard her acces- sion made public without any signs of pleasure ; no applause ensued, and some even expressed their scorn and con tempt. 5. In the mean time, Mary, who had retiicd, upon the news of the king's death, to Kenning Hall, in Norfolk, sent circular letters to all the gpsat,46wns-^nd nobility in the kingdom, reminding them of her right/lihd commanding them to proclaim her without delay. Her claims soon be- came irresistible ; in a little time she found herself at the head of forty thousand men ; while the few who attended Northumberland continued irresolute, and he even feared to lead them to the encounter. 6. Lady Jane, thus finding that all was lost, resigned her royalty, which she had held but ten days, with marks of real satisfaction, and retired with her mother to their own habitation. Northumberland, also, who found his affairs (!e.<<perate, and that it was impossible to stem the tide of po- pular opposition, attempted to quit the kingdom ; but he was prevented by the band of pensioner guards, who informed him that he must stay to justify their conduct in being led out against their lawful sovereign. Thus circumvented on all sides, he delivered himself up to Mary, ?nd was soon af- terwards executed in a summary way. Se itence was a.so pronounced against lady Jane and lord Guildford, but with- out any intention for the present of putting it into execution. 7. Mary now entered London, and with very little effu- sion of blood saw herself joyfully proclaimed, and peaceably settled on the throne. This was a flattering prospect ; but 8C3n the pleasing phantom was dissolved. Mary was mo- rose, and a bigot ; she was resolved to give back their for- mer power to the clergy ; and thus once more to involve the kingdom in all the horrors from which it had just emerged. Gardiner, Tonstal, Day, Heath, and Vesey, who had been i'oiifined or suffered losses, for thflf catholic opinions, dur- i^ifT the late reign, were taken from , iis^oii, reinstated in their sees, and their former senteiiC*, ?^epc'led« iiitcijiLi^iSiii^ MAltV. « « 8. A parliament, which the queen called soon after, seem- ed willing to concur in all her measures ; they at one blow repealed all the statutes, with regard to religion, which had passed during the reign of her predecessors ; so that the na- tional religion was again placed on the same footing on which it stood in the early part of the reign af Henry the Eighth. 9. While religion was thus returning to its primitive abuses, the queen's ministers, who were willing to strengthen her power by a catholic alliance, had been for some time looking out for a proper consort ; and they at length chose Philip, prince of Spain, son to the celebrated Charles the Fifth. In order to avoid any disagreeable remonstrance from the people, the articles of marriage were drawn as fa- vourable as possible to the interest and honour of England ; and this in some measure stilled the clamours that had already been begun against it. 10. The discontents of the people rose to such a pitch, that an insurrection, headed by sir Thomas Wyat, suc- ceeded ; but Wyat, being made prisoner, was condemned and executed, with some of his adherents. But what ex- cited the compassion of the people most of all, was the execution of lady Jane Grey, and her husband, lord Guild- ford Dudley, who were involved in the punishment, thougn not in the guilt of this insurrection. 11. Two days after Wyat was apprehended, lady Jane and her husband were ordered to prepare for death. Lady Jane, who had long before seen the threatening blow, was no way surprised at the message, but bore it with heroic resolution ; and being informed that she had three days to prepare, she seemed displeased at so long a delay. 12. On the day of her exe- cution her husband desired permission to see her ; but this she refused, as she knew the parting would be too tender for her fortitude to withstand. The place at first designed for their execution was without the Tower: but their youth, beauty, and innocence being likely to raise an insurrection among the people, orders were given that they should be executed within the verge of the Tower. 13. Lord Dudley was the first that suffered ; and while the lady Jane was conducting to the place of execution, the ofl^cers of the 'J'ower met her, bearing along the headless body of her husband streaming with blood, in order to be interred in ilie Tower chapel. She looked on the corpse for some time without any emotion: and then, with a sigh, desired theru I7f HISTORY or ENGLAND. Dektb ot Ladf Jice Qrey. fo proceed. 14. On the scaffold she made a speech, in which she alleged that her offence was not the having laid her hand upon the crown, but the not rejecting it with suf- ficient constancy ; that she had less erred through ambition than filial obedience ; and she willingly accepted death aa the only atonement she could make to the injured state ; and was ready by her punishment to show, that innocence is no plea in excuse for deeds that tend to injure the community. After speaking to this effect, she caused her- self to be disrobed by her women, and with a steady serene countenance submitted to the executioner. 15. At the head of those who drove these violent mea- sures forward were Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, and cardinal Pole, who was now returned from Italy. Pole, who was nearly allied by birth to the royal family, had always conscientiously adhered to the catholic religion, and had incurred Henry's displeasure, not only by refusing to assent to his measures, but by writmg against him. 16. It was for this adherence that he was cherished by the pope, and now sent over to England as legate from the holy see. Gardiner was a man of a very different character; his chief airn was to please the reigning prince, and he had shown alrrady many instances of his prudent conformity. MARY. 177 Questions for Examination. 1. Whot were the pretensions of the two candidateti for the crown ? «. What was the character of Mary T 3. What Ih said of lady Jane Grey f 4. In what manner was her proclamation received f 6. How did Mary act, and what was her success ? 6 What was the fate of the duke of Northumberland ? 7. VVhat was Mary's conduct afler her accession? 8. Did the parliament concur in her religious views ? 9. What plan was resolved on to strengthen the catholic power! II. What was the fate of lady Jane Grey and her hushand? 12—14. Mention the circumstances that attended their execution. 15, 16. Who weie the instigators of those violent measures ? SECTION II. Curat iuperstitron which delude* the mind And maKCs it to the tender feelings blind.- Anon. 1. (A. D. 1554.) A PERSECUTION, therefore, began by the martyrdom of Hooper, bishop of Gloucester, and Rogers, prebendary of St. Paul's. They were examined by com- missioners appointed by the queen, with the chancellor at the head of them. Saunders and Taylor, two other clergy- men, whose zeal had been distinguished in carrying on the reformation, were the next that suffered. 2. Bonner, bishop of London, bloated at once with rage and luxury, let loose his vengeance without restraint, and seemed to take a pleasure in the pains of the unhappy suf- ferers ; while the queen, by her letters, exhorted him to pursue the pious work without pity or interruption. Soon after, in obedience to her commands, Ridley, bishop of London, and the venerable Latimer, bishop of Worcester, were condemned together. 3. Ridley had been one of the ablest champions for the reformation ; his piety, learning, and solidity of judgment were admired by his friends and dreaded by his enemies. The night before his execution, he invited the mayor of Oxford and his wife to see him ; and, when he beheld them melted into tears, he himself appeared quite unmoved, inwardly supported and comforted in that hour of agony. When he was brought to the stake to be burnt, he found lus old friend Latimer there before hiin> 4. Of all the prelates of that age, Latimer was the most remarkable for his unaffected piety, and the simplicity of his manners. He had never learnt to flatter in courts : and his open rebuke was dreaded by all the great, who at that time too much deserved it. 5. His semions, which 178 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. "m^ remain to this day, shov/ that he had much learning ano much wit ; and thetip is an air of sincerity running through them, not to be found elsewhere. When Ridley began to comfort his ancient friend, Latimer was as ready, on his part, to return the kind ofEce : ♦' Be of good cheer, brother," cried he ; •• we shall this day kindle such a torch in Eng- land, as, I trust in God, shall never be extinguished." 6. A furious bigot ascended to preach to them and the people, while the fire was preparing; and Ridley gave a most serious attention to his discourse. No way distracted by the preparations about him, he heard him to the last, and then told hira he was ready to answer all he had preached upon, if he were permitted a short indulgence ; but this was refused him. At length fire was set to the pile ; Latimer was soon out of pain : but Ridley continued to suflTer much longer, his legs being consumed before the. fire reached his vitals. 7. Cranmer's death followed soon after, and struck the whole nation with horror. His love of life had formerly prevailed. In an unguarded moment he was induced to sign a paper condemning the reformation ; and now his enemies, as we are told of the devil, after having rendered him completely wretched, resolved to destroy him. 8. Being led to the stake, and the fire beginning to be kindled round him, he stretched forth his right hand, and held it in the fiames till it was consumed, while he fre- quently cried out, in the midst of his sufierings, ** That unworthy hand !" at the same time exhibiting no appearance of pain or disorder. When the fire attacked his body, he seemed to be quite insensible to his tortures : his mind was wholly occupied upon the hopes of a future reward. After his body was destroyed, his heart was found entire ; an emblem of the constancy with which he suffered. 9. It was computed that, during this persecution, two hundred and seventy-seven persons S'uffered by fire, besides those punished by imprisonment, fines, and confiscations. Among those who suffered by fire, were five bishops, twenty-one clergymen, eight lay gentlemen, eighty-four tradesmen, one hundred husbandmen, fiftyrfive women, and four children. All this was terrible ; and yet the temporal affairs of the kingdom did not seem to be more successful. 10. (A. D. 1557.) Calais, that had now for above two liundred years been in possession of the English, was attacked, and by a sudden and unexpected assault, bein^ 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Juli Ma Pai J MARY. 170 blockaded up on every side, was obliged to capitulate ; so that in less than eight days, the duke of Guise recovered a city that had been in possession of the English since the time of Edward the Third, who had spent eleven months in besieging it. This loss filled the whole kingdom with murmurs, and the queen with despair; she was heard to say, that, when dead, the name of Calais would be found engraven upon her heart. 11. These complicated evils, a murmuring people, an in- creasing heresy, a disdainful husband, and an unsuccessful war, made dreadful depredations on Mary's constitution. She began tc appear consumptive, and this rendered her mind still more morose and bigoted. The people now, therefore, began to turn their thoughts to her successor ; and the princess Elizabeth came into a greater degree of consideration than before. 12. Mary had been long in a very declining state of health; and having mistaken the nature of her disease, she madiV use of an improper regi- men, which had increased her disorder. Every reflection now tormented her. The consciousness of being hated by her subjects, and the prospect of Elizabeth's succession, whom she hated, preyed upon her mind, and threw her into a lingering fever, of which she died, after a short and un- fortunate reign of five years, four months, and eleven days, in the forty-third year of her age. I Questions for Examination., 1. Who were the first in this reign who suffered martyrdom for their re ligion ? 2. Who were the principal actors in this persecution? 3. 4. Describe the behaviour and character of Ridley and Latimer. 6. What words did Latimer roake use of at the stake to his friend and fellow-sufferer? 8. What is said of the character and death of Cranmer? 9. IIow many persons are said to have oeen burnt on account of their rs ligious tenets ? 10. By what means was Calais obliged to capitiilate ? 11. What hastened Mary's death? 12. How bug did she reign ? CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popes. A.D. Julius III 1550 MarcelluB II 1555 PuulIV 1555 Emperor of Germany. Charles V I5l9 Emoerors of the Turks. Solimanll.r 1520 King of France. A.D. Henry II 1547 King of Spain, Philip II 1555 King of Portugal. John in 1521 Xing of Denmark. A.C Frederic II 1549 King of Sweden. Gustavus Vasa. . . 1522 Queen of Scotland. Mary 1543 180 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. EMINENT PERSONS. Archbishop Cranirier; biahopa Ridlev, Hooper, Latimer, FerrcR, Roger* Saundera, Taylor, and many otners of the clergy who suflered for their re ligion. Cardinal Pole, bishopa Gardiner, fionuer, Thirlby, &c. who were fiery auppoi-tera of the papal power.'* Lord Stafford. CHAPTER XXVI. ELIZABETH. Born 1533. Died March S4, 1603. Began to reigii November 7, 1558. Reigned 44^ years. SECTION I. 3^ 1. (A. D. 1558.) Nothing could exceed the joy that wai« diffused among the people upon the accession of Elizabeth, who now came to the throne without any opposition. This favourite of the people, from the beginning, resolve<l upon reforming the church, even while she was held in the constraints of a prison ; and now, upon coming to the crown, she immediately set about it. A parliament soon after completed what the prerogative had begun ; act after act was passed in favour of the reformation ; and in a single session the form of religion was established as we at present have the happiness to enjoy it. 2. A state of permanent felicity is not to be expected here ; and Mary Stuart, commonly called Mary queen of Scots, was the first person that excited the fears or the re- sentment of Elizabeth. Henry the Seventh had married his eldest daughter, Margaret, to James, king of Scotland, who dying, left no issue that came to maturity except Mary, * " The common net at that time for catching of protestants was the real presence, and this net was used to catch the princess Elizabeth ; for being asked one time, what she thought of the words of God, this is my body, whether she thought it the true body of Christ that was in the sacrament ? It is said, that after some pausing, she thus answered: — Christ was the word that spake it, He took the bread and brake it. And what that word did make it, That I believe and take it VVliich, though it may seem but a slight expression, yet hath it more solidnesp tl^an at fifRt Kight anpears : at least it sen ed her turn at that time to eecape the net, whicliby direct answer she could not have doite.'' ELIZABETH. 181 afterwards sumamed Mary queen of Scots. 3. At a very early age, this princess, being possessed of every accom- plishment of person and mind, was married to Francis, the dauphin of France, who, dying, left her a widow at the age of nineteen. Upon the death of Francis, Mary, the widow, still seemed disposed to keep up the title ; but, finding her- self exposed to the persecutions of the dowager-queen, who now began to take the lead in France, she returned home to Scotland, where she found the people strongly impressed with the gloomy enthusiasm of the times. 4. A difference of religion between the sovereign and the people is ever ])roductive of bad effects ; since it is apt to produce con- tempt on the one side, and jealousy on the other. Mary could not avoid regarding the sour manners of the reforming clergy, who now bore the sway among the Scots, with a mixture of ridicule and hatred ; while they, on the other hand, could not look tamely on gayeties and levities which she introduced among them, without abhorrence and resent- ment. The jealousy thus excited began every day to grow stronger; the clergy only waited for some indiscretion in the queen to fly out into open opposition ; and her impru- dence but too soon gave them sufficient opportunity. 5. Mary, upon her return, had married the earl of Darn- ley ; but having been dazzled by the pleasing exterior of her new lover, she had entirely forgotten to look to the accom- plishments of his mind. Darnley was but a weak and igno- rant man ; violent, yet variable in his enterprises ; insolent, yet credulous, and easily governed by flatterers. She soon, therefore, began to convert her admiration into disgust: and Dainley, enraged at her increasing coldness, pointed his vengeance against every person he supposed the cause of this change in her sentiments and behaviour. 6. There >vas then in the court one David Rizzio, the son of a musician at Turin, himself a musician, waom Mary took into her confidence. She consulted him on all occa- sions ; no favours could be obtained but by his intercession ; and all suitors were first obliged to gain Rizzio to their interests by presents or by flattery. 7. It was easy to persuade a man of Darnley's jealous and uxorious temper that Rizzio was the person who had estranged the queen's affections from him : and a surmise once conceived became to him a certainty. He soon, therefore, consulted with some lords of his party, who accompanying him into the queen's apartments, where Rizzio then was. they dragged Q m ^itu 182 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. him into the antechamber, where he was despatched with fifty-six wounds ; the unhappy princess continuing her la- mentations while they were perpetrating their horrid crime. 8. Being informed, however, of his fate, Mary at once dried her tears, and said she would weep no more, for she would now think of revenge. She, therefore, concealed her resent- ment, and so far imposed upon Darnley, her husband, that he put him£ olf under her protection, and soon after attended her to Edinburgh, where he was told the place would be favourable to his health. 9. Mary lived in the palace of Holyrood-house ; but as the situation of that place was low, and the concourse of people about the court necessarily attended with noise, which might disturb him in his present infirm state, she fitted up an apartment for him in a solitary house at some distance, called the Kirk of Field. Mary there gave him marks of kindness and attachment ; she conversed cordially with him, and she lay some nights in a room under his. 10. It was on the 0th of February that she told him she would pass that night in the palace, because the marriage of one of her servants was to be there celebrated in her pre- sence. But dreadful consequences ensued. About two o'clock in the morning, the whole city was much alarmed at hearing a great noise ; the house in which Darnley lay was blown up with gunpowder. His dead body was found at some distance in a neighbouring field, but without any marks of violence or contusion. No doubt could be enter- tained but that Darnley was murdered, and the general sus- picion fell upon Bothwell, a person lately taken into Mary's favour, as the perpetrator. 1 1 . One crime led on to another ; Bothwell, though ac- cused of being stained with the husband's blood, though universally odious to the people, had the confidence, while Mary was on her way to Stirling, on a visit to her son, to seize her at the head of a body of eight hundred horse, and to carry her to Dunbar, where he forced her to yield to his purposes. 12. It was then thought by the people that the measure of his crimes was complete ; and that he who was supposed to kill the queen's husband, and to have pos- sessed himself of her person, could expect no mercy : but they were astonished upon finding, instead of disgrace, that Bothwell was taken into more than former favour; and to crown all, that he was married to Mary, having divorced nis own wife to procure his union. ff ELIZABETH. 183 13. This was a fatal alliance to Mary ; and the people were now wound up, by the complication of her guilt, to pay very little deference to her authority. An association W8 ''irmed that took Mary prisoner, and sent her into con- finement to the castle of Lochlevin, situated in a lake of that name, where she suffered all the severities of an unkind keeper, an upbraiding conscience, with a feeling heart. 14. The calamities of the great, even though justly de- served, seldom fail of creating pity, and procuring friends. Mary, by her charms and promises, had engaged a young gentleman, whose name was George Douglas, to assist her in escaping from the place wherein she was confined ; and this he effected by conveying her in disguise in a small boat, rowed by himsell, ashore. It was now that, the news of hei enlargement being rpread abroad, all the loyalty of the peo- ple seemed to revive once more, and in a few days she saw herself at the head of six thousand men. Questions for ExanHnatton, 1. What were the fint acts of Elizabeth in favour of? 2. Who was the first person that excited her resentment? From whom was Mary queen of Scots descended ? 3. To whom was she first married ? 4. Why is the difference of religion between the sovereign and the people apt to produce bad effects? 9. Describe the character of the earl of Damley. 6. Who was David Rizzio ? 7. What was the fate of ni ".io? 8. On what did Mary detc liine in consequence? 9 How did she affect to trc&. lier husband ? IC Rnlsi« the circumstances of the earl of Daraley'a death- 13. Wher. was Mary contined ? 14. By whut means did she escape ? SECTION II. Bat malice, env! cruelty and npleen, ..... To death doom d ScoUa ■ deai devoted queen. •— Jaaedonald. • 1. (A. D. 1568.) A BATTLE was fought at Langside, near Glasgow, which was entirely decisive against the queen of Scots ; and now, being totally ruined, she fled southward from the field of battle with great precipitation, and came with a few attendants to the borders of England, where she hoped for protection from Elizabeth, who, instead of pro- tecting, ordered ^'^i• to be put in confinement, yet treatea lier with all p. t narks of respect. 2. She was accoru- 184 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ing>- ^■cnt to Tutbury-castle, in the county of Stafford, anci put into the custody of the earl of F; lewsbury; where she had hopes given her of one day t !>n:ing into favour, and that, unless her own obstinacy prevented, an accommodation might at last take place. 3. The duke of Norfolk was the only peer who enjoyed the highest title of nobility in England ; and the qualities of his mind were correspondent to his high station. Bene- ficent, affable, and generous, he had acquired the affections of the people ; and yet, from his moderation, he had never alarmed the jealousy of the sovereign. He was at this ti'ne a widower, and being of a suitable age to espouse the queen of Scots, her own attractions, as well as his interest, made him desirous of the match. 4. Elizabeth, however, dreaded such an union, and the duke was soon after made prisoner, and sent to the Tower. Upon his releasement from thence, new projects were set on foot by the enemies of the queen and the reformed religion, secretly fomented by Rodolphi, an instrument of the court of Rome, and the bishop of Ross, Mary's minister in England. 5. It was concerted by them that Norfolk should renew his designs upon Mary, and raise her to the throne, to which it is pro- h ible he was prompted by passion as well as interest ; and this nobleman entering into their schemes, he, from being at first only ambitious, now became criminal. His servants were brought to make a full confession of their master's guilt ; and the bishop of Ross, soon after finding the whole discovered, did not scruple to confirm their testimony. 6. The duke was instantly committed to the Tower, and or- dered to prepare for his trial. A jury of twenty-five peers unanimously passed sentence upon him; and the queen, four months after, reluctantly signed the warrant for his execution. He died with great calmness and constancy ; and, though hp cleared himself of any disloyal intentions against the queen's authority, he acknowledged the justice of the sentence by which he suffered. 7. These conspiracies served to prepare the way for Mary's ruin, whose greatest misfortunes proceeded rather from the violence of her friends than the malignity of her enemies. Elizabeth's ministers had long been waiting for some signal instance of the captive queen's enmity, which they could easily convert into treason • and this was not long wanting. 8. About this time (A.D. 1586), one John Ballard, a popish priest, who had been bred in the English d( ll ELIZABETH. 18b yoiin^ gentleman oi plentiful fortun< for his zeal in .' attachment to tlu readily into the ploi, t:. seminary at Rheims, resolved to compass the death of tho queen, whom he considered as the ( nemy of his religion ; and with that gloomy resolution came over to England in the disguise of a soldier, witli the assumed name of captain Fortescue. He bent his endeavours to bring about at onco the project of an assansination, an insurrection, and an invasion. V. '^hr -rst person he addressed him..elf to was Anthony Bahi gtr ** Hetiiick, in the county of Derby, a family, and possessed of a very Person had been long remarkable -ic cause, and in particular for his e queen. He, therefore, came A procured the concurrence and assistance of some other associates in this dangerous under- taking. 10. The next step was to apprize Mary of the conspiracy formed in her favour ; and this ihev effected by conveying their letters to her by the means of a brewer thai supplied the family with ale, through a chink in the wall of her apartment. In these, Babington informed her of a design laid for a foreign invasion, the plan of an insur- rection at home, the scheme for her delivery, and the conspiracy for assassinating the usurper, by six noble gentlemen, as he termed them, all of them his private friends, who from the zeal which they bore the catholic cause, and her majesty's service, would undertake the tragical execution. 11. To these Mary replied, that she approved highly of the design ; that the gentlemen might expect all the rewards which it should ever be in her power to confer ; and that the death of Elizabeth was a necessary circumstance, previous to any further attempts, either fot her delivery or the intended insurrection. 12. The plot being thus ripe for execution, and the evidence against the conspirators incontestable, Walsing- ham, who was privately informed of all, resolved to suspend their punishment no longer. A warrant was accordingly issued out for the apprehension of Babington and the rest of the conspiratoro, who covered themselves with various disguises, and endeavoured to keep themselves concealed. But they were soon discovered, thrown into prison, and brought to trial. In their examination they contradicted each other, and the leaders were obliged to make a full confession of the truth. Fourteen were con- demned and executed ; seven of whom died acknowledging their crime. A 2 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 1^12,8 |25 >tt lii 12.2 1*^ 12.0 ■u us u m 1 1-25 III 1.4 III 1.6 < 6" > :^"'^ A V f ^/ <% /A W^'W' r • - -^JJ^ PhotDgrapnic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSSO (716) S72-4S03 ^ <^ 186 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 13. The execution of these ivretched men only prepared the wuy for one of still greater importance, in which a cap- tive queen was to submit to the unjust decision of those who had no right, but that of power, to condemn her. Accord- ingly a commission was issued to forty peeT3, with five judges, or the major part of them, to try and pass sentence upon Mary, daughter and heir of James the Fifth, king of Scotland, commonly called queen of Scots, and dowager of France. 14. Thirty-six of these commissioners arriving at the castle of Futheringay on the 11th of November, 1586, presented her with a letter from Elizabeth, commanding her to submit to a trial for a late conspiracy. The principal charge against her was urged by serjeant Gaudy, who ac- cused her with knowing, approving, and consenting to Babington*s conspiracy. This charge was supported by Babington's confession, and by the copies which were taken of their correspondence, in which her approbation of the queen's murder was expressly declared. 15. Whatever might have been this queen's ofTeiices, it is certain that her treatment was very severe. She desired to be v)ut in possession of such notes as she had taken pre- paratory to her trial ; but this was refused her. She de- manded a copy of her protest; but her request was not complied wi.th< She even required an advocate to plead her cause against so many lesrn^d lawyers as had uuder- t9|(en to urge her accusations ; but all her demands were jected, and after an adjournment of some days, sentence 'death was pronounced against her in the Star Chamber in Westminster, all the commissioners except two being present. Independent of the affairs of Mary queen of Scots, the contents of this section are barren of information. It must not, however, be supposed, that a period of eighteen years of the reign of Elizabeth afforded no matter worthy of the notice of the historian; and we shall therefore endeavour to supply the deficiency by the following brief chronological memoranda : — On St. Bartholomew's day, 1672, a dreadful massacre of the Protestants took place in France ; a circum- stance which proved very detrimental to the Scottish queen, as many of her adherents, who were Protestants, dreaded her attachment to a religion that allowed its votaries to em- ploy such abominable measures. In 1573, Elizabeth found means, by economy, without imposing any additional burdens on her subjects, to discharge, with interest, not only all tho ( I BLIZABETH. 187 debts she had incurred in her reign, but those of Edward VI. her brother, and of her sister Mary. In 1574, so great a dearth prevailed in England, that wheat sold for six shillings a bushel. In 1577, pocket- watches were first brought into England from Germany. In 1579, a proclamation was issued, prohibiting the enlarging of the city of London ; to effect which, it was ordered that no new houses should be built within three miles of the gates of the city. In the same year the Turkey Company was established. In 1580, the use of coaches was first introduced into England by the earl of Arundel. Before that time the queen, on public occa- sions, rode on horseback behind her chamberlain. In the year 1580, also, Francis Drake, the first English- man who circumnavigated the globe, returned from his voyage.' He brought home with him immense treasures, which he had taken from the Spaniards; and many of the. English courtiers, dreading the Spanish power, advised Elii^ ' zabeth to discountenance the gallant adventurer. But the. queen, who admired valour, and was allured by the prospect'; of sharing the booty, conferred on him the honour of knight- hood, and accepted a banquet from him at Deptford, on board the ship which had achieved so memorable a voyage. Questions for Examination, 1. Where did Mary fly after her defeat at Langsidef 2. Where was she confined ? 3. Describe the character of the duke of Norfolk. 4. Of what was he desirous ? 5. What were the designs of the duke of Norfolk? 6. What were the consequences ? 8. What conspiracy was now formed in Mary's favour t 10. By what means was Mary informed of it ? 12. W hat was the fate of the conspirators ? 14. What was the principal chars^e alleged against Mary f 15. What favours were refused her previous to her sentence f 1* ■ sw^ 188 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. SECTION m. Bideeted pity hf her tide, er Mul-Mibdaioc voice applied. •> Colan$. 1. (A. D. 1586.) Whether Elizabeth was really sincere in her apparent reluctance to execute Mary, is a question which, though usually given against her, I will not take upon me to determine. Certainly there were great arts used by her courtiers to incline her to the side of severity ; as they had every thing to fear from the resentment of Mary in case she ever succeeded to the throne. 2. Accord- ingly the kingdom was now filled with rumours of plots, treasons, and insurrections ; and the queen was continually kept in alarm by fictitious dangers. She, therefore, appeared to be in great terror and perplexity ; she was observed to sit much alone, and mutter to herself half sentences, im- porting the difficulty and distress to which she was reduced. 3. In this situation she one day called her secretary, Da- vison, whom she order to draw out secretly the warrant for Mary's execution, informing him that she intended keep- ing it by her, in case any attempt should be made for the delivery of that princess. She signed the warrant, and then commanded it to be carried to the chancellor, to h ive the seal affixed to it. 4. Next morning, however, she sent two g" '*?men successively to desire that Davison would not g the chancellor until she should see him: but Davison telling her that the warrant had been already sealed, she seemed displeased at his precipitation. Davison, who probably wished himself to see the sentence executed, )ai(j[ the affiaiir before the council, who unanimously resolved that the warrant should be immediately put in execution ; and promised to justify Davison to the queen. 5. Accord- ingly, the fatal instrument Was delivered to Beale, who summoned the noblemen to whom it was directed ; namely, the earls of Shrewsbury, Derby, Kent, and Cumberland, and these together set out for Fotheringay-castle, accompanied by two executioners, to despatch their bloody commission. 6. Mary heard of the arrival of her executioners, who ordered her to prepare for death at eight o'clock the next morning. Early on the fatal morning she dressed herself in a rich habit of silk and velvet, the only one which she had reserved for this solemn occasion. Thomas Andrews, the under-sherifT of the county, then entering the room, he informed her that the hour was come, and that he must ELIZABETH. 189 1 ^ Attend her to the place of execution. 7. She replied that she was ready, and bidding her servants farewell, she pro- ceeded, supported by two of her guards, and followed the sheriff with a serene composed aspect, with a long veil of linen on her head, and in her hand a crucifix of ivory. 8. She then passed into another hall, the noblemen and the sheriff going before, and Melvil, her master of the household, bearing up her train, where was a scaffold erected, and covered with black. As soon as she was seated, Beale began to read the warrant for her execution. Then Fletcher, dean of Peterborough, standing without the rails, repeated a long exhortation, which she desired him to forbear, as she was firmly resolved to die in the catholic religion. The room was crowded with spectators, who beheld her with pity and distress ; while her beauty, though dimmed by age and afHiction, gleamed through her sufferings, and was still remarkable in this fatalTtnoment. 9. The two executioners kneeling, and asking her pardon, she said she forgave them, and all the authors of her death, as freely as she hoped for forgiveness from her Maker ; and then once more made a solemn piotestation of her innocence. Her eyes were then covered with a linen handkerchief; and she laid herself down without any fear or trepidation. Then reciting a psalm, and repeating a pious ejaculation, her head was severed from her body, at two strokes, by the execu- tioners. 10. Thus perished Mary, in the forty-fiflh year of her age, and the nineteenth of her captivity in England. She was a woman of great accomplishments ; and the beauty of her person, the graces of her air, and charms of her conversa- tion, combined to make her one of the most amiable of women, and to produce a deep impression on all who had intercourse with her. She was ambitious and active in her temper, yet inclined to cheerfulness and society. She par- took sufHcicntly of manlike virtues to give her vigour in the prosecution of her purposes, without relinquishing those sofl graces which compose the proper ornament of her sex. Such indeed were, on the one hand, her natural advantages and her acquirements, and on the other her faults, that an enumeration of her qualities might seem to be a panegyric, while an account of her conduct must, in some parts, wear the aspect of severe satire and invective. Her numerous misfortunes, the solitude of her long capti- vity, and the persecutions to which she had been exposed on w. BISTORT OF BNOLAND. r i' 'A ■-■ .*r \ Y r \ \ 100 \ account of hor religion, had produced in her a degree of \ bigotry in her later years ; and such were the prevalent spirit \ and principles of the ase, t^at we need not wonder if her \ zeal, her resentment, and her interest uniting, 'nduced her to y give consent to a design which conspirators, actuated by the / first of these motives only, had formed against the life of Elizabeth. In contemplating the contentions of mankind, we find almost ever both sides culpable ; Mary, who was stained (With crimes that deserved punishment, was put to death by a 'princess who had no just pretensions to inflict punishment n her equal. 11. In the mean time, Philip, king of Spain, who had long meditated the destruction of England, and whose ex- tensive power gave him grounds to hope for success, now began to put his projects into execution. The point on which he rested his glory, and the perpetual object of his schemes, was to support the catholic religion, and exter- minate the reformation. The revolt of his subjects in the Netherlands still more inflamed his resentment against the English, as they had encouraged that insurrection, and as- sisted the revolters. He had, therefore, for some time been making preparations to attack England by a powerful in- vasion, and now every part of his vast empire resounded with the noise of armaments, and every art was used to levy supplies for that great design. 12. The marquis of Santa Cruz, a sea-oflicer of great reputation and experience, was destined to commond the fleet, which consisted of a hundred and thirty vessels, of a greater size than any that had hitherto been seen in Europe. The duke of Parma was to conduct the land forces, twenty thou- sand- of whom were on board the fleet, and thirty-four thou- sand more were assembled in the Netherlands, ready to be transported into England ; no doubt was entertained of this fleet's success; and it was ostentatiously styled the Invin- cible Armada. 13. Nothing could exceed the terror and consternation which all ranks of people felt in England upon the news of this terrible armada being under sail to invade them. A fleet of not above thirty ships of war, and those very small in comparison, Ivas all that was to oppose it at sea ; and as for resisting it by land, that was supposed to be impossible, as the Spanish army was composed of men well disciplined, and long inured to danger. ^ f^'- ■■■■ %^1 . < , «.,. BLIZABBTn. 191 ■■"» 14. Although the Englii^h fleet was much inferior in num- ber and size of shipping to that of the enemy, yet it was much more manageable, the dexterity and courage of the mariners being greatly superior. -Lord Howard of Effing- ham, a man of great courage and capacity, as lord admiral, took upon him the command of the navy. , « . , ^ 15. Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher, the most renowned seamen in Europe, served under him ; while a small squad- ron, consisting of forty vessels, English and Flemish, com- manded by lord Seymour, lay ofl* Dunkirk, in order to intercept the duke of Parma. This was the preparation made by the English ; while all the protestant powers in Europe regarded the enterprise as the critical event which was to decide for ever the fate of their religion. Que$tion8 for Examination. 2. With what rumours was the kingdom filled f 3. What orders did Elizabeth give to h ^ secretary f 5. To whom was the warrant of Ma:> a death delivered t 6, 7, 8. Relate the particulars of her execution. 9. What was her behaviour at the fatal hour 7 Who now meditated the destruction of England f What was the chief object of his schemes 7 Who were his principal officers 7 What was the amount of the Spanish forces 7 What was the number of the English ships 7 Who commanded them 7 What other preparations were made by the English f 11 12. 13. 14. 15. 192 HI8T0ST OF.BKOLAND. SECTION TV. Deitruetion followi where her flaa ii Men, ' And bau(hty gptoiirdi itoop U) Britain'e queen.— ^iMii. 1. (A. D. 1S88.) In the mean time, while the. Spanish armada was preparing to sail, the admiral Santa Cruz died, as liicewise the vice-admiral Palino ; and the command of the expedition was given to the duke de Medina Sidonia, a person utterly inexperienced in sea affairs ; and this, in some measure, served to frustrate the design. But some other accidents also contributed to its failure. 2. Upon leaving the port of Lisbon, the armada the next d&y met with a violent tempest, which sunk several of the smallest of their shipping, and obliged the fleet to put back into har- bour. After some time spent in refitting, they again put to sea ; where they took a fisherman, who gave them intelli- gence that the English fleet, hearing of the dispersion of the armada in a storm, had retired back into Plymouth har- bour, and most of the mariners were discharged. 3. From this false intelligence, the Spanish admiral, instead of going directly to the coast of Flanders, to take in the troops stationed there, as he had been instructed, resolved to sail for Plymouth, and destroy the shipping laid up in that harbour. But Effingham, the English admiral, was very well prepared to receive them ; he was just got out of port when he saw the Spanish armada coming full sail towards him, disposed in the form of a half moon, and stretching seven miles from one extremity to the other. 4. However, the English admiral, seconded by Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher, attacked the armada at a distance, pouring in their broad- sides with admirable dexterity. They did not choose to en- gage the enemy more closely, because they were greatly inferior in the number of ships, guns, and weight of metal ; nor could they pretend to board such lofty ships without manifest disadvantage. However two Spanish galleons were disabled and taken. 5. As the armada advanced up the channel, the English still followed, and infested their rear; and their fleet continually increasing from different ports, they soon found themselves in a capacity to attack the Spanish fleet more nearly, and accordingly fell upon them while they were as yet taking shelter in the port of Calais. 6. To increase their confusion, Howard took eight of his smaller ships, and filling them with combustible materials, sent them, as if they had been fire-shipsl one i: BLITABETH. 193 their brent Uack A(\er the other, \v*o the midst of the enemy. The Spaniards, taking them for what they seemed to be, immediately took flight, in great disorder; while the English, profiting by their panic, took or destroyed about twelve of the enemy. 7. This was a fatal blow to Spain; the duke de Medina Sidonia, being thus driven to the coast of Zealand, held a council of war, in which it was resolved, that, as their am- munition began to fail, as their ships had received great damage, and the duke of Parma had refused to venture his army under their protection, they should return to Spain by sailing round the Orkneys, as the winds were contrary to his passage directly back. 8. Accordingly they pro- ceeded northward, and were followed by the English fleet as far as Flamborough-head, where they were terribly shat- tered by a storm. Seventeen of the ships, having five thousand men on board, were afterwards cast away on the Western isles, and the coast of Ireland. Of the whole armada, three-and-flfty ships only returned to Spain, in a miserable condition ; and the seamen, as well as soldiers, who remained, only served by their accounts to intimidate their countrymen from attempting to renew so dangerous an .expedition. 9. From being invaded, the English, in their turn, attacked the Spaniards. Of those who made the most signal figure in the depredations upon Spain, was the young earl of Essex, a nobleman of great bravery, generosity, and genius; and fitted not only for tiie foremost ranks in war by his valour, but to I r:duet the intrigues of a court by his eloquence and address. tO. In all the masques which were then performed, the earl and Elizabeth were generally coupled as partners ; and although she was almost sixty, and he not half so old, yet her vanity overlooked the disparity ; the world told her she was young, and she herself was willing to think so. This young eaii^s interest in the queen's affections, as may naturally be supposed, promoted his interests in the state ; and he conducted all things at his discretion. 11. But, young and inexperienced as he was, he at length began to fancy that the popularity he possessed, and the flatteries he received, were gi - a to. his merits, and not to his favour. In a debate befcre the queen, between him and Burleigh, about the choice of a governor for Ireland, he was so heated in the argument, that he entirely forgot both the rules and duties of civility. 12. He turned his back on the queen in a contemptuous manner, which so provoked her resentment, 104 HISTOUY OF ENGLAND. that she instantly ffave him a box on the ear. Instead of recoUectinfl^ himself, and making the submission due to her sex and station, he clapped his hand to his sword, and swore he would not bear such usage even from her father. This ofTence, though very great, was overlooked by the queen ; her partiality was so prevalent, that she reinstated him in her former mvour, and her kindness seemed to have acquired new force from that short interruption of anger and resent- ment. 13. The death also of his rival. Lord Burleigh, which happened shortly after, seemed to confirm his power. At that time the earl of Tyrone headed the rebellious na- tives of Ireland ; who, not yet thoroughly brought into sub- jection by tlie English, took every opportunity to make incursions upon the more civilized mhabitants, and slew all tj^ey were able to overpower. 14. To subdue these was an employment that Essex thought worthy of his ambition; nor were his enemies displeased at thus removing him from court, where he obstructed all their private aims of prefer ment. But it ended in his ruin. Instead of attacking the enemy in their grand retreat in Ulster, he led his forces into the province of Munster, where he only exhausted his strength, and lost his opportunity against a people that sub- mitted at his approach, but took up arms when he retired. 15. This issue of an enterprise, from which much was ex- pected, did not fail to provoke the queen most sensibly ; and her anger was still more heightened l^y the peevish and impatient letters which he daily wrote to her and the council. But her resentment against him was still more justly let loose, when she found, that, leaving the place of his appoint- ment, and without any permission demanded or obtained, he returned from Ireland, to make his complaints to herself in person. 16. Though Elizabeth was justly offended, yet he soon won upon her temper to pardon him. He was now ordered to continue a prisoner in his own house till the queen's fur- ther pleasure should be known, and it is probable that the discretion of a few months might have reinstated him in all his former employments ; but the impetuosity of his cha- racter would not suffer him to wait for a slow redress of what he considered as wrongs : and the queen's refusing his *«quest to continue him in possession of a lucrative mono- poly of sweet wines, which he had long enjoyed, spurred him on to the most violent and guilty measures. (A.D. 1 000,) 17. Having long built with fond credulity on his ELIZABETH. 195 great popularity, he began to hope, from the assistance of the giddy multitude, that revenge upon his enemies in coun* eil, which he supposed was denied him from the throne. His greatest dependence was upon the professions of the citizens of London, whose schemes of reliffion and govern- ment he appeared entirely to approve ; and while he grati fied the puritans, by railing at the government of the churcli, he pleased the envious, by exposing the faults of those in power. 18. Among other criminal projects, the result of blind rage and despair, it was resolved that sir Christopher Ulount, one of his creatures, should, with a choice detach- ment, possess himself of the palace gates ; that sir John Davis should seize the hall ; sir Charles Danvers the guard- chamber; while Essex himself should rush in from the Mews, attended by a body of his partisans, into the queen's presence, and entreat her to remove his and her enemies, to assemble a new parliament, and to correct the defects of the present administration. \. 6! 18. 19. H 15. 17. 18. Quettioru for Examination, S. What were the circumtancet that contributed to relud die SfiMdaf Describe the gallant conduct of the English. 8. What were the coniequences ? ^ . What was the character of the earl of Enex T * '' . How did he behave to the aueen ? • • What expedition did he undertake ? What was his success 7 16. In what manner did he increase the queen's reseatment f From whom did Essex exjpect assistance f Ota what project did he alterwards resolve 7 -i . . . SECTION V. Raleish, with hopes of new diinoveriei fired. And all ihe deplhi of human wit inipired, Moved o^cr the weelern world in learch of fsma. * Adding ftesh glory to Eliza's name.— i>r.A'ii# ij^, 1. (A. D. 1601.) While Essex was deliberating upon the manner in which he should proceed, he received a pri- vate note, by which he was warned to provide for his own safety. He now, therefore, consulted with his friendw. touching the emergency of their situation ; they were desti- tute of arms and ammunition, while the guards at the palace were doubled, so that any attack there would be fruitless. 2. While he and his confidants were in consultation, a per- son, probably employed by his enemies, came in as a mes- senger from the citizens, with tenders of friendship an<l 196 HISTORY or ENGLAND ■ f' Mtistance againit all his adversariei. Wild as the projec was of raising the city in the present terrible conjuncture, it was resolved on ; but the execution of it wa« delayed till tlie day following. 8. Early in the morning of the next day, he was attended by his friends the earls of Rutland and Southannpton, tho lords Sandes, Parker, and Monteagle, with three hun'ired persons of distinction. The doors of Essex-house were im- mediately locked, to prevent all strangers from entering ; and the earl now discovered his scheme for raising the city more fully to all the conspirators. In the mean time, sir Walter Raleigh sending a message to Ferdinando Georges, this officer had a conference with him in a boai on the Thames, and there discovered all their proceedings. 4. The earl of Essex, who now saw that all wai^to be hazarded, resolved to leave his house, and to sally forth to make an insurrec- tion in the city. But he had made a very wrong estimate in expecting that popularity alone would aid him in time of danger ; he issued out with about two hundred followers, armed only with swords ; and in his passage to the city was joined by the earl of Bedford and lord (Jromwell. 5. As he passed through the streets, he cried aloud, *< For the queen ! for the queen ! a plot is laid for my life ;" hoping to engage the populace to rise ; but they had received orders from the mayor to keep within their houses ; so th:«t lie was not joined by a single person. 6. In this manner, attended by a few of his followers, the rest having privately retired, he made towards the river ; and, taking a boat, arrived once more at Essex-house, where he began to make preparations for his defence. But his case was too desperate for any re- medy from valour ; wherefore, after demanding in vain for hostages and conditions from his besiegers, he surrendered at discretion, requesting only civil treatment and a fair and impartial hearing. 7. Essex and Southampton were immediately carried to the archbishop's palace at Lambeth, from whence they were the next day conveyed to the Tower, and tried by the peers on the nineteenth of February following. Little could be urged in their defence ; their guilt was too flagrant ; and though it deserved pity, it could not meet an acquittal. Essex, after condemnation, was visited by that religious horror which seemed to attend him in all his disgraces. He was terrified almost to despair by the ghostly remon- strances of his own chaplain ; he was reconciled to hi« ELIZABETH. 197 h« QoMB CIlMbcth rigaiBf tka dMlk-wwnat of enemies, and made a full confession of his conspiracy U. It is alleged upon this occasion, that he hid strong hopes of pardon from the irresolution which the queen seemed to discover hefore she signed the warrant for his execution. 8he had given him formerly a ring, which she desired him to send her in any emergency of this nature, and that it should procure his safety and protection. This ring was actually sent by the countess of Nottingham, who, being a concealed enemy to the unfortunate earl, never delivered it ; while Elizabeth was secretly fired at his obstinacy in mak- ing no application for mercy or forgiveness. 9. The fact in, she appeared herself as much an object of pity as the unfortunate nobleman she was induced to condemn. She signed the warrant for his execution ; she countermanded it; she again resolved on his death, and again felt a new return of tenderness. At last she gave her consent to his execution, and was never seen to enjoy one happy day more. 10. With the death of her favourite Essex, all Elizabeth's pleasures seemed to expire ; she afterwards went through the business of the state merely from habit, but her satisfac- tions were no more. Her distress was more than sufficient to destroy the remains of her constitution ; and her end was now visibly seen to approach. Her voice soon after left her; she fell into a lethargic slumber, which continued some hours ; and slie expired gently, without a groan, in the R 2 f' (98 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. seventieth year of her age, and the forty-fifth of her reign. 11. Her character differed with her circumstances ; in the beginning she was moderate and humble ; towards tlie end of her reign haughty and severe. Though she was possess ed of excellent sense, yet she never had the discernment to discover that she wanted beauty ; and to flatter her charms at the age cf sixty-five was the surest road to her favour and esteem. 12. But whatever were her personal defects, as a queen she is ever to be remembered by the English with gratitude. It is tnie, indeed, that she earned her prerogative in parlia- ment to its highest pitch, so that it was tacitly allowed in that assembly that she was above all laws, and could make and unmake them at pleasure ; yet still she was so wise and good as seldom to exert that power which she claimed, and to enforce few acts of her prerogative which were not for the benefit of her people. 13. It is true, in like manner, that the English, during her reign, were put in possession of no new or splendid acquisitions ; but commerce was daily £^owih^ up among them, and the people began to find that the theatre cf their tniest conquests was to be on the bosom of the ocean. A nation, which had hitherto been the object of every invasion, and a prey to every plunderer, now as- serted its strength in turn, and became terrible to its invad- ers. 14. The successful voyages of the Spaniards and Por- tuguese began to excite their emulation, and they planned several expeditions for discovering a shorter passage to the East Indies. The famous sir Walter Raleigh, without any assistance from government, colonized New England, while internal commerce was making equal improvements ; and many Flemings, persecuted in their native country, found, together with their arts and industry, an easy asylum in England. 15. Thus the whole island seemed as if roused from her long habits of barbarity ; arts, commerce, and le- gislation began to acquire new strength every day ; and such was the state of learning at that time, that some fixed that period as the Augustan age of England. Sir Walter Raleigh and Hooker are considered p<* among the first im- provers of our language. 16. Spent^er and Shakspeare are too well known as poets to be praised here ; but, of all man- kind, Francis Bacon, lord Verulam, who flourished in this reiorn, deserves, as a philosopher, the highest applause ; his t^tyle is copious and correct, and his wit is only surpassed by his learning and penetration. 17. If we look through \tl ELIZABETH. \m histoty, and consider the rise of kingdoms, we shall scarcely hnd an instance of a people becoming, in so short a time, wise, powerful, and happy. Liberty, it is true, still conti- nued to fluctuate ; Elizabeth knew her own power, and stretched it to the very verge of despotism ; but, now that commerce was introduced, liberty soon after followed ; for there never was a nation that was perfectly commercial that submitted long to slavery. Questions for Examination, 1. What project did Essex rcsulve on for raising the city ? 3, 4, 5. How did he proceed to effect this ? 6, 7. What was the late of Kssex and Southampton ? U. What induced Essex to have hopes of pardon 7 9. What was Elizabeth's conduct on this occasion ? 10. Did Elizabeth long survive the death of her favourite ? 11. What was her character? 13. What was the political condition of England at the death of Elizaboth? 14. Did any important events take place during her reign ? 15. What was the «;tate of learning ? and what eminent men flourished at thi4 time ? COPJTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS Papet. A.D. Paul IV 1555 Pius IV 1559 PiusV 1565 Gregory XIII 1572 SextusV 1585 Urban VII 1590 Gregory XIV 1590 Innocent IX 1591 Clement VIII 1592 Emperors of Germany. Ferdinand 1 1558 Maximilian II 1564 Rodolphus II 1576 Emperors of the Ttirhs. Solimanll 1520 A.D. Selim II 1566 Araurathlll 1574 Mahomet III 1595 Kings of France. Henry II 1547 Francis II 1559 Charles IX 1560 Henry HI 1574 Henry IV 1589 King of Spain. Philip II 1555 Kings of Portugal. Sebastian 1557 Henry 1579 Union of Spain and Portugal. A.D. Philip II 1580 Philip 111 169T Kings of Denmark. Christian IV 1558 Frederick II 1559 Kings of Steeekn. EricX 1556 John III 1569 Sigismund 1592 Qwen and King of Scotlaiid. Mary 154« JameqVI 1567 EMINENT PERSONS. Shakspeare. Speneer. Bacon. Sir Philip Sidney. Sir Walter Raleigh.* Sir Francis Drake. Lord Howard of Eflingham. Cecil, lord Burleieh. Ro- bert Dudley, earl of Leicester. Sir Martin Frobisher. Sir John mwknu * Sir Walter Rafeigh is said to have attracted Elizabeth's notice by a delicate act of eallantry. When the queen, in one of her customarv walks, hesitatea about passing a miry spot, Raleigh, then a youn^ ad- venturer, threw his cloak before her as a carpet. He was immediately invited to court, and the most brilliant prospects began to open before uiuia ^^■ItMVJ 200 /'' /^''^'^f/'<y,. y/r- HISTORY OF ENGLAND. CHAPTER XXVII. JAMES I. Born 1566. Died March 27, 1625. Bc^an to reign March 24, 1C03. Reigned 23 years over Great Britain, 58 years (nearly) over Scotland, Now on the great and elorioua queen's demiae, Tim Scottish JumoH her vunnnt place Buppliet; Uniting into one, both crown* he clainis, And them cunjunctively Great Britain u&mm, •— Egertcn. 1. (A.D. 1603.) James the Sixth of Scotlantil, and the First of England, the son of Mary, came to the throne with the universal approbation of all orders of the state, as in his person were united every claim that either descent, bequest, or parliamentary sanction could confer. However, in the very beginning of his reign, a conspiracy was set on foot, the particulars of which are but obscurely related. 2. It is said to have been begun by lord Grey, lord Cobham, and sir Walter Raleigh, who were all condemned to die, but had their sentence mitigated by the king. Cobham and Grey were pardoned after they had laid their heads on the block. Raleigh was reprieved, but remained in confinement many years afterwards, and at last suffered for his offence, which was never proved. 3. Mild as this monarch was in toleration, there was a project contrived in the very beginning of his reign for the re-establishment of popery, which, were it not a fact known to all the world, could scarcely be credited by posterity. This was the gunpowder plot, than which a more horrid or terrible scheme never entered into the human heart to con- ceive. 4. The Roman catholics had expected great favour and indulgence on the accession of James, both as a descendant of Mary, a rigid catholic, and also as having shown some partiality to that religion in his youth ; but they soon disco- vered their mistake, and were at once surprised and enraged to find James, on all occasions, express his resolution of strictly exercising the laws enacted against them, and of per- severing in the conduct of his predecessor. This declaration determined them upon more desperate measures ; and they at length formed a resolution of destroying the king and both houses of parliament at a blow. The scheme was first broached by Robert Catesby, a gentleman of good parts and ancient family ; who conceived that a train of gunpowder JAMES I. J>01 might be so placed under the parliament-house as to blow up the king and all the members at once. 0. How horrid soever the contrivance might appear, yet every member seemed faithful and secret in the league ; and about two months before the sitting of parliament, they hired a house, in the name of Percy, adjoining to that in which the parliament was to assemble. 7. Their first intention was to bore a way under the parliament-house from that which they occupied, and they set themselves labouring at the task ; but when they had pierced the wall, which was three yards in thickness, on approaching the other side, they were surprised to find that the house was vaulted underneath, and that a magazine of coals was usually deposited there. R. From their disappointment on this account they were soon relieved, by information that the coals were then sell- ing off, and that the vaults would then be let to the highest bidder. They therefore seized the opportunity of hiring the place, and bought the remaining quantity of coals with which it was then stored, as if for their own use. 9. The next thing done was to convey thither thirty-six barrels of gimpowder, which had been purchased in Holland ; and the whole was covered with coals and fagots, bought for that purpose. Then the doors of the cellar were boldly thrown open, and everybody admitted as if it contained nothing dangerous. 10. Confident of success, they now began to plan the re- maining part of their project. The king, queen, and prince Henry, the king's eldest son, were all expected to be present at the opening of the parliament. The king's second son, by reason of his tender age, would be absent, and it was resolved that Percy should seize or assassinate him. The princess Elizabeth, a child likewise, was kept at lord Har- rington's house in Warwickshire ; a.id sir Everard Digby was to seize her, and immediately proclaim her queen. 11. The day for the sitting of parliament now approached. Never was treason more secret, or ruin more apparently in- evitable : the hour was expected with impatience, and the conspirators gloried in their meditated guilt. The dreadful secret, though communicated to above twenty persons, had been inviolably kept during the space of a year and a half. When all the motives of pity, justice, and safely were too weak, a remorse of private friendship saved the kingdom. 12. Sir Henry Percy, one of the conspirators, conceived ''■'*'* lord Mounieagie, his intimate UlC 202 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. friend and companion, who also was of the same persuasion with himself. About ten days before the meeting of parlia- ment, this nobleman, upon his return to town, received a letter from a person unknown, and delivered by one who fled as soon as he had discharged his message. 13. The letter was to this effect : •' My lord, stay away from this parliament ; for God and man have concurred to punish tiie wickedness of the times. And think not slightly of this advertisement, but retire yourself into your country, where you may expect the event in safety. For though there be no appearance of any stir, yet I say they will receive a ter- rible blow this parliament ; and yet they shall not see who hurts them. This counsel is not to be condemned, because it may do you good, and can do you no harm. For the danger is past as soon as you have burned the letter." 14. The contents of this mysterious letter surprised and puzzled the nobleman to whom it was addressed ; and, though inclined to think it a foolish attempt to affright and ridicule him, yet he judged it safest to carry it to lord Salis bury, secretary of state. 15. Lord Salisbury, too, was in- clined to give little attention to it, yet thought proper to lay it before the king in council, who came to town a few days after. None of the council were able to make any thing of it, although it appeared serious and alarming. In the uni- versal agitation between doubt and apprehension, the king was the first who penetrated the meaning of this dark epistle. 16. He concluded that some sudden danger was preparing by gunpowder ; and it was thought advisable to inspect all the vaults below the houses of parliament. This care.be longed to the earl of Suffolk, lord chamberlain, who pu* posely delayed the search till the day before the meeting of parliament, November 5, 1605. He remarked those great piles of fagots which lay in the vault under the house of peers, and seized a man preparing for the terrible enterprise, dressed in a cloak and boots, with a dark lantern in his hand. 17. This was no other than Guy Fawkes, who had just deposited every part of the train for its taking fire the next morning, the matches and other combustibles being found in his pockets. The whole design was now disco- vered ; but the atrociousness of his guilt, and the despair of pardon, inspiring him with resolution, he told the officers of justice, with an undaunted air, that, had he blown them and himself up together, he had been happy. Before the coun- eil he displayed the same intrepid firmness, mixed even witli JAMKl I. 203 Selxun o( Ouy FawkM. scorn and disdain, refusing to discover his associates, ana showing no concern but for the failure of his enterprise. But his bold spirit was at length subdued ; being confined in the Tower for two or three days, and the rack just shown him, his courage, fatigued with so long an effort, at last failed him, and he made a full discovery of all his accomplices. Questions for Examination, 1. Who succeeded Elizabeth? 2. What conspiracy was set on foot at the commencement of thu reign ? 3. What project was contrived for the re-establishment of popery f 5, By whom was it first broached ? 6^9. In what manner was the project endeavoured to be carried mto efiect < 10. Who were expected to be pretient at the opening of parliament ? 11. To how many persons had the plot been revealed ? 12. What circumstance saved the kinsdom ? 13l What were the contents of Percy^ letter? 15. Who was the first to dipcover the meaning of the letter? 16. Can you relate «he mo'isures taken to prevent the apprehended danger t 17. What was the name of ihe person engaged in this enterprise f and what was his conduct on being discovered ? SECTION II. Ynt Rnleich left a deathless name, To learning dear, and Jear to fame. — Dibdtn. 1. (A. D. 1605) Catesby, Percy, and the conspirators who were in London, hearing that Fawkes was arrested, fled with all speed to Warwickshire, where Sir Everard •~^'' 204 HinORY OF ENGLAND. ''I % Digby, relying on the success of the plot, was already in arms. But the country soon bsgan to take the alarm, and Mrherever they turned, they found a superior force ready to oppose them. 2. In this exigence, beset on all sides, they resolved, to the number of about eighty persons, to fly no further, but to make a stand at a house in Warwickshire, to defend it to the last, and sell their lives as dearly as possible. But even this miserable consolation was denied them ; a spark of fire happening to fall among some gunpowder that was laid to dry, it blew up, and so maimed the principal conspirators, that the sarvivors resolved to open the gate, and sally out against the multitude that surrounded the house. 3. Some were instantly cut to pieces ; Catesby, Percy, and Winter, standing back to back, fought long and desperately, till in the end the two first fell covered with wounds, and Winter was taken alive. Those that survived the slaughter were tried and convicted ; several fell by the hands of the exec jtioner, and others experienced the king's mercy. The Jesuits, Garnet and Oldcorn, who were privy to the plot, suffered with the rest, and, notwithstanding the atrociousness of their treason. Garnet was considered by his party as a martyr, and miracles were said to have been wrought by his blood. 4. The sagacity with which the king first discovered the plot raised the opinion of his wisdom among the people , but the folly with which he gave himself up to his favour- ites quickly undeceived the nation. A.D. 1012. In the first rank of these stood Robert Carr, a youth of a good family in Scotland, who, after having passed some time in his travels, arrived in London, at about twenty years of age. All his natural accomplishments consisted in a pleasing vi- sage ; and all his acquired abilities in an easy and graceful demeanour. '-^ 5. This youth was considered as a most rising man at court , he was knighted, created viscount Rochester, ho- noured with the order of the garter, made a privy counsellor, and to raise him to the highest pitch of honour, he was at last created earl of Somerset. 6. This was an advancement which some regarded with envy ; but the wiser part of mankind looked upon it with contempt and ridicule, sensible that ungrounded attachments are seldom of long continuance. Some time after, being accused and convicted, from private motives, of poisoning «ir ThomajB Overbury in the Tower, he fell under Uie king's • ■,* ■ . '^u: » '; -.1 jS^nir' ^ -\\r- * . ;;i;i;.,- JAMES I. 205 a with with ents eing ning displeasure : and being driven from court, spent the remain- der of his life in contempt and self-conviction. ' 7. But the king had not been so improvident as to part with one favourite until he had provided himself with an- other. Thia was George Villiers, a youth of one-and-twenty, the younger brother of a good family, who was returned about that time from his travels, and whom the enemies of Somerset had taken occasion to throw in the king's way, certain that his beauty and fashionable manners would do the rest. 8. Accordingly he had been placed at a comedy full in the king's view, and immediately caught the monarch's affections. In the course of a few years, he was created viscount Villiers, earl, marquis, and dnke of Buckingham, knight of the garter, master of the horse, chief justice in eyre, warden of the cinque ports, master of the king's bench office, steward of Westminster, constable of Windsor, and lord high admiral of England. 9. The universal murmur which these foolish attachments / produced was soon after heightened by an act of severity, / which still continues as the blackest stain upon this mo- I narch's memory. Tlie brave and learned Raleigh had been confined in the Tower, almost from the very beginning of James's accession, for a conspiracy which had never been proved against him ; and in that abode of wretchedness he wrote several valuable performances, which are still in the highest esteem. 10. His long sufferings, and his ingenious writings, had now turned the tide of popular opinion in his favour ; and they who once detested the enemy of Essex, could not now help pitying the captivity of this philosophi- cal soldier. He himself still struggled for freedom ; and perhaps it was with this desire that he spread the report of his having discovered a gold mine in Guiana, which was sufficient to enrich not only the adventurers who should seize it, but afford immense treasures to the nation. 11. The king, either believing his assertions, or willing to subject him to further disgrace, granted him a commission to try his fortune in quest of these golden schemes ; but still reserved his former sentence as a check upon his future behaviour. 12. Raleigh was not long in making preparations for this adventure, which, from the sanguine manner in which he . carried it on, many thought he believed to be as promising as he described it. He bent his course to Guiana, and re maining himself at the mouth of the river Oronooko with five of the largest ships, he sent the rest up the stream, under 206 HISTORY or BNOLANO. r ■, S i- >• / I the oommand of his son, and captain Kemmis, a person en tirely devoted to his interest. 13. But instead of a country abounding in gold, as the adventurers were taught to expect, they found the Spaniards had been warned of their approach, and were prepared in arms to receive them. Young Ra- leigh, to encourage his men, called out that *' was the true mine,'* meaning the town of St. Thomas, which he was ap- proaching ; " and that none but fools looked for any other ;" but just as he was speaking he received a shot, of which he immediately expired. This was followed by another dis- appointment ; for when the English took possession of the town, they found nothing in it of any value. 14. Raleigh, in this forlorn situation, found now that all Iiis hopes were over ; and saw his misfortunes still farther aggravated by the reproaches of those whom he had under- t^en to cojnmand. Nothing could be more deplorable than his situation, particularly when he was told that he must be carried back to England, to answer for his conduct to the king. 15. It is pretended that he employed many artifices, first to engage them to attack the Spanish settlements at a time of peace, and, failing of that, to make his escape into France. But all of those proving unsuccessful, he was de- livered into the king's hands, and strictly examined, as well as his fellow-adventurers, before the privy council. Count Gondemar, the Spanish ambassador, made heavy complaints against the expedition ; and the king declared that Raleigh had express orders to avoid all disputes and hostilities against the Spaniards. 16. Wherefore, to give the court of Spain a particular instance of his attachment, he signed the warrant for his execution ; not for the present ofiencr , but for his former conspiracy. This great man died with thil*. same fortitude he had testified through life ; he observed, ' as he felt the edge of the axe, that it was a sharp but a sure remedy for all evils; his harangue to the people was calm and eloquent ; and he laid his head down on the block with the utmost indifference. . I • Questions for Examination, V 1. What measures were taken by the principal conipinUm I a What was their fate? 4. Who was king James's fint favourite t 6. How did Somerset fall under the king's iispleasaref 7. Who was the king's next favourite? ^ , ^ 8. Whathonoursdidheconferonhim? ^. '. *^^ 9 Fot what was sir Walter Raleigh confined in the Tow«r f 'i-i' i ■ ' "TTTWT^ 1- •^js r-- ";•;-.. r-T.v th JAMB8 1. 10. What raport did Raleigh ipraad f It— la. Mention the parlioiilan relating to thia •xpadition. 10. Wliat waa the (kto or thia great man T What waa hia behaviour at hia exeoutionf 807 SECTION II.lJ) '■ Thouih wmrn'd abroad, bewlhlMr'd In i mrtia Or nruiiliiM iraalift*, whiln at humn nnilavsdi^ Ha lotl Ilia paopla'a oonfldanou and lovt. — Tkomion 1. (A.D. 1018.) But thero soon appeared vorv appa- rent reasons for James's partiality to the court of Spain. This monarch had entortuinod an opinion which was pecu- liar to himself, that in marrying his son Charles, the prince of Wales, any alliance below that of royalty would be un- worthy of him : he, therefore, was obliged to seek, either in the court of France or Spain, a suitable match, and ho was taught to think of the latter. 2. Gondemar, who was an ambassador from the court, perceiving this weak mo- narch's partiality to a crowned head, made an offer of the second daughter of Spain to prince Charles ; and that he might render the temptation irresistible, he gave hopes of an immense fortune which should attend the princess. How- ever, this was a negotiation which was not likely soon to be ended ; and from the time the idea was first started, James saw five years elapse without bringing the treaty to any kind of conclusion. 3. A delay of this kind was very displeasing to the king, who had all along an eye oi\ the great fortune of the prin- cess ; nor was it less disagreeable to prince Charles, who, bred up with the ideas of romantic passion, was in love without ever seeing the object of his affections. In this general tedium of delay, a project entered the head of Vil- liers, who had for some years ruled the king with absolute authority, that was fitter to be conceived by the knight of a romance than by a minister and a statesman. 4. It was projected that the prince should himself, travel in disguise into Spain, and visit the princess of that country in person. Buckingham, who wanted to ingratiate himself with the prince, offered to be his companion ; and the king, whose business it was to check so wild a scheme, gave his consent to this hopeful proposal. 5. Their adventures on this strange project would fill novels ; and have actually been made the subject of many. Charles was the knight-errant, and Buckingham was the squire. The match, however. 208 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. broke off, for what reason historians do not assign ; but, if we may credit the novelists of that time, the prince had al« ready fixed his affections upon the daughter of Henry IV of France, whom he married shortly aAer. 0. It may be easily supposed that these mismanagements were seen and felt by the people. The house of commons was become by this time quite unmanagable ; the prodigality of James to his favourites had made his necessities so many, that he was contented to sell the different branches of his prerogative to the commons, one after the other, to procure supplies. In proportion as they perceived his wants, they found out new grievances ; and every grant of money was sure to come with a petition for redress. The struggles be- tween him and the parliament had been growing more and more violent every session ; and the very last advanced theii pretensions to such a degree, that he began to take the alarm : but these evils, which the weakness of this monarch had contributed to give birth to. fell upon his successor. 7. These domestic troubles were attended by others still more important, in Germany, and which produced in the end most dangerous effects. The king^s eldest daughter had been married to Frederic, the elector pi^latine of Germany ; and this [trince, revolting against the emperor Ferdinand the Second, was defeated in a decisive battle, and obliged to take refuge in Holland. 8. His affinity to the English crown, his misfortunes, but particularly the protestant religion, for which he had contended, were strong motives to the people of England to wish well to his cause ; and frequent ad- dresses were sent from the commons to induce James to take a part in the German contest, and to replace the exiled prince upon the throne of his ancestors. 9. James at first attempted to ward off the misfortunes of his son-in-law by negotiation, A.D. 1620 ; but this proving utterly ineffectual, it was at last resolved to rescue the palatinate from the empe- ror by force of arms. Accordingly, war was declared ag'iinst Spain and the emperor ; six thousand men were sent over into Holland, to assist prince Maurice in his schemes against those powers ; the people were every- where elated at the courage of their king, and were satisfied with any war which was to exterminate the papists. 10. This army was followed by another, consisting of twelve thousand men, commanded by count Mansfeldt; and the court of France promised its assistance. But the English were disappointed in all their views ; the troops being em- ^*-.--.;.-;y, .■..;•-') '.;:■', .-r^v^" TZtr^r-^-' V-\W^^^7^\V9'* I"-' '^M JAMKS 1. 200 em- barked at Dover, upon sailing to Calais the}^ found no orders for their admission. After waiting in vain fur some time, they were obliged to sail towards Zealand, where no proper measures were yet concerted for their disembarkation. 11. Meanwhile a pestilential disease crept in among the forces, so long cooped up in narrow vessels ; half the army diud while on board ; and the other half, weakened by sicknesR, appeared too small a body to march into the palatinate ; and thus ended this ill-concerted and fruitless expedition. 12. Whether this misfortune had any effect upon James's constitution is uncertain ; but he was soon after scized-witli a tertian ague, which when his courtiers assured him from the proverb that it was health for a king, he replied, that the proverb was made for a young king. A.D. 1025. After some fits he found himself extremely weakened, and sent for the prince, whom he exhorted to persevere in the pro- testant religion ; then, preparing with decency and courage to meet his end, he expired, after a reign over England of twenty-two years, and in the fifty-ninth year of his age. Queations for Examination, 1. What WAre the reasons for James's nartiality to Spain T 2. .What offer was made by the Spenisn ambassador ? 4. What project was formed by Villiers, and by whom was it undertaken T 5. What was its success 7 6. How did the house of commons act towards James? 7 — 11. Relate the circumstances that occurred in Germany. 12. In what manner did the king conduct himself previously to his death? How long did he reign ? ' »t CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popen. A.D. Clement VIII 1592 LeoXr 1605 Paul III 1605 Gregory XV 1621 Urban VlII 1623 Emperors of Ctermany. Rodolphusfl 1576 MatthiasI 1612 Ferdinand II 1619 Emperor of the TurJu. A.D. Achmetl 1603 Mustapha 1 1617 OsmanI 1618 Mustapha I. restor- ed 1622 AmurathlV 1623 Kin/ra of France. Henry IV. 1589 Louis XIII 1610 EMINENT PERSONS. Kinga of Spain and 'i Portugal. A.D. Philip III 1597 PhiUpIV 1621 King of Denmark. Christian IV 1588 Kinga of Sweden. Sigismuiid 1592 Charles IX 160b GuitavusU 1611 Henry, prince of Wales. Carr, earl of Somerset. Villiers, duke of Buck in||[ham. Lord chancellor Bacon. Wiluam Shakspeare. Sir Walter Ra leigh. Sir Hugh Middleton. Lord chancellor Maitland. W. A. earl of. Stirling. Sir M. Kerr, earl of Anoram. J. tiamilton, earl of Haddington James, duke of Hamilton. Henr]» Carey, lord Falkland. O. Calvert, lord s2 \'y<' 210 HISTORY or ENGLAND. Baltimore. Robert Carev, oarl of Momnonth. Sir M. Cecil, earl oTSalbbury Henry Howard, earl of PforUiampton. Lord chancellor eileamere. m Pulke Orevilie, lord Broo!u» O. Carew, earl of Totnea. W. Herbert, earl of Pembroke. Sic Dudley Carleton, viacount Dorcbeater £. Cecil, viacoui. t Wimbledon, dec. Jkc. ¥ <«K. • • CHAPTER /VVJII. ** Cr.Ri.iJ8 I. Boro 1000. Died January 30 ini" I' i •. to reign March S7, 1833. Reigned Stifyt 4. SECTION I. Th J mcnarch'i de«di blia!! laife allowonoe cliim, Wtlh whum loo oni<n, to • nation ■ ihaine. Buceeti is virtue and miifurlune blame. — Z)i6(Ua. 1. (A. D. 1625.) Few princes ever ascended Ihe throne with more apparent advantages than Charles ; and none ever encountered more real difficulties. Indeed, he undertooic the reins of government with a fixed persuasion that his popularity was sufficient to carry every measure. 2. He had been loaded with a treaty for defending the prince Salatine, his brother-in-law, in the last reign : and the war eclared for that purpose was to be carried on with vigour in this. But war was more easily declared than supplies granted. After some reluctance, the commons voted him two subsidies ; a sum far from being sufficient to support him in his intended equipment. 3. To supply the want of parliamentary aid, Charles had recourse to some of the ancient methods of extortion, prac- tised by sovereigns when in necessitous circumstances. T' • ■ ^fiid of tax called a benevolence was ordered to be e?;r»tleM s "d privy «<'"^als ^ue issued accordingly. With ' "- ; ople weiu obliged, though reluctantly, to comply; it was in fact authorized by many precedents ; but no pre- cedent whatsoever could give ^ sanction to injustice. 4. After an ineffectual expedition to Cadiz, another at- tempt was made to obtain supplies in a more regular and constitutional manner than before. Another parliament was accordingly called ; and though some steps were taken to exclude the more popular. leaders of tlte last house of com- mons, by nominating thenji as sheriffs of counties, yet the present parliament seemed more refractory than the former CHARLES I. 311 S. When the king laid before the houie his necessities, and asked for a supply, they voted him only three subsidies, which amoutJled to about b.Kty thousand pounds; a sum no way adequate to the importance of the war, or the necessities of the state. In order, therefore, to gain a sufficient supply, a commission was openly ^ninted to compound with the catholics, and agree for a wi r>ensation of the penal laws against th^^m. He borrowed a im of money from the no- bility, whose contributions came ^ut slowly. 6. Hut the greatest stretch of his power was n the levyi^^ of ship- money. In order to equip a flee (at least iiis was the pretence made), each of the r ritime towns as required, with the assistance of tic ^.dja> at eoi nties, to arm as many vessels as were appoint( I them. Th city of London was rated it twenty ships. This was tax, which afterwards, being car? createi such discontents in the n 7. War being soon after decl; was sen* out, under the command v liuckingham, to relieve Rochelle a maritime town in that ingdom, that had long enjoyed 1 js privileges, independent ~ that had lor some time embraced th' now was b^'sieged with a formidable was as unfortunate as that to the co duke's measures were so ill concerts of the city -hut their gates, and refus whose coming they were not previously informed. Instead of attacking the island of Qkron, which ' as fertile and de- fenceless, he bent his course to the isle i Khe, which was garrisoned and well fortified. He attempted there to starve out the garrison of St. Martin's castle, which was plentifully supplied with | rovisions by sea. 0. By that time the French had landed thei - forces privately at another part of the island : so that Bucking ham was at last obliged to retreat, but with such precipitation, that two-thirds of his army were cut to pieces before he could re-embark, though he was the last man of the whole army that quitted the shore. 10. This proof of his per-^onal courage, however, was but a small subject of consolation for the disgrace which his country had sustained, for his own person would hr>ve been the last 1 they would have regretted. i, 11. The contest between the king and the commons every I'^day grew warmer. The officers of the custom-house were ;% summoned before the commons, to give an account by wha ^he onimencement of a to such violent lengths, ag:>inst France, a fleet he French king ; b-jt ^formed religion, and II V. This expedition of Spain. 8. The ihat the inhabitants to admit allies, of 212 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. authority they seized the goods of the merchants who had refusejjUto pay ihe duty of tonnage and poundage, which they alleged was levied without the sanction of law. The barons of the exchequer were examined concerning their decrees on that head ; and the sheriff of London committed to the Tower for his activity in supporting the custom-house officers. 12. These were bold measures : but the commons went still further, by a resolution to examine into religious grievances, and a new spirit of intolerance began to appear, A. Dr 1629. The king, therefore, resolved to dissolve a parliament which he found himself unable to manage ; and sir John Finch, the speaker, just as the question concerning tonnage and poundage was going to be put, rose up, and informed the house that he had a command from the king to adjourn. 13. The house upon this was in an uproar; the speaker was pushed back into his chair, and forcibly held in it by Hollis and Valentine, till a short remonstrance was framed, and passed by acclamation rather than vote. In this hasty production, papists and Arminians were declared capital enemies to the state ; tonnage and poundage were condemned as contrary to the law ; and not only those who raised that ?duty, but those who paid it, were considered as guilty of capital crimes. 14. In consequence of this violent procedure, sir Miles Hobart, sir Peter Haymen, Selden, Coriton, Long, and Strode, were, by the king's order, committed to prison, under pretence of sedition. Hut the same temerity that impelled Charles to imprison tnem, induced him to grant them a release. 15. Sir John Elliot, Hollis, and Valentine were summoned before the king's bench ; but they refusing to appear before an inferior tribunal for faults committed in a superior, were condemned to be imprisoned during the kmg's pleasure ; the two former to pay a fine of a thousand pounds each, and the latter five hundred, and to find sureties for their good behaviour. The ^members triumjghed in their sufferings, while they had the whole kingdom as spectators and applauders of their fortitude. X 16. In the mean time, while the king was thus distressed by the obstinacy of the commons, he ifelt a much severer blow by the death of his favourite, the duke of Buckingham, who fell a sacrifice to his unpopularity. 17. It had been resolved once more to undertake the raising of the siege of IvOCiioim } ii- _ 1 -e rk_-i-:_i- auu iiie eari ui lyuxiuiga uruther-iu-law tu Buuk CHARLES I. 213 3n ingham, was sent thither, but returned without effecting any thing. In order to repair this disgrace, the duke of Buck- ingham went in person to Portsmouth to hurry on another expedition, and to punish such as had endeavoured to de- fraud the crown of the legal assessments. 18. In the general discontent that prevailed against that nobleman, it was daily expected that some severe measures would be resolved on ; and he was stigmatized as the tyrant and betrayer of his country. There was one Felton, who caug' the general contagion, — an Irishman of a good family, w. , had served under the duke as lieutenant, but had resigned, on being refused his rank on the death of his captain, who had been killed at the isle of Rhe. 19. This man was naturally me- lancholy, courageous, and enthusiastic ; he felt for the coun- try, as if labouring under a calamity which he thought it in the power of his single arm to remove. He, therefore, re- solved to kill the duke, and thus revenge his own private in- juries, while he did service also to God and man. 20. Ani- mate!! m this manner wrth gloomy zeal and mistaken patriotism, he travelled down to Portsmouth alone, and entered the town while the duke was surrounded by his levee, and giving out the necessary orders for embarkation. While he was speaking to one of his colonels, Felton struck liim over an officer's shoulder in the breast with his knife. 21. The duke had only time to say, " The villain has killed me ;" when he fell at the colonel's feet, and instantly ex- pired. No one had seen the blow, nor the person who gave it ; but a hat being picked up, on the inside of which was sewed a paper containing four or five lines of the re- monstrance of the commons against the duke, it was con* eluded that this hat must belong to the assassin ; and while they were employed in conjectures whose it should be, a man without a hat was seen walking very composedly before the door, and was heard to cry out, " I am he !" 22. He disdained denying a murder in which he gloried ; and averred that he looked upon the duke as an enemy to his country, and, as such, deserving to suffer. When asked at whose instigation he had perpetrated that horrid deed, he answered that they need not trouble themselves in that in- quiry : that his conscience was his only prompter, and that no man on earth could dispose him to act against its dictates He suffered with the same degree of constancy to the last ; nor were there many wanting, who admired not only his fortitude, but the action for which he suffered IhU*. xMrMkuiuaMIx' 214 HISTORY OP ENGLAND. Questions for Examination, 1. WhoiucceededJames? 2~^A ^y^' methoda were taken to procure supplies t J Mfu !V »* 8«cces8 attended Buckingham's expedition to France f io vJr? ">"°wed the contest between the king and the commons ? \7 XkjT "?«»«' was excited by the king's command to adjourn 7 14, IS. Under what pretence did the kmg send many of the membera to prison? 17— 21. Relate the circumstances which attended the assassination of the duke of Buckmgham. 22. What was the conduct of the assassin t '^., SECTION 11. '"a- When ciyil dudgeon first grew high. And men I'elJ out, they knew not why. — fuller. 1. (A.D. 1627.) The king's first measure, now being eft without a minister and a parliament, was a prudent one He made a peace with the two crowns against whom he had hitherto waged war, which had been entered upon without necessity, and conducted without glory. 2. Being freed from these embarrassments, he bent his whole attention to the management of the internal policy of the kingdom, and took two men as his associates in this task, who still acted an under part to himself. These were, sir Thomas Went- worth, afterwards created earl of Strafford ; and Laud, after- wards archbishop of Canterbury. 3. While Laud, therefore, during this long interval, ruled the church, the king and Strafford undertook to manage the temporal interests of the nation. A declaration was dis- persed, implying that during this reign no more parliaments would be summoned ; and every measure of the king but too well served to confirm the suspicion. 4. Tonnage and poundage were continued to be levied by royal authority alone ; custom-house officers received orders from the council to enter any house whatever, in search of suspected goods : compositions were openly made with papists, and their religion was become a regular part of the revenue. 5. The high commission court and the court of the star-chamber exercised their power, independent of any law, upon several bold innovators in liberty, who only gloried in their suflferings, and contributed to render govern ment odious and contemptible. Prynne, a barrister at Lin- coln's-Inn ; Burton, a divine ; and Bastwick, a physician ; were tried before this tribunal for schismatical libels, in which they attacked, with great severity and intemperate *-A CHARLES I. 215 teal, the ceremonies of the church of England. They were condemned to be pilloried, to lose their ears, and to pay five thousand pounds to the king. 6. Every year, every month, every day, gave fresh in- stances, during this long intermission of parliaments, of the resolution of the court to throw them off for ever ; but the levying of ship-money, as it was called, being a general burden, was universally complained of as a national griev- ance. This was a tax which had, in former reigns, been levied without the consent of parliament, but then the exigency of the state demanded such a supply. 7. John Hampden, a gentleman of fortune in Buckinghamshire, re- fused to comply with the tax, and resolved to bring it to a legal determination. He had been rated at twenty shillings for his estate, which he refused to pay ; and the case was argued twelve days In the exchequer chamber, before all the judges of England. 8. The nation regarded, with the utmost anxiety, the result of a trial that was to fix the limits of the king's power. All the judges, four only excepted, gave sentence in favour of the crown ; while Hampden, who lost his cause, was more than sufliciently recompensed by the applause of the people. 9. The discontent and opposition which the king met with, in maintaining episcopacy among his English subjects, might, one would think, uinder him from attempting to in- troduce it among those of Scotland, where it was generally hateful. Having published an order for reading the liturgy in the principal church in Edinburgh, the people received it with clamour? and imprecations. 10. The seditious disposi- tion in that kingdom, which had hitherto been kept within bounds, was now too furious for restraint, and the insurrec- tion,became general over all the country, and the Scots flew to arms with great animosity. 11. Yet still the king could not think of desisting from his design ; and so prepossessed was he in favour of royal right, that he thought the very name of king, when forcibly urged, would induce them to raturn to their duty. Instead, therefore, of fighting with his opponents, he entered upon a treaty with them ; so that a suspension of arms was soon agreed upon, and a treaty of peace concluded, which neither side intended to observe ; and then both parties agreed to disband their forces. After much altercation, and many treaties signed and broken, both parties had recourse ^%^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. once more to arms, and nothing but blood could satiate the contenders. 12. War being thus resolved on, the king took every method as before for raising money to support it. Ship- money was levied as usual ; some other arbitrary taxes were exacted from the reluctant people with great severity ; but tliese were far from being sufficient ; and there now re- mained only one method more, the long-neglected method of a parliamentary supply. 13. The new house of commons, however, could not be induced to treat the Scots, who were of the same principles with themselves, and contending against the same ceremo- nies, as enemies of the state. They regarded them as friends and brothers, who first rose to teach them a duty it was incumbent on all virtuous minds to imitate. The iiing, therefore, could reap no other fruits from this assem- bly than murmurings and complaints. 14. Every method he had taken to supply himself with money was declared an abuse, and breach of the constitution. The king, there- fore, finding no hopes of a compliance with his requests, but recrimination instead of redress, once more dissolved the parliament, to try the most feasible methods of removing his necessities. 15. His necessities, however, continuing, that parliament was called, which did not cease sitting till they overturned the constitution. Without any interval they entered upon business, and by unanimous consent, they struck a blow that might be regarded as decisive. Instead of granting the demand of subsidies, they impeached the earl of Strafford, the king's first minister, and had him arraigned before the house of peers- for high-treason. 16. After a long and elo- quent speech, delivered without premeditation, in which he confuted all the accusations of his enemies, he was found guilty by both houses of parliament ; and nothing remained but for the king to give his consent to the bill of attainder. Charles, who loved Strafford tenderly, hesitated, and seemed reluctant, trying every expedient to put off so dreadful a duty as that of signing the warrant for his execution. 17. While he continued in this agitation of mind, not knowing how to act, his doubts were at last silenced by an act of neroic bravery in the condemned lord. He received a lettei from that unfortunate nobleman, desiring that his life might be made the sacrifice of mutual reconciliation between ihe ' r CHARLE9 I. 217 17. ihe king and the people ; adding, that he was prepared to die, and to a willing mind there could be no injury. 18. This instance of noble generosity was but ill repaid by his mas- ter, who complied with his request. He consented to sign th0 fatal bill by commission ; Strafford was beheaded on Tower-hill, behaving with all that composed dignity of re- solution that was expected from his character. 19. In this universal rage for punishment, the parlia- ment fell with great justice on two courts, which had been erected under arbitrary kings, and had seldom been em- ployed but in cases of necessity. These were, the high commission court, and the court of star-chamber. A bill unanimously passed the houses to abolish both ; and in them to annihilate the principal and most dangerous articles in the king's prerogative. 20. In the midst of these troubles an insurrection in the northern counties of Ireland, accompanied by several acta of atrocious cruelty, excited great alarm throughout the empire. The insurgents might have been easily subdued, but the king's deputies in Ireland, eager to make their fortunes by trading in confiscations, averred, that all the catholics in the kingdom were involved in the guilt of this rebellion, and by wicked arts changed the local disturbance into a general civil war. Many wanton murders were com- mitted OH both sides ; religious zeal added bitterness to political animosity ; the hatred of heresy by one party, and of popery by the other, led men to perpetrate and palliate crimes shocking to human nature. The war lasted several years ; four hostile parties had armies in Ireland, the native Irish, the descendants of the early settlers, usually called " the lords of the pale," the royalists, and the puritans, who supported the supremacy of the English parliament. The last party, though infinitely the weakest, finally tri' umphed by taking advantage of the dissensions and errors of the other three. 21. The king, aware that he was already suspected of a secret attachment to popery, and that the northern Irish pretended to have his authority for taking up arms, used every means in his power to put down the rebellion. But he was no longer able to effect this, desirable object, the native Irish and the lords of the pale, frequently deceived before, would not trust the royal promises ; Parsons and Borlase, the lords justices of Ireland, refused to obey the king's commands f and the English parliament gladly used 218 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. / the Irish war as a pretext for levying soldiers ; for every / one now clearly foresaw that the disputes between the king and the parliament must finally be decided by the sword. Many insinuations were thrown out that he had himself fomented this rebellion, and no money could be spared for the extinction of distant dangers, when they pretended that the kingdom was threatened with greater at home. It was now that the republican spirit began to appear without any disguise in the present parliament ; and that party, instead of attacking the faults of the king, resolved to destroy monarchy. Questions for Examination, 1. What was the king's first measure after Buckingham's death? 2, 3. By whom was the king assisted in his government? 4 In what manner did the custom-house omcers exact taxes 7 5. What is said respecting the court of star-chamber? 6. What tax was the most generally complained of? 7, 8. By whom was the tax of ship-money opposed ? and what were the consequences ? 9 — 12. What produced an insurrection in Scotland, and afterwards war? 13. How were the Scotch regarded by the new parliament? 15. What was the conduct ofthe next parliament ? 16—18. Describe the particulars of the trial and death of the earl of Strafibfid 19. What were the next proceedings of parliament ? 90. What insurrection tooK place in Ireland ? 81. How was the king treated by his parliament on this occasion ? What spirit now openly manifested itself? SECTION III. The lOD and Tather looie mild nature*! tieM, And by a brother's hand a brother dies. — EgertoH. 1. (A.D. 1641.) The leaders of opposition began their operations by a resolution to attack episcopacy, which was one of the strongest bulwarks of the royal power. They accused thirteen bishops of high-treason, for enacting ca- nons without the consent of parliament ; and endeavoured to prevail upon the house of peers to exclude all the prelates from their seats and votes in that august assembly. The bishops saw the storm that was gathering against them ; and, probably to avert its effects, they resolved to attend their duty in the house of lords no longer. 2. This was a fatal blow to the royal interest ; but it soon felt a much greater from the king's own imprudence. Charles had long suppresse*^. his resentment, and only CHARLES I. 219 it fce. Iiy •trove to satisty the commons by the greatness of his con- cessions ; but, finding that all his compliances had but in- creased their demands, he could no longer restrain it. S. He gave orders to Herbert, his attorney-general, to enter an accusation of high-treason in the house of peers against lord Kimbolton, one of the most popular men of his party, to- gether with five commoners ; sir Arthur Haslerig, HoUis, Hampden, Pym, and Strode. 4. The articles were, that they had traitorously endeavoured to subvert the fundamen- tal laws and government of the kingdom ; to deprive the king of his regal power, and to impose on his subjects an arbitrary and tyrannical authority. Men had scarcely lei- sure to wonder at the precipitancy and imprudence of his impeachment, when they were astonished by another mea- sure, still more rash and unsupported. 6. The next day the king himself was seen to enter the house of commons alone, Advancing through the hall, while all the menkbers stood up ,to receive him. The speaker withdrew from the chair, and the king took possession of it. Having seated himself, and having looked around for some time, he told the house that he was sorry for the occasion that had forced him thither ; that he was come in person to seize the members whom he had accused of high-treason, seeing they would not deliver them up to his serjeant-at-arms. He then sat down for some time, to see if the accused were present; but tl^ey had escaped a few minutes before his entry. 6. Thus disappointed, perplexed, and not knowing on whom to rely, he next proceeded, amidst the clamours of the populace, who continued to cry out " Privilege ! privi- lege !" to the common-council of the city, and made his complaints to them. The common-council only answered his complaints with a contemptuous silence ; and on his return, one of the populace, more insolent than the rest, cried out, " To your tents, O Israel !'* a watch-word among the Jews, when they intended to abandon their princes. 7. Being returned to Windsor, he began to reflect on the rashness of liis former proceedings, and now, too late, re- solved to make some atonement. He, therefore, wrote to the parliament, informing them that he desisted from his former proceedings against the accused members ; and as- sured them that upon all occasions he would be as careful of their privileges as of his life or his crown. Thus his former violence had rendered him hateful tc hiii com ,,*■■ 220 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. \ moni, and his present submission now rendered him coc- \ temptible. 8. The power of appointing generals and levying armies was still a remaining prerogative of the crown. The com- mons having, therefore, first magnified their terrors of po- pery, which perhaps they actually dreaded, they proceeded to petition that the Tower might be put into their hands, and that Hull, Portsmouth, and the fleet should be intrusted to persons of their choosing. These were requests, the ; complying with which levelled all that remained of the an- cient constitution ; however, such was the necessity of the times, that they were first contested, and then granted. 0. At last, every compliance only increased the avidity of mak- ing fresh demands ; the commons desired to have a militia, raised and governed by such oflicers and commanders as '•'' , they should nominate, under pretext of securing them from the Irish papists, of whom they professed to be in great apprehensions. ' 9 10. It was here that Charles first ventured to put a stop* ,^ to these concessions, and being urged to give up the com- mand of the army for an appointed time, he was so exas- perated that he exclaimed, •* No, not for an hour." This preremptory refusal broke off all further treaty ; and both sides were resolved to have recourse to arms. 11. No period since England began could show so many instances of courage, abilities, and virtue, as the present fatal opposition called forth into exertion, A.D. 1042. Now was the time when talents of all kinds, unchecked by au- thority, were called from the lower ranks of life, to dispute for power and pre-eminence. 12. Manifestos on the one side and the other were now dispersed throughout the whole kingdom ; and the people were universally divided between two factions, distinguished by the names of cavaliers and roundheads. The king's forces appeared in a very low condition ; besides the trained bands of the country, raised by sir John Digby, the sheriff, he had not got together three hundred infantry. 13. His cavalry, which composed his chief strength, exceeded not t eight hundred, and were very iU provided with arms. How- ever, he was soon gradually reinforced from all quarters ; but not being then in a condition to face his enemies, he > thought it prudent to retire by slow marches to Derby, and r thence to Shrewsbury, in order to countenance the levies ..V which his f ids were making in those quarters. v- - >■•,' I ( CHARLES I. 221 14. In the mean time the parliament was not remiss in preparations on their side. They had a magazine of arms at Hull, and sir John Hotham was appointed governor of that place by goTernment. The forces also, which had been everywhere raised on pretence of the service of Ireland, were now more openly enlisted by the parliament for their own purposes, and the command given to the earl of Essex, a bold man, who rather desired to see monarchy abridged than totally destroyed ; and in London no less than four thousand men were enlisted in one day. 15. Edge-hill was the first place where the two armies were put in array against each other, and the country drenched in civil slaughter. It was a dreadful sight to see above thirty thousand of the bravest men in the world, in- stead of employing their courage abroad, turning it against each other, while the dearest friends and nearest kinsmen embraced opposite sides, and prepared to bury their private regards in factious hatred. After an engagement of some hours, animosity seemed to be wearied out, and both sides sepirated with equal loss. Five thousand men are said to have been found dead on the field of battle. ked Questions for Examinaiton . .1. 1. What was the first act of the leaden of the opposition f By what means did the bishops avert the impending storm \ y *' 2, 3. What was the kind's conduct on this occasion ? -'^ 4. What were the articles of impeachment f ' ' 5. How did the king conduct himself when he went te the house of mons? ,♦, 6. How did the common-council afterwards receive him T 7. What were the consequences of his rashness ? 8, 9. What were the next demands of the commons? 10. On what occasion did the king stop all further concessions T What was the result ? 12. Fy what names were the contending parties distinguished t 13. In what situation were the king's forces? 14. What preparations did the parliament make ? 15. Where did the armies first meet ? What was the issue of the battle ? ':','>■'. rs; Ihe )ind ies SECTION IV. To livo with Freedom or to die with Fame. — Dap 1. (A. D.) 1643.) It would be tedious, and no way in- structive, to enter into the marchings and counter-marchings, of these undisciplined and ill-conducted armies: war wa* t2 222 HISTORY or KNOLAND. ''Ife^ a new trade to the English, as they had not seen a hostile engagement in the island for nearly a century before. Tlie queen came to reinforce the royal party ; she had brought soldiers and ammunition from Holland, and immediately departed to furnish more. 2. But the parliament, who knew its own consequence and strength, was no way discouraged. Their demands seemed to increase in proportion to their losses ; and as they were repressed in the field, they grew more haughty in the cabinet. Such governors as gave up their fortresses to the king were atta. nted of high-treason. 3. It was in vain for the king to send proposals after any success ; this only raised their pride and their animosity. \ But though this desire in the king to make peace with his 1 subjects waf! the highest encomium on his humanity; yet * his latig negotiations, one of which was carried on at Ox- ford, were faulty as a warrior. He wasted that time in al- tercation and treaty, which he should have employed in vigorous exertions in the field. ^f 4. However, his first campaign, upon the whole, wore a favourable aspect. One victory followed after another ; Cornwall was reduced to peace and obedience under the Hng ; a victory was gained over the parliamentarians at Sj.ratton-hill, in Cornwall ; another at Roundway Down, about two miles from Devizes ; and a third at Chalgrave Field. Bristol was besieged and taken, and Gloucester was invested ; the battle of Newbury was favourable to the royal cause ; and great hopes of success were formed from an army in the north, raised by the marquis of Newcastle. 5. In this first campaign, the two bravest and greatest men of their respective parties were killed ; as if it was in- tended, by the kindness of Providence, that they should be exempted from seeing the miseries and the slaughter which were shortly to ensue ; these were John Hampden, and Lucius Cary, lord Falkland. The first in a skirmish against prince Rupert ; the other in the battle of Newbury, which followed shortly after. 6. Hampden, whom we have seen, in the beginning of these troubles, refusing tu pay the ship-money, gained, by his inflexible integrity, the esteem even of his enemies. To these he added aflfability in conversation, temper, art, elo* quence in debate, and penetration in oouncil. 7. Falkland was still a greater loss, and greater character. He added to Hampden's severe principles a politeness and elegance but then beginning to be known in England. Ho JliM: charmci .«. 33» had boldly withstood ihe king's pretensions while he saw him makinff a bad use oi iiis puwer ; but, when he per- ceived the design of kite parliament to overturn the religion and the constitution of the country, he changed his aid?, and steadfastly attached himself to the crown. 8. From the be- ginning of the civil war, his natural cheerfulness and vivacity forsook him ; he became melancholy, sad, pale, and negli- gent of his person, and seemed to wish for death. His usual cry among his friends, after a deep silence and frs* quent sighs, was, " Peace ! peace 1" He now said, upon tlie morning of the engagement, that he was weaiy of the tnnes, and should leave them before night. He was shot by a musket-ball in tlie chest ; and his body was next morn- ing found among a heap of slain. His writings, his ele- gance, his justice, and his courage deserved each a death of glory ; and they found it. 9. The king, that he might make preparations during the winter for the ensuing campaign, and to oppose the designs of the Westminster parliament, called one at Oxford ; and this was the first time that England saw two parliaments sitting at the same time. His house of peers was pretty full ; his house of commons consisted of about one hundred and forty, which amounted to not above half of the other house of commons. From this shadow of a parliament he received some supplies, after which it was prorogued, and never after assembled. 10. In the mean time, the parliament were equally active on their side. They passed an ordinance commanding all the inhabitants of London and its neighbourhood to retrench a meal a week, and to pay the value of it for the support of the public cause. 11. But, what was more effectual, the Scots, who considered their claims as similar, led a strong body to their assistance. They levied an army of fourteen thousand men in the east under the earl of Manchester ; they had an army of ten thousand men under Essex ; another, of nearly the same force, under sir William Waller. These were su- perior to any force the king could bring into the field ; and were well appointed with ammunition, provisions, and pay. 12. Hostilities, which even during the winter season had never been wholly discontinued, were renewed in spring wilh their i;isual fury, and served to desolate the kingdom, without deciding victory. A.D. 1644. Each county joined that side to which it was addicted from motives of convic- tion, interest, or fear, though some observed a perfect neu- t94 HISTORY OV ENGLAND. V trality. Several frequently petitioned for peace ; and all the wiie and good were earnest in the cry. 13. What particu- larly deservea remark was an attempt of the women of London* who, to the number of two or three t\\ usand, went in a body to the house of commons, earnestly demanding a peace—** Give us those traitors,*' said they, *' that are against a peace : give them, that we may tear them to pieces." The guards found some difficulty in quelling this insurrection, and one or two women lost their lives in the affray. 14. The battle of Marston Moor was the beginning of the king's misfortunes and disgrace. The Scots and parlia- mentarian army had ioined, and were besieging York, when prince Rupert, joined by the marquis of Newcastle, deter- mined to raise the siege. Both armies drew up on Marston Moor, to the number of fifty thousand, and the victory seemed long undecided between them. 15. Rupert, who commanded the right wing of the royalists, was opposed by Oliver Cromwell, who now first came into notice, at the head of a body of troops which he had taken care to levy and discipline. Cromwell was victorious ; he pushed his opponents off the field, followed the vanquished, returned to a second engagement, and a second victory ; the prince's whole train of artillery was taken, and the royalists never after recovered the blow. 16. William Laud, archbishop of Canterbury, was sent to the Tower in the beginning of the civil war. He was now bi^ought to his trial, condemned, and executed. And it was a melancholy consideration, that in those times of trou- ble, the best men on either side were those who chiefly suf- fered. 17. The death of Laud was followed by a total alteration of the ceremonies of the church. The liturgy was, by a public act, abolished the day he died, as if he had been the only obstacle to its formal removal. The church of England was, in all respects, brought to a conformity to the puritani- cal establishment; while the citizens of London, and the Scots army, gave public thanks for so happy an alteration Questions for Examination. 1. Who reinforced the royal party ? / ' 2. What courage did the parliament display? 4, 5. In the first campaign, where were the {nriacipal batUei fought f 6. Describe the character of Hampdea <-/■?; 7 -Jj, r t Describe the character of Falkland. 1 I OHABLII I. 985 8. How wu hit death occaaioned T 9. Where did the king luinnion • parliament f and what were their pn^ ceedingi t 10. What urdiiiance waa now paaeed f 11. What olhernieaaurea were taken in opposition to the king f ' ' 12. What waa the utuation of ^ho kingdom ? t 13. What eameat deure for pea^'e did the women of London diacover f 14. 15. Describe the parlioulara c^'ihe battle of Mantoa Moor. 16. What was the fate of archbishv>p Laud } «.'<«.; 17. What followed his eiecution T - . -. '>•( • if SECTION V. Guile, Tiolonee, and murdor Mlsed on man, And, for m.lky itraaina, with bloud the riven ran. — T%omion. . 1. (A.D. 1045.^ The well-disputed battle, which decided jthe fate of Charles, was fought at Naseby, a village in /Northamptonshire. The main body of the royal army was /commanded by lord Astley ; prince Rupert led the right I wing, sir Marmaduke La:^gdale the left, and the king him* / self headed the body of reserve. 2. On the opposite side, I Fairfax and Skippon commanded the main body, Cromwell ^~4ed on the right wing, and Ireton, his oon-in-law, the left. Prince Rupert attacked the left wing with his usual impetu- osity and success ; they were broken, and pursued as far as the village ; but he lost time in attempting to make himself master of their artillery. 3. Cromwell, in the mean time, was equally successful on his side, and broke through the enemy's horse, after a very obstinate resistance. While these were thus engaged, the infantry on both sides maintained the conflict with equal ardour, but in spite of the efforts of Fairfax and Skippon, their battalions began to give way. At this cri- tical period, Cromwell returned with his victorious forces, and charged the king's infantry in flank with such vigour, that a total rout began to ensue. 4. By this time prince Rupert had rejoined the king, and the small body of reserve : but his troops, though victorious, could not be brought to a second charge. The king, perceiving the battle wholly lost, was obliged to abandon the field to his enemies, who took all his cannon, baggage, and about fifty thousand pri* soners. 5. The battle of Naseby put the parliamentarians in pos- session of almost all the strong cities of the kingdom. Bris- tol, Bridgewater, Chester, Sherborn, and Bath. Exeter was besieged ; and all the king's troops in the western counties being entirely dispersed, Fairfax pressed the place, and it surrendered at disci^tion. The king, thus surrounded. tsstt"; 226 HISTORY OP ENGLAND. harassed on every side, retreated to Oxford ; that, in all con- ditions of his fortune, had held steady to his cause ; and there he resolved to offer new terms to his incensed pur- suers. 6. In the mean time Fairfax was approaching with a powerful and victorious arnjy, and was taking the proper measures for laying siege to Oxford, which promised an easy surrender. To be taken captive, and led in triumph by his insolent subjects, was what Charles justly abhorred : and every insult and violence was to be dreaded from the soldiery, who had felt the effects of his opposition. 7. In this desperate extremity he embraced a measure, which, in any other situation, might justly lie under the im- putation 01 imprudence and indiscretion. He took the fatal resolution of giving himself up to the Scots army, who had never testified such implacable animosity against him ; but he soon found, that instead of treating him as a king, they insulted him as a captive. 8. The English parliament, being informed of the king's captivity, immediately entered into a treaty with the Scots about delivering up their prisoner. This was soon adjusted. They agreed, that upon payment of four hundred thouisand pounds, they would deliver up the king to his enemies, and this was cheerfully complied with. An action so atrocious may be palliated, but can never be defended ; they returned home laden with plunder, and the reproaches of all good men. 9. The civil war was now over ; the king had absolved his followers from their allegiance, and the parliament had now no enemy to fear, except those very troops by which they had extended their overgrown authority. But, in pro- portion as the terror of the king's power diminished, the divisions between the members which composed the parlia- ment became more apparent. 10. The majority in the house were of the presbyterian sect, who were for having clergy ; but the majority of the army were staunch independents, who admitted of no clergy, but thought that every man had a right to instruct his fellows. At the head of this sect was Cromwell, who secretly directed their operations, and invi- gorated all their measures. 11. Oliver Cromwell, whose talents now began to appear in full lustre, was the son of a private gentleman of Hun- tingdon : but, being the son of a second brother, he inherited nnternal fnrtnnfi. Fxnm nr.r.iilfint nr inUriorne g varv small :iV-;-. .V i**— Mte<*fcMiiiWi n ^ttUm» CHARLES I. 227 he was chosen a member for the town of Cambridge in the long parliament ; but he seemed at first to possess no ora- torical talonts ; his person being ungraceful, his dress slo- venly, his elocution homely, tedious, obscure, and embar- rassed. 12. He made up, however, by zeal and perseverance what he wanted in natural powers ; and being endowed with unshaken intrepidity, much dissimulation, and a thorough conviction of the rectitude of his caui^e, he rose, through ihn gradations of preferment, to the post of lieutenant-general luidcr Fairfax ; but, in reality, possessing the supreme com- mand over the whole army. 13. The army now began to consider themselves as a body distinct from the commonwealth ; and complained that tlicy had secured the general tranquillity, while they were at the same time deprived of the privileges of Englishmen. In opposition, therefore, to the parliament of Westminster, a military parliament was formed, composed of Uie cfTicers and common soldiers of each regiment. 14. The principal officers formed a council to represent the body of peers : the soldiers elected two men out of each company, to re- present the house of commons, and these were called tho agitators of the army. Cromwell took care to be one of the number, and thus contrived an easy method of secretly conducting and promoting the sedition of the army. 15. The unhappy king, in the mean time, continued a prisoner at Holmby Castle ; and as his countenance might add some authority to that side which should obtain it, Cromwell, who secretly conducted all the measures of the army, while he apparently exclaimed against their violence, resolved to seize the king's person. 10. Accordingly, a party of five hundred horse appearing at Holmby Castle, under the command of one Joyce, conducted the king to ♦he army, near Cambridge. The next day Cromwell ar- rived among them, where he was received with acclama- tions of joy, and was instantly invested with the supremo command. Questions for Examination, i 1. Where waa the battle fought that decided the fate of Charles T Who were the leaders of the king's army ? 2. By whom was the parliamentary army conducted 7 • >. 4. What was the issue of the battle ? 5. What towns surrendered to the parliamentarians after this engagement f. ft. Where did the king fly for refuge ? ?> Qa 'A'hat iaeaiurv uiu he now resolve ? y»r^^!!, -■■^4-: i: t l * ll » 228 HISTORY OF KNOLAND. 8. What atrocious net was committed towards the king* 10. What were the parties wliich composed the parliament t 11. Who was Ohver Cromwell? 12. To what post in the army did he rise? 14. In whut mnnner was a council formed fVom tlie army 7 15. Wiiero was the place ol' the king's confinement? 16. By whose command was he taken and conducted to the army t SECTION VI. i Thoufh alwnra bjr prmperitr undone, J Yet in adveriity inu monarch thonv.—EgerUm. /' 1. (A. D. 1647.) The house of commons was now di- vided into parties, as usual; one part opposing, but the majority, with the two speaicers at their head, encouraging the army. In such an universal confusion, it is not to be expected that any thing less than a separation of the parties could take place : and accordingly the two speakers, with sixty-two members, secretly retired from the house, and threw themselves under the protection of the army, which was then at Hounslow-heath. 2. They were received with shouts and acclamations ; their integrity was extolled ; and the whole body of the soldiery, a formidable force of twenty inousand men, now moved forward, to reinstate Ihem in their former seats and stations. 3. In the mean time, that part of the house which was left behind resolved to act with vigour, and resist the en- croachments of the army. They chose new speakers, they gave orders for enlisting troops, they ordered the trainbands to man the lines, and the whole city boldly resolved to resist the invasion. But this resolution only held while the enemy was thought at a distance ; for, when the formidable force of Cromwell appeared, all was obedience and submission ; the gates were opened to the general, who attended the speakers, and the rest of the members, peaceably to their habitations. 4. The eleven impeached members, being accused as causers of the tumult, were expelled, and most of them retired to the continent. The mayor, sheriff, and three aldermen were sent to the Tower ; several citizens and officers of the militia were committed to prison, and the lines about the city were levelled to the ground. The command of the Tower was given to Fairfax, the general ; and the parliament offered him their hearty thanks for having disobeyed their commands. 5 It now only remained to dispose of the king, WnO iA\» CHARLES I. S20 ission ; ed the their being d most ff, and itizens n, and The meral ; having liW been sent by the army a prisoner to Hampton Court; from >vhence he attempted to escape, but was once more made prisoner in the h\e of Wight, and confined in Carisbrook Castle. 6. While the king continued in this forlorn situation, the parliament, new modelled as it was by the army, was every day growing more feeble and factious. He still, therefore, continued to negotiate with the parliament for settling the unspeakable calamities of the kingdom. The parliament saw no other method of destroying the military power than to depress it by the kingly ; and frequent proposals for an accommodation passed between the captive king and the commons. 7. But it was now too late : their power was soon totally to expire ; for the rebellious army, crowned with success, was returned from the destruction of their enemies ; and, sensible of their own power, with furious remonstrances began to demand vengeance on tiieir king. At the same time they advanced to Windsor : and sending an officer to seize the king's person, where he was lately sent under confinement, they conveyed him to Hurst Castle, in Hamp- shire, opposite the Isle of Wight. 8. The commons, however, though destitute of all hopes of prevailing, had still courage to resist, and attempted, in the face of the whole army, to close their treaty with the king. But the next day colonel Pride, at the head of two regiments, block- aded the hoase, seized in the passage forty-one members of the presbyterian party, and sent them to a low room be- longing to the house, that passed by the denomination of hell. 0. Above a hundred and sixty members more wero excluded ; and none were allowed to enter but the most furious and determined of the independents, in all not ex- ceeding sixty. This atrocious invasion of the parliamentary rights commonly passed by the name of Pride's Purge, and the remaining members were called the Rump. These soon voted that the transactions of the house a few days before were entirely illegal, and that their general's conduct was just and necessary. 10. A committee was appointed to bring in a charge against the king ; and a vote passed, declaring it treason in a king to levy war against his^rliament. A high court of justice was accordingly appointed, to try his majesty for this new-invented treason. Cclonel Harrison, the son of a butcher, was com- 11. HrA^r.. U 830 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. I-- ;■ i. manded to conduct the king from Hurst Castle to Windsor, and firom thence to London. His afflicted subjects, -who ran to have a sight of their sovereign, were greatly affected at the change that appeared in his face and person. He had allowed his beard to grow ; his hair was become vene- rably gray, rather by the pressure of anxiety than the hand o\ time ; while his apparel bore the marks of misfortune and decay. 12. Thus he stood a solitary figure of majesty in distress, which even his adversaries could not behold Without reverence and compassion. He had been long at- tended only by an old decrepid servant, whose name was sir Philip Warwick, who could only deplore his master's fate, without being able to revenge his cause. 13. All the exterior symbols of sovereignty were now withdrawn ; and his new attendants had orders to serve him without cere- mony. The duke of Hamilton, who was reserved for the same punishment with his master, having leave to take a last farewell as he departed from Windsor, threw himself at the king's feet, crying out, "My dear master!" 14. The unhappy monarch raised him up, and embracing him ten- derly, replied, while tears ran down his cheeks, " I have indeed been a dear master to you." These were severe distresses ; however he could not be persuaded that his ad- versa.ries would bring him to a formal trial ; but he every moment expected to be despatched by private assassination. 15. From the sixth to the twentieth of January was spent in making preparations for this extraordinary trial. The court of justice consisted of a hundred and thirty-three persons, named by the commons : but of these never above seventy sat upon the trial. The members were chiefly composed of the principal officers of the army, most of them of very mean birth, together with some of the lower house, and a few citizens of London. Bradshaw, a lawyer, was chosen president ; Coke was appointed solicitor for the people of England ; Dorislaus, Steele, and Aske were named assistants. The court sat in Westminster-hall. 16. The king was now conducted from Windsor to St. James's, and the next day was brought before the high court to take his trial. When he was brought forward, he was conducted by the mace-bearer to a chair placed within the bar. Though Idff^ detained a prisoner, and now produced as a criminal, he still sustained the dignity of a king; he surveyed the members of the court with a stern and haughty air ; and, without moving his hat, sat down, 4y CHARLES I. 231 while the members also were covered. 17. His charge was then read by the solicitor, accusing him of having been the cause of all the bloodshed which followed since the com- mencement of the war : at that part of the charge he could not suppress a smile of contempt and indignation. After his charge was finished, Bradshaw directed his discourse to the king, and told him that the court expected his answer. B. 7- 11, VX ir>. ic. 17. Questions for Examination, What measures were pursued by the nu\jority of the house of commons f How were they recoived by the army ? What was the conduct of tno remaining members f To whom was the command of the Tower given ? Did not the king cscai)e from his place of confinement ? Where was ho taken ? Did he continue to negotiate with the parliament? -9. Describe Ihe conduct of the army on this occasion. 12. What was now the ap|)earance of the king ? What paesod between him and the duke of Hamilton 7 How many persons sat on the king's trial ? Who were the <'hief f What was his behaviour on his trial ? What was the charge alleged against him 7 SECTION VII. Nor ngniiins, nor livid dcnth, difigrnce The Bucri!d rnitturna iifthn rnonarch'ii face ; In thu cdid vIhiiko, moiirnfiilly Hermio, The naiiii) indiRnaut tniijuHty ii aoen. — Roue's Luean. 1. (A. D. 1648.) The king, with great temper, entered upon his defence, by denying the authority of tiie conn. lie represented, that, having been engaged in a treaty wiin his two houses of parliament, and having finished almost every article, he expected a different treatment from that which he now received. He perceived, he said, no appear- ance of an upper house, which was necessary to constitute a just tribunal. 2. That he was himself the king and the fountain of law, and, consequently, could not be tried bj laws to which he had never given his assent ; that having been intrusted with the liberties of the people, he woultl not now betray them, by recognising a power founded in usurpation ; that he was willing, before a proper tribunal, to enter into the particulars of his defence ; but that before them he must decline any ajUlogy or plea of innocence, lest he should be considered as the betrayer of, and not a martyr for, the constitution. 3 Bradshaw, in order to support the auUiority of tlii^ r •Mip 232 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. m i ' court, insisted that they had received their power from the people, the source of all right. He pressed the prisonei not to decline the authority of the court, which was dele- gated by the commons of England ; and he interrupted and overruled the king in his attempts to reply. 4. In this manner the king was three times produced be- fore the court, and as often he persisted in declining its jurisdiction. The fourth and last time he was brought be- fore the self-created tribunal ; as he was proceeding thither, he was insulted by the soldiers and the mob, who exclaimed, *' Justice! justice! execution! execution!" but 1h con- tinued undaunted. His judges, having now examined some witnesses, by whom it was proved that the king had ap- peared in arms against the forces commissioned by parlia- ment, pronounced sentence against him. 5. The conduct of the king, under all these instances of low-bred malice, was great, firm, and equal ; in going through the hall, the soldiers and the rabble were again instigated to cry out, " Justice and execution !" They reviled him with the most bitter reproaches. Among other insults, one mis- creant presumed to spit in the face of his sovereign. He patiently bore their insolence. " Poor souls," cried he, " they would treat their generals in the same manner for sixpence." 6. Those of the populace who still retained the feelings of humanity, expressed their sorrow in sighs and tears. A soldier, more compassionate than the rest, could not help imploring a blessing upon his royal head. An officer, overhearing him, struck the honest sentinel to the ground before the king, who could not help saying that the punishment exceeded the offence. 7. After returning from this solemn mockery of justice, the unhappy monarch petitioned the house for permission to see his children, and desired the attendance of Dr. Juxon, oishop of London, to assist in his private devotions. Both requests were immediately granted, and three days were allowed to prepare for the execution of the sentence. Tliis interval was spent by Charles in the exercises of devotion, and in administering consolation to his unhappy family. 8. During the progress of the trial, the French and Dutch ambassadors vainly interceded in his behalf; and the Scots, who had set the first examp^ of resistance to his authority, now remonstrated against the violence offered to his persun and dignity. 9. After his condemnation, the queen and the prince of Wales wrote the most pathetic letters to the par- CHARLES I. 233 EiecQtioD of King Chwlet I. 1649. liament > but nothing could divert the stern regicides from their atrocious design. 10. The king was confined in the palace of St. James^s^ but the place selected for erecting the scaffold was the street before the palace of Whitehall. 11. On the morning of the execution he rose early, and having spent some time in private devotion, received the sacrament from the hands of bishop Juxon ; he was then conducted on foot through the park to Whitehall, and partook of some slight refresh- ment ; after a brief delay, he advanced to the place of execu- tion, attended utill by his friend and servant Dr. Juxon, who used every exertion to soothe the last moments of his unfor- tunate master. 12. The scaffold, which was covered with black, was guarded by a regiment of soldiers, under the command of colonel Tomlinson, and under it were to be seen a block, the axe, and two executioners in masks. The people, in immense crowds, stood at a great distance, in dreadful expectation of the event. The king surveyed all these solemn preparations with calm composure ; and as he could not expect to be heard by the people at a distance, he addressed himself to the few persons who stood around him 13. He there justified his own innocence in the late fatal war ; and observed, that he had not taken arms till after the parliament had shown him the example. That he had no other object in his warlike preparations than to preserve that authority entire, which had been transmitted to him by his ancestors ; but, though innocent towards his people, he u2 'k 234 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. acknowledged the equity of his execution in the eyes of hi» Maker. 14. He owned that he was justly punished fv . having consented to the execution of an unjust sentence upon the earl of StrafTord. He forgave all his enemies ; exhorted the people to return to their obedience, and ac- knowledge his son as his successor ; and signed his attach* inent to the protestant religion, as professed in the church of England. So strong was the impression his dying words made upon the few who could hear him, that colonel Tom- linson himself, t3 whose care he had been committed, ac- knowledged himself a convert. 15. While' he was preparing himself for the block, bishop Juxon called out to him, ** There is, sir, but one stage more, which, though turbulent and troublesome, is yet a very short one. It will soon carry you a great way. It will carry you from earth to heaven, and there you shall .<ind, to yotir great joy, the prize to which you hasten, a crown of glory." 16. " I go," replied the king, "from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown, where no disturbance can have place." — " You exchange," replied the bishop, " a temporal for an eternal crown ; a good exchange !" Charles, having taken off his cloak, delivered his George to the prelate, pronounc- ing the word " Remember !" Then he laid his neck on the block, and, stretching out his hands as a signal, one of the executioners severed his head from his body at a blow ; while the other, holding it up, exclaimed, "This is the head of a traitor !" 17. The spectators testified their horror of the sad spectacle in sighs, tears, and lamentations ; the tide of their duty and affection began to return ; and each blamed himself either with active disloyalty to his king, or a passive compliance with his destroyers. 18. Charles was executed in the forty-ninth year of his age, and the twenty-fourth of his reign. He was of a mid- dle stature, robust, and well-proportioned. His visage was pleasing, but melancholy ; and it is probable that the con- tinued troubles in which he was involved might have made that impression on his countenance. As for his character, thb reader will deduce it, with more precision and satisfac* tion to himself, from\the detail of his conduct, than from any summary given of it by the historian. ■•S»..-«\i;/W THE COMMONWEALTH. 11- i ! 33S .-«-.--^--^*- /,: Queationafor Examination, 1, S. What did the king urge in hia defence ? 3. What was the answer oT Bradahaw ? 4. What treatment did he receive from the aoldiersf 5. With what patience did he bear their reproaches? and what waa hia re mark * 7, 8. What followed the king's condemnation 7 9, 10. Whiit opot was chosen aa the place of the king's execution ? 12. What preparations were mode for hia trial ? 13, 14. What did he aa>[ in his address to the people T 15, 16. What converiiation passed between the king and buhop Juxon I 17. What eflect had his execution on the minds of the people f 18. How long did Charles reign ? CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Pope$. A.D. Urban VIII 1623 Innocent X 1644 Emperor a of Germany, Ferdinand II. 1619 Ferdinand III 1637 Emperor a of the Turka. A.D. AmurathlV 1623 Ibrahim 1649 Mahomet IV 1649 Kinga of France. Louis XIII 1620 Louis XIV 1643 King of Spain and PortugaL Philip IV 1621 Portugal done. John IV. 1640 EMINENT PERSONS. Archbishop Laud. Earl of Strafibrd. John Hampden. Lucius Cary, lord Falkland. Harry Cary, lord Falkland H. Montague, earl of Manchester. R. Greville, lord firooke. Lord-keeper Littleton. Arthur, lord Capel. Lord Edward Herbert, of Cherbury. G. Stanley, earl of Derby. J. Digbv, earl of Bristol. Ulick; dc Burgh, marquis of Clanricarde, and earl of St. Albans Henry Carey, earl of Monmouth. Mildmay Fane, earl of Westmoreland. £. Somerset, marquis of Worcester <y Born 1599. CHAPTER XXIX. OLIVER CROMWELL. Died September 3, 1658. Became lord protoctur Decomber 10, 16&3. Ruled 4) years. THE COMMONWEALTH. .^ SECTION I. Though cunning, bold, and though intrepid, Bage.— JCferton. 1. (A. D. 1649.) Cromwell, who had secretly solicited •and contrived the king's death, now began to feel wishes to which he had been hitherto a stranger. His prospects widening as he rose, his first principles of liberty were * The Portuguese shook off the Spanish yoke, and elected John, duke of Bra- gansa, their king. . ;,;iw, u2 :^, 236 HISTORY or ENGLAND. all lost in the unbounded stretch of power that lay boforu him. 2. Having been appointed to command the army in Ire- land, he prosecuted the war in that kingdom with his usual success. He had to combat against the royalists, com- manded by the duke of Ormond, and the native Irish, led on by 0*Neil. But such ill-connected and barbarous troops could give very little opposition to Cromwell's more nu- merous forces, conducted by such a general, and emboldened by long success. He soon overran the whole country ; and, after some time, all the towns revolted in his favour, and opened their gates at his approach. 3. But, in these conquests, as in all the rest of his actions, there appeared a brutal ferocity, that would tarnish the most heroic valour. In order to intimidate the natives from defending their towns, he, with a barbarous policy, put every garrison that made any resistance to the sword. 4. After his return to England, upon taking his seat, he received the thanks of the house, by the mouth of the speaker, for the services he had done the commonwealth in Ireland. They then proceeded to deliberate upon choosing a general for conducting the war in Scotland, where they had espoused the royal cause, and placed young Charles, the son of their late monarch, on the throne. Fairfax re- fusing this command upon principle, as he had all along declined opposing the presbyterians, the command necessa- rily devolved upon Cromwell, who boldly set forward for Scotland, at the head of an army of sixteen thousand men. 5. The Scots, in the mean time, who had invited over their wretched king to be a prisoner, not a ruler among them, prepared to meet the invasion. A.D. 1650. A battle soon ensued, in which they, though double the number of the English, were soon put to flight, and pursued with great slaughter, while Cromwell did not lose above forty men in all. 6. In this terrible exigence young Charles embraced a resolution worthy a prince who was willing to hazard all for empire. Observing that the way wjs open to England, he resolved immediately to march into that country, where he expected to be reinforced by all the royalists in that part of the kingdom. 7. But he soon found himself disappointed in the expec- tation of increasing his army. The Scots, terrified at the prospect of so hazardous an enterprise, fell from him in ^^reai ,1 £ THE COMMONWEALTH. 237 numbers. The English, affrighted at the name of his op- ponent, dreaded to join him ; but his mortifications were still more increased as he arrived at Worcester, when in- formed that Cromwell was marching with hasty strides from Scotland, with an army increased to forty thousand men. 8. The news had scarcely arrived, when that active general himself appeared ; and, falling upon the town on all sides, broke in upon the disordered royalists. The streets were strewed with slaughter ; the whole Scots army were either killed or taken prisoners ; and the king himself, havmg given many proofs of personal valour, was obliged to fly. 9. Imagination can scarcely conceive adventures more romantic, or distress more severe, than those which at- tended the young king's flight from the scene of slaughter. After various escapes, and one-and-forty days concealment, he landed safely at Feschamp, in Normandy ; no less than forty men and women having, at diflerent times, been privy to his escape. 10. The particulars of Charles's escape, after the battle of Worcester, are truly interesting. He left the fatal sceno of action, accompanied by the duke of Buckingham, the earls of Derby and Lauderdale, the lords Talbot, Wilmot, and fifty horse, and, without halting, arrived at Whiteladies, twenty-five miles from Worcester, at five o'clock in the morning. There he thought it best for his safety to separate from his companions, and, without intrusting them with his intentions, he went to Boscobel, a lone house in Staffordshire, inhabited by one Penderell, a farmer, whose fidelity remained unshaken, though death was denounced against all who con- cealed the king, and a great reward promised to any one who should betray him. Penderell, and his four brothers, having clothed the king in a garb like their own, led him into the neighbouring wood, put a bill into his hand, and em- ployed themselves in cutting faggots with him. Vpr better concealment he mounted upon an oak, where he sheltered himself among the branches and leaves for twenty-four hours. There he saw several soldiers passing in search of him. This tree was afterwards called the royal oak, and for many years was regarded by the neighbourhood with great veneration. Thence he passed with imminent danger from one cottage to another, feeling all the varieties of famine, fatigue and pain, till he reached the house of Mr. Lane, a gentleman of good reputation and fortune in Staffordshire. In this station the king remained many days in quiet and 288 UISTOBY OF KNOLAND. / security. Thenco ho wont to one of Mr. Lano^s relatlont, within five miles of Bristol, where he intended to embarit ; but finding that no ship was to sail for n month from that place, he was obliged to go elsewhere for u passage, and escaped from being discovered and arrested at Lyme, only by a few minutes. Charles passed through many other adventures, assumed different disguises, in every step was exposed to imminent dangers, and received daily proofs of uncorrupted fidelity. A little bark was at last found at Brighthelmstone, (at that time a small fishing-town in Sussex, but now a place of considerable magnitude and opulence,) where his majest} embarked, and arri ?d safely at Fres- champ, in Normandy, October 22d. / 11. In the mee.n time, Cromwell, crowned with success, returned in triumph to London, where ho was met by the speaker of the house, accompanied by the mayor of London, and the magistrates, in all their formalities. His first care was to take advantage of his late success, by depressing the Scots, who had so lately withstood the work of the gospel, as he culled it. 12. An act was passed for abolishing roy- alty in Scotland, ond annexing that kingdom, os a conquered province, to the English commonwealth. It was empow- ered, however, to send some members to the English par- liament. Judges were appointed to distribute jusficf, and the people of that country, now freed from the ranny of the ecclesiastics, were not much dissatisfied with their pre- sent government. The prudent conduct of Mon!., who was left by Cromwell to complete their subjection, served much to reconcile the minds of the people, harasjied with dissen- sions, of which they never well understood the cause. 13. In this manner, the English parliament, by the means of Cromwell, spread their uncontested authority over all the British dominions. Ireland was totally subdued by Ireton and Ludlow. All the settlements in America, that had de- clared for the royal cause, were obliged to submit; Jersey, Guernsey, Scilly, and the Isle of Man, were brought easily under subjection. Thus mankind saw, with astonishment, a parliament composed of sixty or seventy obscure and illi- terate members governing a great empire with unanimity and success. 14. Without any acknowledged subordination except a council of state, consisting of thirty-eight, to whom all addresses were made, they levied armies, maintained fleets, and gave laws to the neighbouring powers of Europe. 15. The finances were managed with economy and exact- THE COMMONWEATIH. 230 nesf. Few private persons became rich by the plunder of the public: the revenues of the crown, the lands of the bishops, and a tnx of a '.undred and twenty thousand pounds each month, supplied the wnnts of the govprnmont, and gave vigour to all their proceedings. Quettiom for Examination. 1. 2. 3. 4. What was tho nature of Cromwoirfi ambition? What auccesB attended him in Ireland 7 What cruelly tarniBhcd hia victorieH ? Wiiom did the parliament appoint to the command of the urmy against Hcotiand 7 5. Wiiut was Cromwell's success? 6. What resolution did prince Chorles embrace ? 7. What news did the prince receive at Worcester f 8. What was the resiilt of his undertaking 7 9. What were his suHerings? and how did he escape f 10. Mention more particularly tho incidents of this escape. 11. What was Cromwell'^ first caro after his return 7 12. What net was now passed rcBpocting Scotland 7 13—15. What was the state of the British empire at this time f SECTION II. An nvil soul, prnducinR hoi/ writ, In like a villnin with a aiiiihni ehech ; A guodly apple rodon at Uie core. — Shaktpeare, 1. (A. D. 1652.) The parliament, having thus reduced their native dominions to perfect obedience, next resolved to chastise the Dutch, who had given but very slight cause of complaint. It happened that one doctor Dorislaus, who was of the number of tho late king's judges, being sent by the parliament as their envoy to Holland, was assassinated by one of the royal party, who had taken refuge there. 2. Some time after, also, Mr. St. John, appointed their ambassador to that court, was insulted by the friends of the prince of Orange. These were thought motives sufficient to induce the commonwealth of England to declare war against them. The parliament's chief dependence lay in the activity and courage of Blake, their admiral ; who, though he had not embarked in naval command till late in life, yet surpassed all that went before him in courage and dexterity. 3. On the other side, the Dutch opposed to him 240 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. their famous admiral Van Tromp, to whom they have never since produced an equal. Many were the engagements be> tween these celebrated admirals, and various was their suc- cess. Sea-fights, in general, seldom prove decisive; and the vanquished are soon seen to make head against the victor. Several dreadful encounters, therefore, rather served to show the excellence of the admirals, than to determine their superiority. 4. The Dutch, however, who felt many great disadvantages by the loss of thf;ir trade, and by the total suspension of their fisheries, were willing to treat for a peace ; but the parliament gave th*.m a very unfavourable answer. It was the policy of that body to keep their navy on foot as long as they could ; rightly judging, that, while the force of the nation ^as exerting by sea, it would di- minish the power of gem ' Cromwell by land, which was become very formidable to them. 5. This great aspirer, however, quickly perceived their designs; and, from the first, saw that they dreaded his growing power, and wished its diminution. AH his mea- sures were conducted with a bold intrepidity that marked his character, and he now saw that it was not necessary to wear the mask of subordination any longer. Secure, there- fore, in the attachment of the army, he resolved to make another daring effort ; and persuaded the officers to present a petition for payment of arrears and redress of grievances, which he knew would be rejected by the commons with disdain. 6. The petition was soon drawn up and pre- sented, in which the officers, after demanding their arrears, desired the parliament to consider how many years they had sat ; and what professions they had formerly made of their intentions to new-model the house, and establish free dom on the broadest basis. 7. The house was highly oflfended at the presumption of the army, although they had seen, but too lately, that their own power was wholly founded on that very presumption. They appointed a committee to prepare an act ordaining that all persons who presented such petitions for the future should be deemed guilty of high-treason. To this the offi- cers made a very warm remonstrance, and the parliament as angry a reply ; while the breach between them every moment grew wider. 8. This was what Cromwell had long wished, and had long foreseen. He was sitting in the council with his officers, when informed of the subject on which the house was deliberating; upon which he rose up, TRS COMMONWEALTH. S41 lever sbe- suc- and t the erved rminc many (y the at for urable r navy while dd di- ih was 1 their ed his s mea- markcd sary to , there- make present vances, is with ,d pre- larrears, rs they liade of ish free )tion of tat their Imption. rdaining le future Ithe offi- }liament every rell had |g in tiie DJect on rooo "I" »• CranMretl dimiiMlDf the putluaeBt. in th€ most seeming fury, and turning to major Vemon, he cried out, that he was compelled to do a thing that made the very hairs of his head stand on end. 9. Then hasten- ing to the house with three hundred soldiers, and with the marks of violent indignation on his countenance, he entered. Stamping with his foot, which was the signal for the soldiers to enter, the place was immediately filled with armed men. Then addressing himself to the members : *♦ For shame," said he, " get you gone. Give place to honester men ; to those who will more faithfully discharge their trust. 10. You are no longer a parliament : I tell you, you are no longer a parliament: the Lord has done with you." Sir Harry Vane exclaiming against this conduct : ♦♦ Sir Harry," cried Cromwell, with a loud voice, " O ! sir Harry Vane, the Lord deliver me from sir Harry Vane." He then, in the coarsest and most violent manner, reproached many of the members, by name, with their vices. "It is you," con- tinued he, "that have forced me upon this. H. I have sought the Lord night and day, that he would rather slay me than put me upon this work." Then pointing to the mace, " Take away," cried he, " that bauble." After which, turning out all the members, and clearing the hall, he ordered the doors to be locked, and, putting the key in his pocket, returned to Whitehall. 12. The persons selected for his next parliament v/ere the lowest, meanest, and the most ignorant among the citi- X 242 # HISTOBY OF ENGLAND. \ zens, and the very dregs of the fanatics. He was well ap- prized, that, during the adT.'.nistration of such a group of characters, he alone must govern, or that they must soon throw up the reins of government, which they were unqua- lified to guide. Accordingly, their practice justified his sa- gacity. One of theni particularly, who was called Praise God Barebone, a canting leather seller, gave his name to this odd assembly, and it was called Barebone's parliament. 15. The vcy vulgar now began to exclaim against so foolish a legislature ; and they themselves seemed not insen- sible of the ridicule which every day was thrown out against them. Accordingly, by concert, they met earlier than the rest of their fraternity, and observing to each other that this parliament had sat long enough, they hastened to Crom- well, with Rouse their speaker at their head, and into his hands they resigned the authority with which he had invest- ed them. t" Questions for E. . :uHon. 1. What circumstances produced a war with the Dutch ? 2. On what admiral did the English place their chief dependence 3. To whom was Blake opposed ? 4. What was the result oi the war } 5. What petition did Cromwell persuade the officerw to present 7 7. In what manner did the parliament receive the petition ? 7 — 11. Relate the particulars of this dispute, and its result. 12. Of whom was the next parliament composed? and what was it called ? 13. To whom did they resign their authority ? SECTION III. Eitabliahed violence and lawlou mifcht, Avowed and hallowed by the Dame of rifht. — Rnae'a Luean> 1. (A.D. 1653.) Cromwell accepted their resignation with pleasure ; but being told that some of the members were refractory, he sent colonel White to clear the house of such as ventured to remain there. They had placed one Moyer in the chair by the time that the colonel had arrived ; and being asked by the colonel what they did there, Moyer replied very gravely, that they were seeking the Lord " Then may you go elsewhere," cried White ; " for to my certain knowledge, the Lord has not been here these many years." 2. This shadow of a parliament being dissolved, the offi- cers, by their own auihority, declared Cromwell protector TBS COMMONWEALTH. 243 of the commonwealth of England. He was to be addressed by the title of highness ; and his power was proclaimed in London, and other parts of the kingdom. Thus an obscure and vulgar man, at the age of fifty-three, rose tu unbounded power : first by following small events in his favour, and at ' jngth by directing great ones. 3. Cromwell chose his council from among his ofiicers, ' who had been the companions of his dangers and his victo- ries, to each of whom he assigned a pension of one thousand pounds a year. He took care to have his troops, upon whose fidelity he depended for support, paid a month in ad- vance ; the magazines were also v/cll provided, and the public treasure managed with frugality and care ; while his activity, vigilance, and resolution were such, that he disco- \ vered every conspiracy against his person, and every plot ^or an insurrection, before they took efiect. > 4. His management of foreign affairs, though his schemes were by no means political, yet well corresponded with his character, and for a while were attended with success. The Dutch, having been humbled by repeated defeats, d totally abridged of their commercial concerns, were obh^ jd at last to sue for peace, which he gave them upon terms rather too favourable. 5. He insisted upon their paying deference ti the British flag ; he compelled them to abandon the interest, of the king, and to pay eighty-five thousand pounds, as an indemnification for former expenses ; and to restore the English East India Company a part of those dominions of which they had been dispossessed by the Dutch, during the former reign, in that distant part of the \irorld. 6. He was not less successful in his negotiation with the court of France. Cardinal Mazariu, by whom the afiairs of that kingdom were conducted, deemed it necessary to pay deference to the protector ; and desirous rather to prevail by dexterity than violence, submitted to Cromwell's imperious character, and thus procured ends equally beneficial to both. 7. The court of Spain was not less assiduous in its endea- vours to gain his friendship, but was not so successful. This vast monarchy, which, but a few years before, had threatened the liberties of Europe, was now reduced so low as to be scarcely able to defend itself. Cromwell, however, who knew nothing of foreign politics, still continued to re- gard its power with an eye of jealousy, and came into an association with France to depress it still more, 8. He lent that court a body of six thousand men to attack the Spanish 244 III8T0KY OF KNOLAND. If \. X ■^■ \-:i, :> It dominions in the Netherlands ; and, upon obtaining a signal victory by his assistance at Dunes, the French put Dunkirk, which they had just taken from the Spaniards, into his hands, as a reward for his attachment. 9. But it was by sea that he humbled the power of Spain with still more effectual success. Blake, who had long made himself formidable to the Dutch, nnd whose fame wab spread over Europe, now became still more dreadful to the Spanish monarchy. He sailed with a fleet into the Medi- terranean, whither, since the time of the crusades, no Eng- lish fleet had ever ventured to advance. He there conquered ^11 that dared to oppose him. 10. Casting anchor before Leghorn, he demanded and obtained satisfaction for some injuries which the English commerce had suffered from the duke of Tuscany. He next sailed to Algiers, and compel- led the dey to make peace, and to restrain his piratical sub< jects from further injuring the English. 11. A.D. 1655. He then went to Tunis, and having made the same demands, was desired by the dey of that place to look at the two cas- tles, Porto Farino and Goletta, and do his utmost. Blake showed him that he was not slow in accepting the challenge ; entered that harbour, burned the shipping there, and then sailed out triumphantly to pursue his voyage. At Cadiz he took two galleons, valued at nearly two millions of dollars. 12. At the Canaries he burned a Spanish fleet of six- teen ships ; and returning home to England, to enjoy the fame of his noble actions, as he came within sight of his na- tive country he expired. This gallant man, though he fought for an usurper, was yet adverse to his cause ; he was a zeal- ous republican in principle, and his aim was to serve hif? country, not to establish a tyrant. " It is still our duty," he would say to the seamen, *' to tight for our country, into .whatever hands the government may fall." I -^ 13. At the same time that Blake's expeditions were going forward, there was another carried on under the command of admirals Penn and Venables, with about four thousand land forces, to attack the island of Hispaniola. Failing, how- ever, in this, and being driven off the place by the Spa- niards, they steered to Jamaica, which was surrendered to them without a blow. So little was thouglit of the import- ance of this conquest, that upon the return of the expedition, ?enn and Venables were sent to the Tower, for their failure in the principal object of their expedition. 14. Bqi it must not be supposed that Cromwell's situation X TUB COMMONWEALTn."* ♦-. 245 ignal ikirk, hia Spain long e was to the Medi- > Eng- [juered before ' some om the ompel- ;al sub- . 1655. imands, wo cas- Blake iUenge ; nd then :;adiz he dollars. of six- ijoy the If his na- le fought s a zeal- lerve his r duty," itry, into ;re going tommand Ithousand ing, how- [the Spa- idered to import- :pe<:iitioii. iir failure situation vraR at that time enviable. Perhaps no situation, however mean or loaded with contempt, could be more truly distress- ing than his, at the time the nation were loading him with congratulations and addresses. He had by this time render- ed himself hateful to every party ; and he owed his safety to their mutual hatred and difiidenceof each other. 16. His arts of dissimulation had been long exhausted ; none could now be deceived by them, those of his own party and prin* ciplcs disdained the use to which he had converted his zeal nnd professions. The truth seems to be, if we may use the phrase taken from common life, he had begun with being n dupe to his own enthusiasm, and ended with being m sharper. 16. The wliole nation silently detested his administratiofi ; but he had not still been reduced to the extreme of wretch edness, if he could have found domestic consolation, Fleet- wood, his son-in-law, actuated with the wildest zeal, detest- ed that character which could use religious professions for the purposes oi temporal advancement. 17. His eldest daughter, married to Fleetwood, had adopted republican principles so vehemently, that she could not behold even her own father intrusted with uncontrollable power. His other daughters were no less sanguine in favour of the royal cause ; but, above all, Mrs. Claypole, his favourite daughter, upon her death-bed, upbraided him with all those crimes that hud led him to trample on the throne. 18. Every hour added some new disquietude. Lord Fairfax, sir William Waller, and many of the heads of the presbyterians, had secretly entered into an engagement to destroy him. His administration, so expensive both at home and abroad, had exhausted his revenue, and he was left con- siderably in debt. 10. One conspiracy was no sooner de- tected, than another rose from its ruins ; and, to increase the calamity, he was now taught, upon reasoning principles, that his death v/as not only desirable, but his assassination would be meritorious. A book was published by colonel Titus, a man who had formerly been attached to his cause, entitled, *' Killing no Murder." 20. Of all the pamphlets that came forth at that time, or perhaps of those that have since ap- peared, this was the most eloquent &nd masterly. " Shall we," said this popular declaimer, " who would not suffer the lion to invade us, tamely stand to be devoured by the wolf ?" Cromwell read this spirited treatise, and was never seen to smile morp '746 HISTORY OP ENOlASror. Qutatioru for Examinahon, 1. Mention what followed the resignation of thi« parliament S. What important evenr succeeded ? 8—6. What were the first acts of Cromwell ? 6, 7. In what manner did he act towards France and Spain ? ^\2. Relate the bold and succeiwful enterprise of admiral Blake. 13. What other admirals did Cromwell employ 7 and wiUi what 8uecM«7 14, 15. What was Cromwell's situation at this time 7 16, 17. What were bis domestic troubles? 18. Who entered into an engagement to destroy him T 19. What efieet had the pamphlet written t^ ccrionel Titus on bin f « SECTION IV. 'e left a nagne at which the world grew pals, u point a moral or adorn a talo. — Johnaon. 1. (A.D. 1658.) All peace was now for ever banisheJ from his mind ; and he found, that the grandeur to which he had sacrificed his former peace was only an inlet to fresh inquietudes. The fears of assassination haunted him in all his walks, and were perpetually present in his imagination. He wore armour under his clothes, and always kept pistols in his pockets.' 2. His aspect was clouded by a settled gloom ; and he regarded every stranger with a glance of tiip^d suspicion. He always travelled with hurry, and was ever attended by a numerous guard. He never returned from any place by the road he went ; and seldom slept above three nights together in the same chamber. Society terrified him, as there he might meet an enemy ; solitude was terri- ble, as he was there unguarded by every friend. 3. A tertian ague came kindly at last to deliver him from this life of horror and anxiety. For the space of a week no dangerous symptoms appeared ; and in the intervals of the fits he was able to walk abroad. At length the fever in- creased, and he became delirious. He was just able to an- swer yes to the demand, whether his son Richard should be appointed to succeed him. He died on the third day of September, the very day which he had always considered as the fnpst fortunate of his life ; he was then fifty-nine years old, and hud usurped the government nine years. 4. Whatever might have been the difference of interests after the death of the usurper, the influence of his name was still sufficient to get Richard, his son, proclaimed protector in his room. But the army, discontented with such a lead- er, established a meeting at General Fleetwood's, which, as he dwelt at Wallingfprd-house, was called the cabal of Wal . I THE COMMONWEALTH 247 ( lingford. The result cf their deliberation was a remonstrance, that the command of tne army should be instrusted to some person in whom they might all confide ; and it was plainly given to understand, that the young protector was not that person. 5. Richard wanted resolution to defend the title that had been conferred upon him ; he soon signed his own abdica- tion in form, and retired to live, several years after his re- signation, at first on the continent, and aflerwards upon his paternal fortune at home. He was thought by the ignorant to be unworthy the happiness of his exaltation; but he knew, by his tranquillity in private, that he had made the most for.'jnate exchange. - While Richard Cromwell was on his travels, under an as- sumed name, he was introduced to the prince of Conti, who, talking of England, broke out into admiration of CromwelPs courage and capacity : " But as for that poor pitiful fellow, Richard," said he, " what has Secome of him 1 How could he be such a blockhead as to reap no greater benefit from all his father's crimes and successes?" We have, however, abundant proof that Richard was fonder of the social virtues than of noisy fame, and justly appreciated the calm enjoy- ments of retirement. When, on assuming the Protectorship, one of his adherents pressed him to exert more vigour against the royalists, he said, " I positively forbid shedding the blood of a single man in my cause. I would rather relinquish the post I hold, than proceed to such unwarrantable extremities. I wish to retain my situation no longer than shall be consist- ent with the public good, and the wishes of those I govern." His peaceful and quiet life extended to the age of 86 ; and he died in the year 1712, at the latter end of queen Anne's reign. 6. The officers, being once more left to themselves, de- termined to replace tk.' remnant of the old parliament which had beheaded the king, and which Cromwell had so digrace- fully turned out of the house. 7. The rump parliament, for that was the name it went by, being now reinstated, was yet very vigorous in its at- tempts to lessen the power by which it was replaced. The officers of the army, therefore, came to a resolution, usual enough in those times, to dissolve that assembly by which they were so vehemently opposed. 8. Accordingly, Lam- bert, one of the generals, drew up a chosen body of troops, and placing them in the streets which led to Westminlsleiv «. V. y niSTOSY OF ENGLAND. hall, wUcn the speaker, Lenthall, proceeded in his carriage to the house, he ordered the horses to be turned, and very civilly conducted him home. The other members were likewise in- tercepted, and the army returned to their quarters to observe a solemn feast, which generally either preceded or attended their outrages. 0. During these transactions, general Monk was at the head of eight thousand veterans in Scotland, and beheld the distraction of his native country with but slender hopes of relieving it. 10. Whatever might have been his designs, it was impos- sible to cover them with greater secrecy than he did. As soon as he put his army in motion, to inquire into the causo of the dist' .bances in the capital, his countenance was eagerly sought by all the contending parties. He still, how- ever, continued to march his army towards the capital ; the whole country equally in doubt as to his motives and aston- ished at his reserve. But Monk continued his inflexible taci- turnity, and at last came to St. Alban's, within a few miles of London. 11. He there sent the rump parliament, who had resumed their seat, a message, desiring them to remove such forces as remained in London to country quarters. In the mean time the house of commons, having passed votes for the composure of the kingdom, dissolved themselves, and gave orders for the immediate assembling of a new parliament. 12. As yet the new parliament was not assembled, and no person had hitherto dived into the designs of the general. (A. D. 1660.) He still persevered in his reserve; and al- though the calling of a new parliament was but, in other words, to restore the king, yet his expressions never once betrayed the secret of his bosom. Nothing but a security of confidence at. last extorted ^e confession iVcm hiir<. 13. He had been intimate with one Morrice, a gentleman of De- vonshire, of a sedentary, studious disposition, and with him alone did he deliberate upon the great and dangerous enter- prise of the restoration. Sir John Granville, who had a •-Qpmmission from the king, applied for access to the general ; he was desired to communicate his business to Morrice. 14. Granville refused, though twice urged, to deliver his message- to any but the general himself; so that Monk, finding that he could depend upon this minister's secrecy, opened to him his whole intentions; but, with his usual caution, still.. ^^upled to commit any thing to paper. In ' once 1^ TRI COMMONWEALTH. 249 consequence of this, the king led the Spanish territories, where he very narrowly escaped being detained at Breda by the governor, under the pretence of treating him with proper respect and formality. From thence ho retired into HoU land, where he resolved to wait for further advice. 15. At length the long-expected day for the sitting of a free parliament arrived. The aflfections of all were turned towards the king ; yet such were their fears, and such dan- gers attended a freedom of speech, that no one dared for some days to make any mention of his name. All this time Monk, with his usual reserve, tried their temper, and exa- mined the ardour of their wishes ; at length he gave direc- tions to Annesley, president of the council, to inform them that sir John Granville, a servant of the king, had been sent over by his majesty, and .was now at the door with a letter to the commons. / ' \ 16. Nothing coul4 ^xceed the joy and transport with which this message was received. The members, for a mo- ment, forgot the dignity of their situations, and indulged in a loud acclamation of applause. Granville was called in, and the letter eagerly read. A moment's pause was scarcely allowed : all at once the house burst into an universal assent to the king's proposals ; and to diffuse the joy more widely, it was voted that the letter and indemnity should immediately be published. 17. Charles II. entered London on the twenty-ninth of May, which was his birth-day. An innumerable concourse of people lined the way wherever he passed, and rent the air with their acclamations. They had been so long dis- tracted by unrelenting factions, oppressed and alarmed by a succession of t"rannies, that they could no longer suppress these emotions of delight, to behold their constitution restored, or rather like a phenix, appearing more beautiful and vigor- ous from the ruins of its former conflagration. 18. Fanaticism, with its long train of gloomy terrors, fled at the approach of freedom ; the arts of society and peace began to return ; and it had been happy for the people if the arts of luxury had not entered in their train.* * A great number of religious sects sprung up in England during the civil wars. Tliat of the Quakers was the most remarkable. The founder was George Foi, burn at Drayton, in Lancasliire, in 1624. '~r»T7 j^ 850 1,3. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Quettioru for Examination. What wai the itate of Cromwoir« mind, and what waa his con> duct previoua to hia death ? 3. When did he die } at what ago 1 and how long did he reigrt 1 6. What mode of life did Richard Cromwell prefer 1 6. What meaaurea were now determined upon } 7, 8. What consequences followed > 9 — 12. What was now the conduct of General Monkt 13. In whom did general Monk confide t 16. Relate the particulars which preceded the king*a restoration. 17. At what time did Charles II. enter London 1 and what was his reception 1 r < r\ I'V^^-- CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Pcpu. ^ Innocent X...'...<r.. l(Vt4 Alezander Vll . . . fh,. loss Emp$rora tf Qvnma.ii'^. Ferdinand III 16.17 •• Leopold 1658 n Emptrpr if th* Turk$. ' ' Mahomet IV 1649 King of France. A. D. Louis XIV 164U Xing qf Spain. Philip IV 1631 King <f Ptrtugal. John IV 1640 Alphonao 1656 King tf Dtnmark. A. D. Frederick III 1648 King and Queen tf Sweden. Christiana 1633 CharlesX 1653 ■> EMINENT PERSONS. JoHK MiLTOK,* Waller; Davenant ; Cowley; sir John Denham; Harrington ; Harvey ; Clarendon ; Selden ; Hobbs. Admirals Blake, Montague, &c. ; Generals Bradshuw, Ireton, Fairfax, Monk, Lambert, Fleetwood ; the earl of Essex ; sir Henry Vane { Bulstrode White- lock, lord keeper. * Milton was the sreatest epic poet that England, perhaps that the world, has ever produced. He neld the situation of Latin Secretary under Oliver Cromwell, and was permitted to retain the emoluments of his office aAer he had become blind. After the Restoration he was deprived of his office ; and it was amid all the dis- tress arising from blindness, age and poverty, that Paradise Lost, the most sublime poem which adorns any language, was written. fiH ccw^ tUi ^^"^ CUARLM II. ^ 251 CHAPTER XXX CHARLES II. Born 1030. DInd rekruary a, iflR.I. Befran to reif n Miy 90, lOMi Rtiignod tI4| yean. SECTION I. Alreailjr auonoh'd Mdition'i brand. And leal, which burnt it, onir wmrmi Dm land. — Drpdtn, 1. (A.D. 1661.) When Charles came to the throne ho was thirty years of age, possessed of an agreeable person, an elegant address, and an engaging manner. His whole demeanour and behaviour were well calculated to support and increase popularity. Accustomed, during his exilo, to live cheerfully among his courtiers, he carried the same endearing familiarities to the throne ; and, from the levity of his temper, no injuries were dreaded from his former resentments. 2. But it was soon found that all these ad- vantages were merely superficial. Hi^ lauuleiice and love of pleasure made him averse to all kinds of business ; his familiarities were prostituted to the worst as well as to the best of Iiis subjects ; and he took no care to reward his former friends, as he had taken few steps to be avenged of his former enemies. 3. Though an act of indemnity was passed, those who had an immediate hand in the king*s death were excepted. Cromwell, Ireton, and Bradshaw, hough dead, were con- sidered as proper objects of resentment ; their bodies were dug from their graves, dragged to the place of execution, and after hanging some time, buried under the gallows. 4. Of the rest who sat in judgment in the late monarch's trial, some were dead, and some thought worthy of pardon* Ten only, out of fourscore, were devoted to destruction. These were enthusiasts, who had all along acted from principle, and who, in the general spirit of rage excited against them, showed a fortitude that might do honour to a better cause. 5. This was the time for the king to have made himself;^ independent of all parliaments ; and it is said that South*' ampton, one of his ministers, had thought of procuring his master, from the commons, the grant of a revenue of two million? a year, which would have effectually rendered him c 263 HISTORY or ENGLAND. absolute ; but in tbis his views were obstructed by the great Clarendon, who, though attached to the king, was still more the friend of liberty and the laws. 0. Charles, how- eVcr, was no way interested in these opposite views of his ministers ; ho only desired money in order to prosecute his pleasures ; and, provided he had that, he little regarded the manner in which it was obtained. -- 7. His continual exigencies drove him constantly to met< ires no way suited to his inclination. Among others was h.b marriage, celebrated at this time, with Catharine, infanta of Portugal, who, though a virtuous princess, pos- sessed, as it should seem, but few personal attractions. It was the portion of this princess that the needy monarch was enamoured of, whicn amounted to three hundred thousand pounds, together with the fortresses of Tangier in Africa, and of Bombay in the East Indies. 8. Tho chancellor Clarendon, the duke of Ormond, and South- ampton urged many reasons against this match, and op- posed it with all their influence ; but the king disregarded their advice, and the inauspicious marriage was celebrated accordingly. 9. It was probably with a view of recruiting the supply for his pleasures that he was induced to declare war against the Dutch, as the money appointed for that purpose would go through his hands. In this naval war, which continued to rage for some years with great fierceness, much blood was spilt and great treasure exhausted, until at last a treaty was concluded at Breda, by which the colony of New York was ceded by the Dutch to the English, and considered as a most valuable acquisition. 10. This treaty was considered as inglorious to the Eng- lish, as they failed in gaining any redress upon the com- plaints which give rise to it. Lord Clarendon particularly gained a share of blame, both for having advised an unne. cessary war, and then for concluding a disgraceful peace. He had been long declining in the king's favour, and he was no less displeasing to the majority of the people. 11. This seemed the signal for the earl's enemies to step in, and effect his entire overthrow. A charge was opened against him in the house of commons, by Mr. Seymour, consisting of seventeen articles. These, which were only a catalogue of the popular rumours before mentioned, ap- peared, at first sight, false and frivolous. However, Cla- rendon, finding the popular torrent, united to the violence of to step opened ymour, re only ed, ap- ■er, Cla- ence of oRARLis n. ;• 9!<9 power, runninfi^ with impetuosity against him, thought pro* per to withdraw to France. 12. Having thus got rid of hiN virtuous minister, the king soon after resigned himself to tlie direction of a set of men, who afterwards went hy the appellation of the Cabal, from the initials of the names of which it was composed. 18. The first of them, sir Thomas Gliflbrd, was a man of a darir>|f and impetuous spirit, rendered more dangerous hy eloquence and intrigue. Lord Ashley, soon after known by the name of lord Shaftesbury, was turbulent, ambitious, subtle, and enterprising. The duke of Buckingham was guy, capricic'js, with some wit, and great vivacity. Arling- ton was a man of very moderate capacity ; bis intentions were good, but he wanted courage to persevere in them. Lastly- the duke of Lauderdale, who was not defective in natural, and s' <1 less in acquired talents; but neither was his address r;accful, nor his underotanding just; he was ambitious, oi stinate, insolent, and sullen. 14. These were the n"' :. \o whom Ch: 'les gave up the conduct of his affairs, and 'ho plunged the remaining part of his reign in difficul- ties, which produced the most dangerous symptoms. 15. From this inauspicious combination the people had entertained violent jealousies against the court. The fears and discontents of the nation were vented without restraint ; the apprehension of a popish successor, an abandoned court, and a parliament, which, though sometimes assertors of liberty, yet which had now continued for seventeen years without change, naturally rendered the minds of mankind timid and suspicious, and they only wanted objects on which to wreak their ill-humours. The gloom which hung over the public mind was still further increased by two fearful calamities. In the year 1665 the plague broke out in London, and raged so dread- fully that 68,596 persons died within the bills of mortality. The following year was as fearfully distinguished by the great fire of London, in which 89 churches and 13,200 houses were consumed. The ruins of the city extended over 436 acres, from the Tower along the river to the Temple, and from the north-east gate along the city wall to Holborn-bridge. Prompted by blind rage, some ascribed the guilt of this accidental conflagration to the republicans, others to the catholics ; though it is not easy to conceive how the burning of London could serve the purposes of either party. As the papists were the chief objects of \ 264 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ,i^^ I Dreadful fin in I«odoii. 1666. public detestation, the rumour which threw the guilt on them was favourably received by the people. No proof, however, or even presumption, after the strictest inquiry by a committee of parliament, ever appeared to authorize such a calumny ; yet in order to gi\ o countenance to the popular prejudice, the inscription engraved by authority on the monument ascribed the calamity to this hated sect. This clause was erased by James II. after his ascension, but was again restored after the revolutkon. So credulous, as well as obstinate, are the people in believing every thing which flatters their prevailing passions. Queations for Examinaiion, 1 What engaging qualities did Charles possess ? 'S. Were these advantages of outward behaviour solid? 3, 4. What proceedings were taken against those ^ 'ho were concerned in the king's death ? 5 What proposition did Southampton make in favour of Charles, and who opposed it ? 7. Whom did the king marry ? and what was his inducement? 9. What is supposed to have induced the king to declare war against the Dutch? .0. In what way did lord Clarendon incur blame ? 11. To what country did Clarendon withdraw ? 12. What appellation was given to the new ministers ? 13. Who were they? 15. What consequences followed their appointment ■:■■:■ ^.p • CHARLES II. 255 ruilt on ) proof, inquiry uthorize i to the ority on d sect, lion, but ilous, as ry thing cemed in and who gainst the V- -' ^ SECTION II. J^' Pome genuine plotB an their authors were fix'd, • ,; With plotB to invent plnl«, molt curioualjr mix'd; For Dangerfii'ld, Bedloe, and Oaieg, found a Tonctue ' lo ainrmhalfthe oativesdewrved to be nunC' — />tl^diii. 1 (A. D 1670.) When the spirit of the English is once roused, they either find objects of suspicion, or make them. On the 13ti> of August, one Kirby, a chemist, accosted the king, as he was walking in the Park. "Sir," said he, ** keep within the company ; your enemies have a design upon your life, and you may be shot in this very walk." 2. Being questioned in consequence of this strange intima- tion, he offered to produce one doctor Tongue, a weak, credulous clergyman, who told him that two persons, named Grove and Pickering, were engaged to murder the king ; and that sir George Wakeman, the queen's physician, liad undertaken the same task by poison. 3. Tongue was intro- duced to the king with a bundle of papers relating to this pretended conspiracy, and was referred to the lord-treasurei Danby. He there declared that the papers were thrust under his door ; and he afterwards asserted that he knew the author of them, who desired that his name might be concealed, as he dreaded the resentment of the Jesuits. 4. This information appeared so vague and unsatisfactory that the king concluded the whole was a fiction. However, Tongue was riot to be repressed in the ardour of his loyalty he went again to the lord-treasurer, and told him that a packet of letters, written by Jesuits concerned in the plot, was that night put into the post-house at Windsor, directed to one Bedingfield, a Jesuit, who was confessor to the duke of York, and who resided there. These letters had actually been received a few hours before by the duke ; but he had shown them to the king as a forgery, of which he knew neither the drift nor the meaning. 5. Titus Oates, who was the fountain of all this dreadfuf intelligence, was produced soon after, who, with seeming reluctance, came to give his evidence. This Titus Oates was an abandoned miscreant, obscure, illiterate, vulgar, and indigent. He had been once indicted for perjury, was after- wards chaplain on board a man-of-war, and disrjissed for crimnal practices. 6. He then professed himself a Roman catholic, and crossed the sea to St. Omer's, where he was for some time maintained in the English seminary of that ci'y. At a time that he was supposed to have been intrusted wiii) a secret involving the fate of kings, he was allowed to 256 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. remain in such necessity, that Kirby was obligo^l to supply him with daily bread. 7. He had two methods to proceed ; either to ingratiate himself by this information with the ministry, or to alarm the people, and thus turn their fears to his advantage. He chose the latter method. 8. He went, therefore, with his companions, to sir Edmondsbury Godfrey, a noted and active justice of the peace, and before him deposed to a narrative dressed up in terrors fit to make an impression on the vulgar. The pope, he said, considered himself as entitled to the pos- session of England and Ireland, on account of the heresy of the prince and people, and had accordingly assumed the sovereignty of these kingdoms. 9. The king, who was ridiculed by the Jesuits, was solemnly tried by them, and cond 3mned as a heretic. Grove and Pickering, to make sure wo.'k, were employed to shoot the king, and that too with sil /er bullets. The duke of York was to be offered the crow.i in consequence of the success of these probable schemes, on condition of extirpating the protestant religion. Upon his refusal, ** To pot James must go !" as the Jesuits were said to express it. 10. In consequence of this dreadful information, suffi- ' ciently marked with absurdity, vulgarity, and contradictions, Titus Oates became the favourite of the people, notwith- standing, during his examination before the council, he so \ betrayed the grossness of his impostures, that he contradicted ^himself in every step of his narration. 11. A great number of the Jesuits mentioned by Oates were immedis^tely taken into custody. Coleman, secretary to the duke of York, who was said to have acted so strenuous a part in the conspiracy, at first retired, and next day sur- rendered himself to the secretary of state ; and some of his papers, by Oates's dirr>'*"ons, were secured. 12. In this fluctuaiiuu of passions an accideht served to confirm the prejudices of the people, and to put it beyond a doubt that Oates*s narrative was nothing but the truth. Sir Edmondsbury Godfrey, who had been so active in un* ravelling the whole mystery of the popish machinations, after having been missing some days, was found dead in a ditch by Primrose-hill, in the way to Hampstead. 13. The cause of his death remains, and must still continue, a secret ; but the people, already enraged against the papists, did not \ hesitate a moment to ascribe it to them. The body of God- \^ trey was carried through the streets in proeeBBioa, praceued \ ■ •2,-',, . , Jf k-«ii :-,M. CHARLES 11. 257 / by seventy clergymen ; and every one who saw it made no doubt that his death could be only caused by the papists. 14. Even the better sort of neople were infected with the vulgar prejudice ; and such was the general conviction of popish guilt, that no person, with any regard to personal flafety, could express the least doubt concerning the informa- tion of Oates, or the murder of Godfrey. ' 15. In order to continue and propagate the alarm, the parliament affected to believe it true. An address was voted for a solemn fast. It was requested that all papers tending to throw light upon so horrible a conspiracy might be laid before the house ; that all papists should remove from Lon- don ; that access should be denied at court to all unknown and suspicious persons ; and that the train-bands in London and Westminster should be in readiness to march. 1 6. Oates was recommended to parliament by the king. He was lodged in Whitehall, and encouraged by a pension of twelve hundred pounds a year to proceed in forging new informations. The encouragement given to Oates did not fail to bring in others also, who hoped to profit by the delusion of the times. 17. William Bedloe, a man, if possible, more infamous than Oates, appeared next upon the stage. He was, like the former, of very low birth, and had been noted for several cheats an(! thefts. This man, at his own desire, was arrested at Bristol, and conveyed to London, where he declared before the council that he had seen the body of sir Edmondsbury Godfrey at Somerset-house, where the queen lived. 18. He said that a servant of Lord B !lasis offered to give him four thousand pounds if ^ .; would carry it off; and, finding all i his information greedily received, he couf -mod and height- 1 ened Oates's plot with aggravated horrors. \ 19. Thus encouraged by the general voice eir favour, \ the witnesses, who had all along enlarged their narratives in \ proportion as they were eagerly received, went a step further, \and ventured to accuse the queen. The commons, in an liddress to the king, gave countenance to this scandalous ac- cusation ; the lords rejected it with becoming disdain. Queattona for Examination. I. In what manner did Kirby address the king? 2 — 4. Relate the circumBtancea of a pretended conspiracy* 5. What was the character of the principal actor in this ousineu T 7—11. By what means did he proceed ? 12—14. What accident served to confirm the pr.^ijudicea of the people' Y 2 258 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 15. What meani w«re taken to continue the alann T 16. How was Oates treated by the government f 17. What other delusion followed f 19. Whom did they afterwards venture to accuse t SECTION III. O think what nnxioas momenti pan belweflii The birth of ploU, and their iaiit fatal periuda ! ' <) 'ti« a dreadful interval uf time, Made up of horror alK and big with death.— jfiiffon. 1. (A. D. 1675.) Edward Coleman, secretary to the duke of York, was the first who was brought to trial, as being most obnoxious to those who pretended to fear the introduc- tion of popery. Bedloe swore that he received a commis- sion, signed by the superior of the Jesuits, appointing him papal secretary of state, and that he had consented to the king's assassination. 2. After this unfortunate man's sen- tence, ihus procured by these vipers, many members of both houses offered to interpose in his behalf, if he would make ample confession ; but as he was, in reality, possessed of no treasonable secrets, he would not procure life by falsehood and imposture. He suffered with calmness and constancy ; and, to the last, persisted in the strongest protestations of his innocence. "^ 3. The trial of Coleman was succeeded by those of Ire- land, Pickering, and Grove. They protested their inno- cence, but were found guilty. The unhappy men went to execution protesting their innocence, a circumstance which made no impression on the spectators ; but their being Jesuits banished even pity for their sufferings. 4. Hill, Green, and Berry were tried upon the evidence of one Miles Prance, for the murder of Godfrey ; but though Bedloe's narrative and Prance's information were totally irreconcileable, and though their testimony wh ; invalidated by contrary evidence, all was in vain : the prisoners were condemned and executed. Thev all denied their guilt at execution; and, as Berry died a protesiant, this circumst'^rce was regarded as very considerable. 5. Whitebread, provincial of the Jesuits, Fenwick, Gaven, Turner, and Harcourt, all of them of the same order, were brought to their trial ; and Langhorne soon after. Besides Oates and Bedloe, Dugdale, a new witness, appeared against the prisoners. This man spread the alarm still further, and even asserted that tvvu hundred thousrnd papists in England were ready to take up arms. 6. The prisoners proved, by ■iA CHARLES II. 259 raven, were lesides gainst sixteen witnesses from St. Omer's, that Oates was in that seminary at the time he swore he was in London. But, as they were papists, their testimony could gain no manner oC credit. All pleas availed them nothing: but the Jesuits and Langhorne were condemned and executed ; with their last breath denying the crime for which they died. 7. The informers had less success on the trial of sir George Wakeman, the queen's physician, who, though they swore with their usual animosity, was acquitted. His con- demnation would have involved the queen in his guilt ; and it is probable the judge and jury were afraid of venturing so far. 8. The earl of Stafford, nearly two years after, was the last man that fell a sacrifice to these bloody wretches ; the witnesses produced against him were Oates, Dugdale, and Tuberville. Oates swore that he saw Fenwick, the Jesuit, deliver Stafford a commission from the general of the Jesuits, constituting him paymaster of the papal army. 9. The clamour and outrage of the populace against the prisoner was very great : he was found guilty, and condemned to be hanged and quartered ; but the king changed his sentence into that of beheading. He was executed on Tower-hill, where even his persecutors could not forbear shedding tears at that serene fortitude' which shone in every feature^, motion^ and accent of this aged aobleman. !■»--" ^ i rVf^S - 10. This parliament had continued t9 sit for seventeen years without interruption, wherefore a new one was called ; in which was passed the celebrated statute, called the Habeas Corpus Act, which confirms the subject in an absolute se- curity from oppressive power. By this act it was prohibited send any one to prison beyond the sea : no judge, under eevere penalties, was to refuse to any prisoner his writ of habeas corpus ; by which the jailer was to produce in court the body of the prisoner, whence the writ had its name, and to certify the cause of his detainer and imprisonment. 11. If the jail lie within twenty mi!" ^f the judge, the writ must be ^-^nveyed in three days, an t ?.o proportion ably for greater e>:i'iaces. E^ery prisoner must be indicted the first term of his commii.nent, and brought to trial th- 'sub- sequent term ; and » man, after I' v-:: enlarged by i.^axt, can be recommitted ^oi the same ofl' n^fj. 12. The Meal-tub Plot, as it wix^ called, soon followed the former. One Dangerfield, more infamous, if possible, than Oataa an.-*. RHirinR. a wretch who had been set in the Beuioe, 260 HISTORY OP ENGLAND pillory, scourged, branded, and transported for felony and coining, hatched a plot, ir. conjunction with a person, >vho::<&> namti was Cellicr, a Roman catholic of abandoned f haracfer. Dangc r field began by declaring that there was & dei^i""! on ioot t,o 'iet up a new form of government, and remove the king vxn i *.he royal family. 13. He communi- CiUid th:ti irii.lliiL'f n a to the king and the duke of York, who supplied him with money, and countenanced his dis- ' covery. He hid some seditious papers in the lodgings of one colonel Mansel : and then brought the custom-house ofllicera to h?s af)artiMent, to search for smuggled merchan- dise. The pv'pers were found ; and the council, having cxamikied «' 9 aft'air, concluded they were forged by Danger- field. 14. JL hey ordered all the places he frequented to be bearchcd ; and in the house of CcUier the whole scheme of the conspiracy was discovered upon paper, concealed in a meal-tub, from whence the plot had its name. Dangerfield, being committed to Newgate, made an ample confession of the forgery, which, though probably entirely of his own contrivance, he ascribed to the earl of Castlemain, the countess of Powis, and the five lords in the Tower. 15. He eaid that the design was to suborn witnesses to prove ? charge of perjury upon Gates, to assassinate the earl of Shaftesbury, to accuse the dukes of Monmouth and Bucking- ham, the earls of Es^sex, Halifax, and others, of having been concerned in the conspiracy against the king and his brother. Upon this information the earl of Castlemain and the countess of Powis were sent to the Tower, and the king himself was suspected of encouraging this impos- ture. 16. The chief point which ihb prpsent house of commons laboured to obtain was the exclusion bill, which, though the former house had voted, was never passed into a law. Shaftesbury, and many considerable men of the party, had rendered themselves so obnoxious to the duke of York, that they could find safely in no measure but in hi« ruin. Mon- mouth's friends hoped that iLe x'M ;f.ioiii of ]la.me« would Tudke room for their own patr'- . 17. Th^ duke of York's rofessed bigotry to the i .iiolic superstitior influenced ijmbers: and his tyrannie-; which were practised with ut \ <:ontrol while he continued in Scotland, rendered his nsiine • odious to thousandr In a week, therefore, after the com- inencement of the session, a rnotiun was made for bringing rn a bill for excluding him from the succession to the throne „%. CUARLE8 II. 201 and a committee was appointed for that purpose. The debates were carried on with great violence on both sides. The king was present during the whole debate ; and had the pleasure of seeing the biU thrown out by a very great majority. . Queetioru for Examination, 1. Who WM flnt brought to trial ? 2. What was his behaviour at hia execution t 3. 4. Wlio were the next that Buffered ? 5. What others were tried for their lives 7 6. By what means did they prove their innocence f 7. Which of the accused was acquitted ? 8. Who was the Inst that fell a victim to these wretches? What was the evidence against him T 9. What sentence was passed upon the earl of Staflbrd 7 What eflfect had his fortitude on the beholders of his death? JO, 11. What were the particulars of the Habeas Corpus Act? 12. What plot was now laid, and who was the principal actor in it? 13. How and when was it discovered ? 16, 17. What now engaged the attention of the Commons? , SECTION IV. Vet Bometimei nationi will decline to low From virtae, which it roaaon, that no wrong, Dut justice, and aomn Tatal counn annex'd. Deprives them uf their outward liberty, Their inward loit. — Milton. 1. (A. D. 1683.) Each party had for some time reviled and ridiculed the other in pamphlets and libels ; and this practice at last was attended with an accident that deserves notice. One Fitzharris, an Irish papist, dependent on the dutchess of Portsmouth, one of the king's favourites, used to supply her with these occasional publications. 2. But he was resolved to add to their number by his own endeavours ; and he employed one Everhard, a Scotch- man, to write a libel against the king and the duke of York. The Scot was actually a spy for the opposite party ; and supposing this a trick to entrap him, he discovered the whole to sir William Waller, an eminent justice of peace ; and to convince him of the truth of this informal tion, posted him and two other persons, privately, where they heard the whole conference between Fitzharris and himself. 3. The libel composed between them' was replete with the utmost rancour and scurrility. Waller carried the intelligence to the king, and obtained a warrant for com- mitting Fitzharris, who happened at that very time to have a copy of the libel in his pocket. Seeing himself in thft hands of a party from which he expected no mercy, ae \ 2fl3 w HISTORY OF ENGLAND. resolved to side with them, and throw the odium of the libel on the court, who, he snid, were willing to draw out a libel ^vhich should be imputed to the exclusionsrs, and thus render them hateful to the people. 4. He enhanced his services with the country party by a new popish plot, still more tremendous than any of the foregoing. He brought in the duke of York, as a principal accomplice in the plot, and as a contriver in the murder of sir Edmondsbury Godfrey. 6. The king imprisoned Fitzharris ; the commons avowed his cause. They voted that he should be impeached by themselves, to secure him from the ordinary forms of jus- tice; the lords rejected the impeachment; the commons asserted their right ; a commotion was likely to ensue ; and the king, to break off the contest, went to the house, and dissolved the parliament, with a fixed resolution never to call another. 0. This vigorous measure was a blow that the parlia- ment had never expected; and nothing but the neceasity of the times could have justified the king's manner of proceeding. From that moment, which ended the parlia- mentary commotions, Charles seemed to rule with despotic power, and he was resolved to leave the succession to his brother, but clogged with all the faults and misfortunes of his own administration. 7. His temper, which had always been easy and merciful, now became arbitrary, and even cruel ; he entertained spies and informers round the throne, ami imprisoned all such as he thought most daring in their designs. 8. He resolved to humble the presbyterians ; these were divested of their employments and their places ; and their offices given to such as held with the court, and approved tne doctrine of non-resistance. The clergy began to testify iheir zeal and their principles by their writings and their sermons ; but though, among these the partisans of the king were the most numerous, those of the opposite faction were the most enterprising. 9. The king openly espoused the cause of the former ; and thus placing himself at the head of a faction, he deprived the city of London, which had long headed the popular party, of th j'r charter. It was not till after an abject submission th. returned it to them, havlrg previously subjected the ek Jtion of their magistrates to Ais jimmediate austerity. '[ 0. Terrors also were not wanting to confirm this new JtP% '. JP %f'' ,.-, CHARLES II. 263 ipecies of monarchy. Fitzharris was brought to trial be* fore a jury, and condemned and executed. The whole gang of spies, witnesses, informers, and suborners, which had long been encouraged and supported by the leading patriots, finding now that the king was entirely master, turned short upon their ancient drivers, and offered their evidence agaiiiiiit those who had first put them in motion. The king's ministers, with a horrid satisfaction, gave them countenance and encouragement ; so that soon the same cruelties, and the same injustice, were practised against presbyterian schemes, that had been employed against catho- lic treasons. 11. The first person that fell under the displeasure of the ministry was one Stephen College, a London joiner, who had become so noted for his zeal against popery, that he went by the name of the protestant joiner. He had at" tended the city members to Oxford, armed with sword and pistol ; he had been sometimes heard to speak irreverently of the king, and was now presented by the grand jury of London as guilty of sedition. 12. A jury, at Oxford, after half an hour's deliberation, brought him in guilty, and the spectators testified their inhuman pleasure with a shout of applause. He bore his fate with unshaken fortitude ; and at the plav :? ~^^ execution denied the crime for which he had been condei i j. 13. The power of the crown became at this time irre- sistible (A. D. 1683), the city of London having been de- prived of their charter, which was restore Iv upon terms of submission ; and the giving up the no.^ ination of their own magistrates was so mortifying a circumstance, that all the other corporations in England soon began to fear the same treatment, and were successively induced to surrender their charters into the hands of the king. Considerable sums I' cacted for restoring these charters ; and all the offices 01 power and profit were left at the disposal of the crown. 14. Resistance now, however justifiable, could not be safe, and all prudent men saw no other expedient, but peaceably submitting to the present grievances. But there was a party in England that still cherished their former ideas of freedom, and were resolved to hazard every danger in its djfence. 15. The duke of Monmouth, the king's natural soiii engaged the earl of Macclesfield, lord Brandon, sir Gilbert . Gerra.-d, and other gentlemen in Cheohire, K^i ■'f:;-!^'*'?:J ■ ■ I' ■ 204 HISTORY OF ENuLAND. in his cause. Lord Russel fixed & norrespondence with sir William Courtney, sir Francis Rowles, and sir Francis Drake, who promised to raise the west. Shaftesbury, with one Ferguson, an independent clergyman, and a rest- less plotter, managed the city, upon which the confederates chiefly relif^d. It was now that this turbulent man found his schemes most likely to take efTect. 10. After the disappointment and destruction of a hun- dred plots, he at last began to be sure of this. But this scheme, like all the former, was disappointed. The caution of lord Russel, who induced the duke of Monmouth to put oflf the enterprise, saved the kingdom from the horrors of a civil war ; while P^haftesbury was so strut^k with the sense of his impending danger, that he left his house, and lurking about the city, attempted, but in vain, to drive the London- ers into open insurrection. 17 At last, enraged d the numberless cautions and delays which clogged and defeated his projects, he threaipiied to begin with his friends alone. However, after a long struggle between fear and rage, he abandoned all hopes of success, and fled out of the kingdom to Amsterdam, where he ended his turbulent life soon aAer without being nitied by his friends or feared by his enemies. Questio' ' for Examination, 1, 8. What incident next deaervob notirn ? 3, 4. How did the cummona act on this <>< osion ? and what wai the com* quunce ? 5. How did the dispute end between th* >. ng and parliament t 7. What was now the temper of the king / 8. How did the clergy act r 9. or what did the king deprive the city of London ? f 10. What was now the conduct of tlie spies? 11, 12. Who fint fell under the ministry's displeasure ? and on what occs sion? !3, 14. What resulted from the great power of the crown? fl if\ 17. What Wtt3 the issue of it? SECTION V. Hut lot tho bold conspirntor bcwarp, V\>r liHav'n inakns |)iiiift«!8 iti puculia liar CQro. — Dryden. 1. (A. 1). \M\.) The loss of Shaftesbury, though it re- tnrded tho viows of the conspirators, did not suppress them. A council of six was elected, consisting of Monmouth, Rus- :e witli Francii »Bbury, I a rest- tsderates II found a hun- t)ut this ) caution ih to put •ors of a :ie sense 1 lurking London* [1 it the defeated ds alone. rage, he kingdom life soon 3d by his the conM what occa ugh it re- nas them, ith, Rus- CHARLES II. S06 tmU Essex, Howard, Algernon Sidney, and John Hampden, grandson to the groat man of that name. 2. Such, together with the duke of Argyle, were the leaders of this conspiracy. But there was also a set of subordinate conspirators, who frequently mot together and carried on projects quite unknown to Monmouth and his council. Among these men were colonel Rumsey, an old republican officer, together with lieutenant-colonel Walcot, of the same stamp ; Qoodenough, under-sheriflf of London, a zealous and noted parly -man ; Ferguson, an independent minister ; ^nd several attorneys, merchants, and tradesmen of London. 3. liut colonel Rumsey and Ferguson were the only persons that had access to the great leaders of i]\e conspirncy. These m(Mi in their meetings embraced the most desperate resolutions. They proposed to assassinate the king on his way to Newmarket; Rumbal, one of the party, possessed a farm upon that road called the Rye-house, and from thence the conspiracy was denominated the Rye- house plot. 4. They deliberated upon a scheme of ctopping the king^s cuach, by overturning a cart on the highway at this place, and shooting him through the hedges. The house in which the king lived at Newmarket took fire ac- cidentally, and he was obliged to leave Newmarket eight days sooner than was expected, to which circumstance hii safety was ascribed. ' '" 5. Among the conspirators was one Keiling, who Anding himself in danger of a prosecution for arresting the lord- mayor of London, resolved to earn his pardon by discover- ing this plot to the ministry. Colonel Rumsey, and West, a lawyer, no sooner understood that this man had informed against them, than they agreed to save themselves by turning kin^^s evidence, and they surrendered themselves accord- ingly. 6. Monmouth absconded ; Russel was sent to the Tower; Orey escaped; Howard was taken, concealed in a chimney ; Essex, Sidney, and Hampden were soon after arrested, and had the mortification to find lord Howard as evidence against them. 7. Walcot was first brought to trial and condemned, together with Hone and Rouse, two associates in the con- spiracy, upon the evidence of Rumsey, West, and Shep- pard. They died penitent, acknowledging the justness of the sentence by which they were executed. A much greater sacrifice was shortly after to follow. This was the lord Russel, son of the earl of Bedford, a nobleman of num- 806 IlirrORY OP RNOI.AND. borleif good qualitioR, and lod into thia conipiracy from a conviction of the duke of York's intention to restore popery. 8. He was liberal, popular, humane, and brave. All his virtuoa were so many crimes in the present suspicious dis> [tosition of the court. The chief eviuence against him was ord Howard, a man of very bad character, one of the con- spirators, who was now contented to take life upon such terms, and to accept of infamous safety. 0. This witness swore that Russel was engaged in the design of an insur* rection ; but he acquitted him, as he did also Rumsey and West, of being privy to the assassination. The jury, who wore zealous royalists, after a short deliberation, brought tlie prisoner in guilty, and he was condemned to suflbr be- heading. The scafibld for his execution was erected in Lincoln-inn-fiolds ; he laid his head on the block without the least change of countenance, and at two strokes it was severed from his body. 10. The celebrated Algernon Sidney, son to the earl of Leicester, was next brought to his trial. He had been formerly engaged in the parliamentary army against the late king, and was even named on the high court of justice that tried him, but he had not taken his seat among the judges. 11. He had ever opposed Cromwell's usurpation, and went into voluntary banishment on the restoration. His affairs, however, requiring his return, he applied to the king for a pardon, and obtained his request. But all his hopes and all his reasonings were formed upon republican principles. For his adored republic he had written and fought, and went into banishment and ventured to return. 12. It may easily be conceived how obnoxious a man of such principles was to a court that now was not even content to be without limitations to its power. They went so far as to take illegal methods to procure his condemnation. The only witness that deposed against Sidney was lord Howard, and the law required two. 13. In order, therefore, to make out a se cond witness, they had recourse to a very extraordinary ex- pedient. In ransacking his closet, some discourses on go- vernment were found in his own handwriting, containing principles favourable to liberty, and in themselves no way subversive of a limited government. By overstraining, some of these were construed into treason. 14. It was in vain he alleged that papers were no evidence ; that it could not be proved they were written by him ; that, if proved, the i^apers thempelves contained nqtbing criminal, His defence CHJiiZrLK II. 307 wai uvflrruled; Uio violent .ai inhuman Joflbriei, who wui now ohief-iufltioe, easily prevailed on a partial jury to bring jiiin in guilty, and his execution followed soon after. 16. One can scarce contemplate the transactions of this reign without horror. Such a picture of factious guilt on each aide ; a court at once immersed in sensuality and blood, a people armed against each other with the most deadly ani- mosity, and no single party to be found with sense enough to stem the general torrent of rancot^r and factious suspicion. Hampden was tried soon aAer, and as there was nothing to affect his life, he wns fined forty thousand pounds. Hol- loway, a merchant of Rristol, who had fled to the West In- dies, was brought over, condemned, and executed. Sir Thomas Armstrong also, wlio had fled to Holland, was brought over, and shared the same futo. 17. Lord Essey, who had been imprisoned in the Tower, was found in un apartment with his throat cut ; but whether he was guilty of suicide, or whether the bigotry of the times might not have induced some assassin to commit the crime, cannot now be known. This was the last blood that was shed for an imputation of plots or conspiracies, which continued during the greatest part of this reign. 18. At this period the government of Charles was as ab- solute as that of anv - <onarch in Europe ; but, happily for mankind, his tyvrnn, but of short duration. Tne king was seized w it' o(' «> ' t, which resembled an apoplexy ; imd although h. <)>■• ec n . d by bleeding, yet he languish- ed only for a cw d .y.** .u then expired, in the fifty-fifth year of his agv * fifth of his reign. During his illness some clct^^iuun of the church of England attended him, to whom he discovered a total indifference. Catholic priests were brought to his bedside, and from their hands ha received the rites of their communion. In this reign was begun the celebrated naval hospital at Greenwich. The design was by Inigo Jones, and it was in- tended as a royal palace. It remained unfinished till tho reign of William III., when it was converted to its present use. It was enlarged by the addition of three wings, en- , riched by donations, and by a tax of 6d. a mont.' from every i seaman, and it now supports 3,000 boarders, anu puys pen- aions to 5,400 in diiforent parts of the kingdom. ^.x.^^^... .l.-flr.l»l. I .I.%I-U£^&<ll£l 268 IIISTOBT OF KlfOLAMD. Greenwich llotpital. The reign of Charles II., which some preposterously re* present as our Augustun age, retarded the progress of polite literature ; and the immeasurable licentiousness indulged, or rather applauded at court, was more destructive to the fine arts, than even the court nonsense and enthusiasm of the preceding period. — Hume. liishop Burnet, in his History of his own Times, says, there were apparent suspicions that Charles had been poi- soned. Ho also observes that the King's body was inde- cently neglected ; his funeral was very mean ; he did not lie in state ; no mourning was given, and the expense of it was not equal to what an ordinary nobleman's funeral will amount to, Questions fur Examination. 1. What new conspiracy was roriii(.'(]7 3. Who were the Riiliordinuto conspirators 1 3, 4. What wcru their doMporatt! rcHnliitioiis? 5. In wliat niuiinor was tliis plot discoviU'L'il ? (!. What was the fate of tlic cmmpirators ? 7. What ciniiiciit iioblcuinn vvati (;<>nuerne«l in tliis conitpiracy ? DcM'rilc till- rharactor of RuRsel. Who was principal uvi^'ence ogainBt liiin 1 WlK!rb lid lord RiihscI siillbr ? Who w iiN tilt! iiu.xt brought to trial ? noccrilH) the character and conduct of Algernon Bidncy. 13. What incthods were iak< ii to procu i; hiscontlcinnutiou? Was his dcfciico atti'iidod to ? and by 'vhoni w as he tried 1 15. What drnadfiil picture did the kingdom now prutiviil? 1(5, 17. What otiier persons suftiired ! 18. Describe the manner uf the death of the king. 8. ». 10. 11. yi, 14. CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Pope. A. n. Alexander VII Kiri.^ Cloment IX HiOVl Innocent XI Iti76 Kinff of France. Clement X KWt Louis XIV 1643 Emperor of the Turhs. A. D. Mahomet IV 1(3411 Rmpetor of Germany. Lb'voI 1C58 /UMfl" of Spain. Philip IV 1(521 Charles II 16C5 Kings of Portugal, A. D. Alphonso VI 1650 Pedro II 16ti8 Kings of Denmark. Frederick Hi 1648 Christian V 1670 King of Sweden. Charles XI IdOO JAMKB II. EMINENT PERSONS. *^60 flyAB, earl of Clarendon ; Villiom, duke of nuckinKliSin ;* Bnllnr, dukn of Or- tnond ; Cooper, earl of Mha(\t!tibury ; tiir William Templo; Alfionioii Hidnoy; Wuntwortli Uillon, <<Hrl of UnHcominon ; R. Iktyle, carl of Urrery ; U. Mnckoii/.ii>, oiirl ot't'ronarty ; U. Monk, duke of AllMinarlts; C. Btanley, oarl of Liurhy : Mori- tiiaiu), Durl of Sandwich ; J. Powlutt, Hiarquis of Winchuitti>r : W. (Juvendiitli, diiTio 01' NiiwcoHtlu ; O. Uighy, earl of llrintol ; Denxil, lord lloilii* ; Diidluy, lord Norili ; J. Toucbtit, earl of CuBtl<!)i«.vt<n and burou Audley ,- II. I'iorpoiit, nianjiiia <ir I' .rrlitmtor ; J. Wilniot, eiirl of KonhuRicr ; f Antliony ArIMcv ; lliJiiiiUKi) I<'iiich, 4).. I of Nottingham; Fritncin North, lord-ko«>tN!r (Jiiildford; J. Rolmrtu, earl ol* Kudiior; Arthur Anncsley, tiarl of Angluieu; niarquia of Arsylo, 11. Finch, otirl <if WinchtflRua ; A Ciiroy, lord Fnlklund; Anno, couniiiia or Dorsot, Peiabroke, iiiid Montgoiuary ; Margaret, dutciieaa of Nowcoatlu. CHAPTER XXXI. JAMES II. Dorn 1033. Dogan to reign Fchranry G, loai. Abdicated the throne January 83, lUUH. lluignod ^ yuura. SECTION I. Near Orideownter, the fatal plnco Of Monmuuth'a duwidaU and diiaraee. The ho|)eleM duke, halfstarvod, nnlf drownM, In covert of a ditch waa found. -^DUidin. 1. (A. D.) 1686.) The duke of York, who succeeded his brother by the title of king James the second, had been bred u papist by his mother, and was strongly bigoted to his principles. He went openly to mass with all the ensigns of iiis dignity, and even sent one Caryl as his agent to Rome, * The fitrnngo character of this highly-gifted but profligate nobleman, la thus graphically described by Dry den : " A man ao varioiia that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's, epitome : Stiff in opinion— always in the wrong- Was every thing by starts, but nothing long; Who ill the course of one rtji'olving moon Was chemist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon." lie died ill wretchednosc;. Fopo thus describes the miserable end of his career : " In the worst inn's worst room, with mat half hung, 7'hc George and Garter dangling fVom that bod Where tawdry yellow strove with dirty red, Great Villiers lies— alas I how changed fk-om him That life of pleasure, and that soul of whim! There victor of his health, of fortune, friends And fame, the lord of useless thousands ends." t Rochester was oquallv celebrated for hie wit and profligacy. His luock epitaph on Charles II. contains a severe but just character of that :nonarcn : " Here lies our mutton-eating king, Whose word no man relies on ; He never said a foolish thing, And never did a wise one.'* 2x2 870 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. to make submisKsion to the pope, and to pave the way for the readmission of England Alio the bosom of the catholic church. 2. A conspiracy, set on foot by the duke of Monmouth, was the first disturbance in this reign. He had, since his last conspiracy, been pardoned, but was ordered to depart the kingdom, and hud retired to Holland. Being dismissed from thence by the prince of Orange, upon James's acces- sion he went to Brussels, where finding himself still pursued by the king's severity, he resolved to retaliate, and make an attempt upon the kingdom. 3. He had ever been the dar- ling of the people, and some averred that Charles had mar- ried his mother, and owned Monmouth's legitimacy at his death. The duke of Argyle seconded his views in Scot- land, and they formed the scheme of a double insurrection } so that, while Monmouth should attempt to make a rising in the west, Argyle was also to try his endeavours in the north. 4. Argyle was the first who landed in Scotland, where he published his manifestos, put himself at the head of two thousand five hundred men, and strove to influence the peo- ple in his cause. But a formidable body of the king's forces coming against him, his army fell away, and hn himself, after being wounded in attempting to escape, was taken pri- soner by a peasant, who found him standing up to his neck m a pool of water. He was from thence carried to Edin- burgh, where, after enduring many indignities with a gallant spirit, he was publicly executed. 5. Meanwhile Monmouth was by this time landed in Dorsetshire, with scarcely a hundred followers. However, his name was so popular, and so great was the hatred of the people both for the person and religion of James, that in four days he had assembled a body of above two thousand men. 6. Being advanced to Taunton, his numbers had increased to six thousand men ; and he was obliged every day, lor want of arms, to dismiss numbers who crowded to his stand- ard. He entered Bridgewater, Wells, and Frome, and was proclaimed in alltliose places ; but he lost the hour of actioii in receiving and claiming these empty honours. 7. The king was not a little alarmed at his invasion ; but still more teo at the success of an undertaking that at first ap- pcii-d;! desperate. Six regiments of British troops were rucalied from Holland, and a body of regulars, to the nu^rv iAMES il. 271 ber of three thousand men, were sent, under the command of the earls of Feversham and Churchill, to check the progrestf of the rebels. 8. The , *,ook post at Sedgemore, a village in the neighbourhood of Bridgewater, and were joined by the militia of the coimty in considerable numbers. It was there that Monmouth resolved, by a desperate effort, to lose his life or gain the kingdom. The negligent disposition made by Feversham invited him to the attack ; and his faith- ful followers showed what courage and principle could do against discipline and numbers. 9. They drove the royal infantry from their ground, and were upon the point of gain- ing the victory, when the misconduct of Monmouth, and the cowardice of lord Grey, who commanded the horse, brought all to ruin. This nobleman fled at the first onset ; and the rebels being charged in flan by the victorious army, gave way, after three hours' contest. 10. About three hundred were killed in the engagement, and a thousand in the pur- suit ; and thus ended an enterprise rashly begun, and more feebly conducted. Monmouth fled from the field of battle about twenty miles, till his horse sunk under him. He then alighted, and chang- ing his clothes with a shepherd, fled on foot, attended by a German count, who had accompanied him from Holland. 11. Being quite exhausted with hunger and fatigue, they both lay down in a field, and covered themselves with fern. The shepherd being found in Monmouth's clothes by the pursuers, increased the diligence of the search ; and by the means of blood-hounds he was detected in this miserable situation, with raw peas in his pocket, which he had gathered in the fields to sustain life. 12. He wrote the most sub- missive letters to the king; and that monarch, willing to feast his eyes with the miseries of a fallen enemy, gave hini an audience. At this interview the duke fell upon his knees, and begged his life in the most abject terms. He even signed a paper, offered him by the king, declaring his own illegitimacy ; and then the stern tyrant assured him that his crime was of such a nature as could not be pardoned. 13. The duke, perceiving that he had nothing to hope from the chin^ioncy of his uncle, recollected his spirits, rose up, and retired with an air of disdain. He was followed to the scaf- fold with great compassion from the populace. He warned tlie executioner not to fall into the same error which he had committed in beheading Russel, where it had been necessary lo redouhlfi tliH l)l«iw. \4. Rut tliis oiilv increased the se nnlv incroa.mul J V »' 'vx mf~'^'^ ■?■» S72 HISTORY OF BNOLANb. I ' I ' verity of tlio punishment ; tlie man was seized with tin uni* vorsal trepidation, and he. struck a feeble blow, upon whieli the duke raised his head from the block, as if to rcproacli him ; he gently laid down his head a second time, and the executioner struck him again and again to no purpose. He at last threw the axe down ; but the sheriff compelled him to resume the attempt, and at two more blows the head was severed from the body. 15. Such was the end of James, duke of Monmouth, the darling of the English people. He was brave, sincere, and good-natured, open to flattery, and by that seduced into an enterprise which exceeded his capa- city. 16. But it were well for the insurgents, and fortunate for the king, if the blood that was now shed had been thought a sufficient expiation for the late offence. The victorious army behaved with the most savage cruelty to the prisoners taken after the battle. Feversham, immediately after the victory, hanged up above twenty prisoners. 17. The military severities of the commanders were still inferior to the legal slaughters committed by judge JefTeries, who was sent down to try the delinquents. The natural brutality of this man's temper was inflamed by continual in- toxication. He told the prisoners, that if they would save him the trouble of trying them, tliey might expect some fa- vour, otlierwise he would execute the law upon them with the utmost severity. 18. Many poor wretches were thus allured into a confession, and found that it only hastened their destruction. No less than eighty were executed at Dorchester ; and, on the whole, at Exeter, Taunton, and Wells, two hundred and fifty-one are computed to have fallen by the hands of the executioner. Questions for Examination, 1 . In what manner did James act on succ jeding to the throne ? 2, 3. What was the first disturbance in this reign ? and who were the priu- cipuls concerned in it ? 4. What success attended Argyle's attempt ? 5~10. Relate the particulars of Monmouth's invasion. 11. In what situation was he found ? 12. What was his conduct after he was taken ? 13. H. Relate what happened at his execution. 15. What was his character ? 16. How were the prisoners treated ? 17. What was the conduct of judge Jcfferios ? 18. I7cw many rebels arb said to havo been executed? iiimln>iiiiiiil|ii>»r)[ii'ni'i.. JAMES II. 27 a SECTION II. With per"*oution armM, the laerod code Of law ht .ashea IhouiibtleM (o lh« iround. — Valpy, 1. (A.D. 1686.) In ecclesiastical matters, James proceed, cd >vith still greater injustice. Among those who distin. guished themselves against popery was one Dr. Sharpe, u clergyman of London, who declaimed with just severity against those who changed their religion by such arguments as the popish missionaries were able to produce. 2. This being supposed to reflect upon the king, gave great oflence at court ; and positive orders were given to the bishop of London to suspend Sharpe, till his majesty's pleasure should be further known. The bishop refused to comply ; and the king resolved to punish the bishop himself for disobe- dience. 3. To effect his design, an ecclesiastical commission waB issued out, by which seven commissioners were invested with a full and unlimited authority over the whole church of England. Before this tribunal the bishop was summoned, and not only he, but Sharpe, the preacher, suspended. 4. The next step was to allow the liberty of conscience to all sectaries ; and he was taught to believe, that the truth of tlie catholic religion v/ould then, upon a fair trial, gain the victory. He, therefore, issued a declaration of general indulgence, and asserted that non-conformity to the esta- blished leligion was no longer penal. 5. To complete his work, he publicly sent the earl of Castlemain ambassador extraordinary to Rome, in order to express his obedience to the pope, and to reconcile his king- dom to the catholic communion. Never was there so much contempt thrown upon an embassy that was so boldly un- dertaken. Th*^ court of Rome expected but little success from measures i>o blindly conducted. They were sensible that the king was openly striking at those laws and opinions, which it was his bueiiness to undermine in silence and se- curity. 6. Ti.e Jesuits soon after were permitted to erect colleges in different parts of the kingdom ; they exercised the catho- lic worship ir the most public manner ; and four catholic bishops, consecrated in the king's chapel, were sent througli the kingdom to exercise their episcopal functions, under Uie title of apostolic vicars. 274 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 7. Father Francis, a Benedictine monk, was reconi mend- ed by the king to the university of Cambridge, for a degree of master of arts. But his religion was a stumbling-block which the university could not get over; and they pre* dented a petition, beseeching the king to recall his mandate. 8. Their petition was disregarded, and their deputies denied a hearing : the vice-chancellor himself was summoned to appear before the high commission court, and deprived of his office ; yet the university persisted, and father Francis was refused. 9. The place of president of Magdalen college, one of the richest foundations in Europe, being vacant, the king sent a mandate in favour of one Farmer, a new convert to popery, and a man of bad character in other respects. The fellows of the college made very submissive applications to the king for recalling his mandate ; they refused admitting the candi- date ; and James, finding them resolute in the defence of their privileges, ejected them all except two. 10. A second declaration for liberty of conscience was published about the same time with the former ; but with this peculiar injunction, that all divines should read it after service in their churches. (A.D. 1688.) The clergy were known universally to disapprove of these measures, and they were now resolved to disobey an order dictated by the most bigoted motives. They were determined lo trust their cause to the favour of the people, and thatuniversal jealousy which prevailed against the encroachment of the crown. 1 1 . The first champions of this service of danger were Loyde, bishop of St. Asaph ; Ken, of Bath and Wells ; Turner, of Ely ; Lake, of Chichester ; White, of Peterborough ; and Tre- lawney, of Bristol. These, together with Sancroft, the pri- mate, concerted the address, in the form of a petition to the king, which, with the warmest expressions of zeal and sub- mission, remonstrated that they could not read his declaration consistent with their consciences, or the respect they owed the protestant religion. 12. The king ih a fury summoned the bishops before the council, and there questioned them whether they would ac- knowledge their petition. They for some time declined giving an answer ; but being urged by the chancellor, they at last owned it. On their refusal to give bail, an order was immediately drawn for their coinmitmcut to the Tower, and the crown lawyers received directions to prosecute them for a seditious libel. JAMES IT. 275 Questions for Examination, 1. In what way did Dr. Sharpe give offence to tlie king? 2. What was the conduct of James on that occasion ? 3. By what means did he effect his design 7 4. What was his next step ? 6. Whom did he send ambassador extraordinary to Rome T and how wi the embassy received ? 6. Relate the furtlier proceedings of James. 9. What took place at Magdalen college ? 10. What were the consequences of another declaration ? 11. Who were the first that disobeyed the king's mandate ? 12. In what manner did James act on this occasion ? SECTION III. Forgaken IhuR, he other thoughtg revolves To quit the realm, and many a scheme resolves : But r«t him go, nor heed, though thus you mako The gentle duke his lonely journey take. — UooU. 1. (A.D. 1688.) The twenty-ninth day of June was fixeo for their trial ; and their return was more splendidly attended than their imprisonment. The cause was looked upon as in- volving the fate of the nation ; and future freedom, or future slavery, awaited the decision. The dispute was learnedly managed by the lawyers on both sides. 3. HoUoway and Powel, two of the judges, declared themselves in favour of the bishops. The jury withdrew into a chamber, where they passed the whole night; butnext morning they returned into court, and pronounced the bishops not guilty. 3. West- minister-hall instantly rang with loud acclamations, which were communicated to the whole extent of the city. They even reached the camp at Hounslow, where the king was at dinner, in lord Feversham's tent. His majesty demanded the cause of these rejoicings, and being informed that it was nothing but the soldiers shouting at the delivery of the bishops, ** Call you that nothing ?" cried he ; " but so much the worse for them !" 4. It was in this posture of affairs that all people turneii their eyes upon William, prince of Orange, who had married Mary, the eldest daughter of king James. William was a prince who had, from his earliest entrance into business, been immersed in dangers, calamities, and politics. The ambition of France, and the jealousies of Hol- land, had served to sharpen his talents, and to give him a propensity for intrigue. 5. This politic prince now plainly saw that James had incurred the most violent hatred of his subjects. (A. D mm -"■v-\~ 270 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. I 1688.) He was minutely informed of their discontents ; and by seeming to discourage, still farther increased them, hoping to gain the kingdom for himself in the sequel. 6. The time when the prince entered upon :'>.i enterprise was just when the people were in a flame aboui the recent insult oflfered to their bishops. He had before this made considerable augmentations to the Dutch fleet, and the ships were then lying ready in the harbour. Some additional troops were also levied, and sums of money raised for other purposes were converted to the advancement of this expe- dition. 7. So well concerted were his measures, that, in threft days, above four hundred transports were hired ; the army fell down the rivers and canals from Nimeguen, with all nc cessary stores; and the prince, et sail from Helvoetsluys, with a fleet of nearly five hunuiud vessels, and an army of above fourteen thousand men. It was given out that this invasion was intended for the coast of France ; and many of the English, wlio saw the fleet pass along their coasts, little expected to see it land on their own shores. Thus, after a voyage of two days, the prince landed his army at the village of Broxholme, in Torbay, on the fifth of November, which was the anniversary of the gunpowder treason. 8. But though the invitation from the English was very general, the prince had for some time the mortification to find himself joined by very few. He march'jd first to Exe- ter, where the country people had been so riuch terrified at the executions which had ensued on M onmouili's -ebellion, that they continued to observe a strict neutrality. 9. He remained for ten days in expectation of being joined by the malecontents, and at last began to despair of success. But, just when he began to deliberate about re-embarking liis forces, he was joined by several persons of consequence, and the whole country soon after came flocking to his standard. The nobility, clergy, oflScers, and even the king's own ser- vants and creatures, were unanimous in deserting James. 10. Lord Churchill had been raised from the rank of a page, .ipd had been invested with a high command in the army ; h*d been created a peer, and owed his whole fortune to the king's bounty ; even he deserted among the rest, and carried with him the duke of Grafton, the natural son of the late king, colonel Berkeley, and some others. 11. The prince of Denmark, and Anne, his f^vcn'i JAMES II. 277 Its ; and I, hoping nterprise e recent lis made the ships dditional for other lis exp^- in threft he army th all nc oetsluys, army of d for the r the fleet 1 on their le prince jrbay, on y of the was very cation to to Exe- rritied at 'ebellion, 9. He d by the s. But, dng his Bnce, and tandard. own ser- James. f a page, le army ; ne to the d carried the late favo-ii' i daughter, perceiving the desperation of his circumstance!, resolved to leave him, and take y>artwith the prevailing side. When he was told that the prince and princess had followed the rest of his favourites, he was stung with most bitter anguish. •♦ God help me," cried he, in the extremity of his agony, *• my own children have forsaken me !" 12. The king, alarmed every day more and more with the prospect of a general disaffection, was resolved to hearken to those who advised his quitting the kingdom. To prepare for this, he first sent away the queen, who arrived safely at Calais, under the conduct of count Lauzun, an old favourite of the French king. He himself soon after disappeared in the night-time, attended only by sir Edward Hale, a new convert : but was discovered and brought back by the mob. But shortly after, being confined at Hochestcr, and ob- serving that he was entirely neglected by his own subjects, he resolved to seek safety from the king of France, the only friend he had still remaining. 14. He accordingly fled to the sea-aide, attended by his natural son, the duke of Ber- wick, where he embarked for the continent, and arrived in safety at Ambleteuse in Picardy, from whence he hastened to the court of France, where he still enjoyed the empty title of a king, and the appellation of a saint, which flat* tered him more. 15. The king having thus abdicated the throne, the next consideration was the appointing a successor. (A.D. 1688.) Some declared for a regent ; others, that the princess of Orange should be invested with regal power, and the young prince considered as supposititious. After a long debate in both houses, a new sovereign was preferred to a regent, by a majority of two voices. It was agreed that the prince and princess of Orange should reign jointly as king and queen of England, while the administration of government should be placed in the hands of the prince only. (0. n \ Questions fur Examination,. -3. Relate the circumstances which attended the bishops' trial. To whom did the people look for deliverance? What was the sUuation of the people when William entered upon this enterprise ? What measures did William concert to effect the invasion of England ? Where did he land ? By whom was the king deserted ? What exclamntion did the king make when he was told that the princo and princess had forsaken him 7 2 A «7fl ;nKTO!iY OP RrtoT.ANn. IS. Wliat roiolulion <li<l llin kinfc ndopt T 14. Til what court ilitl JninoN r«*|Niir / ^9. Whut followmi tlio kiiig'ii awlicntionf CONTKMTORAHY SOVKREIONa Pop*. A.n. Innocent XI 1C76 Emperor of Germany. Leo|K)ld itoH F.mperon of the Turku. MahumetlV 1C19 A.n. Solymiml 1687 King of France. I/)uiiiXlV 1643 King of Spain. ClinrloBTl \Cm EMINENT PERSONS. King of Portugal. Potlro II mi King of Denmai k. Chrimian V li «H King of Htnethn. ChftrloiXl m The diiko of Monmouth. Sponcor, onrl of Sundrrlnnd, Prinro Jnmon. olherwifle railed the Prnlcndcr. JudKO .lolIorieH. ("ohtiinl Kirk. (]. Siivilr, mnrnuis of IliiUrnx. f ioorf^o, onrl of |{«trkfllpy. ThoniuR ()Nliomo, dnkr of IjeeuR. II. liuoth, lord Dolnmoro, and tmrl of Warrington. (J. Sn«;kvill(<, oftrl Dorset II. (^avondixh, dukn of Dovonahiro. J. ThoniHon, lord llu- veraham. Colin Linddoy, enrl of Uahinrmii. JantoH Dniryniple, viHcoiint Stair. R. Graham, viscount t^aton. Roger Puhnor, oari oi Caatloniain. Si / / CHAPTER XXXir. WIIJ.LIAM III. / Born lOSO.. Died March R, 1703. Lnnilt<il in KiiKlniul, Nnvomhcr 5, KiHa ncsnn to reign January iK.', KM). Kuigneil 13 yuurti. SECTION I. ny tumi thor toll, tirnil, Ami lUtnn, onch with emulmiH Klurv ... flow William comititir'il. nnil how I'Viinc*) rntirod> How I'riividniiRo »«r VVilliiim'i Uniiplni holit- On Uoyno'i propitiuui banlti, tho hauv'iily ahiold. — Prior. 1. (A.D. 1687.) William was no sooner elected to the throne, than h« began to experience tho difTiculty of govern- ing a people, who were more ready to examine the com mands of their superiors than to obey them. 2. His reign commenced with an attempt similar to that which had been the principal cause of all the disturbances in the preceding reign, and which had excluded the monarch from the throne. William was a Calvinist, and consequently averse to persecution ; he therefore began by attempting those laws which enjoined uniformity of worship ; and, though he could not entirely succeed in his design, a tolera- tion was granted to such dissenters as should take the oaths of allegiance, and hold no private conventicle. 3. In' the me<in time, James, whose authoritv was still z' / wtugat. A.D. .... 1083 mmatk. .... ll'7H uxthn. m* ICO Jbihoh, (J.Siivile, 0, diiko of 8n«;kvill(\ 1, l(tr<l Ha- s, viHcoiint loniain. m. BeB«n ed to the f govern- ,ho com ir to that urbances monarch lequently tempting ip ; and, a tolera- the oaths was still WILLIAM 111. VI \) I n«-kiinwlo(l^()(l in Ireland, embarked at DreHl for that kingdom, uikI on May 'i2d arrivtul at KinHah;. IIo soon al'ler niado hJH pul)lic untry into Dublin, amidftt tlio acclamations of tint iidiabitiinlfi. Ho found the appearance of things in that cdunlry ociual to his most sanguine expectations. 'I'y rconiirl, the lord-lieiitenant, was devoted to his interests ; his old army was steady, ind a new one raised, amounting together to nearly forty tiiousand men. 4. As Hoon as the season w<.v.!d y^rmit, ho went to lay HJcge to Londonderry, a towi J ?.i>i*'l importance in itself, hut rtMuIered famous by the stand . made on this occasion. 5. The besieged endured the most poignant sufleringH from fatigue and famine, until at last relieved by a Htore- .sliip, that happily broke the boom laid across the river to jirevent a supply. The joy of the inhabitants at this uncx> pocted relief was only etiuallcd by the rage and dtHappoint- inent of the besiegers. The army of .Fames was so dispirited by the success of this enterprise, that they abandoned the siege in the night ; and retired with precipituiion, after having lost about nine thousand men before the place. (I. it was upon the opposite sides of the river Boyne that both armies came in sight of each other, inflamed with all the animosities arising from a diflercncc of religion, hatred, and revenge. (A.D. 1600.)^\ The river 13oync at 'tis place was not so deep but that men might wade over on foot ; however, the banks were rugged, and rendered dangerous by old houses and ditches, which served to defend the latent enemy. 7. William, who now headed the protestant army, had no sooner arrived, but he rode along the side of the river in sight of both armies, to make proper observations upon the plan of battle ; but in the mean time, being per- ceived by the enemy, a cannon was privately brought out, and planted against him where he was sitttng. The shot killed several of his followers, and he himself was wounded in the shoulder. 8. Early the next morning, at six o'clock, king William gave orders to force a passage over the river. This the army undertook in three different plj^^es ; and, after a furious cannonading, the battle began witl anusual vigour. The Irish troops, though reckoned the best in Europe abroad, have always fought indifferently at home. 0. After an obstinate resistance, they fled with precipitation, leaving the French and Swiss regiments, who came to their assijstance, 10 make the, best retreat they could William led on hi* V li^Mii n IMAGE EVALUATION TkST target (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 ■^ Bii 12.2 Hf us, 12.0 1-25 in 1.4 1.6 » VJ -*>. *^ ^jl^j^ >> y /A '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation d-^ \ ^ ^<. m 6^ '^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4503 •lit ■ * • • ^ - ,v- ^■-/■- " ■' ^^ " .-■ V. - .';■';-■ ,;;;":-;^"'f''--^p^"-'''i:^^ _;,,; J :. ::• ^jv -:;:'■-/■;, ...^^-."-^ "'v-..^,, '':':^ "'-'^ ,;,. \'0-<:'. ' -':';',., '"■^'^-.-'''^"' ,"■,,:";■■'■.-" ■''-'. '..' '*^' - . 5^ '.,-■/ '" ■ " ^'^'"■^:-';, - .■ i=^;-:-'''i"-"^" ,_. " . .^ '-';. ., _ :■ -. ■-■" :'' -' ■-- ^,V-.,. ■ "1 ::::- ■..■>■. .J,.- .% ; .,:\... - '\, ■^:''('''i-- ^^ ■ ?. ■-: '^ - ■'" \ ■■■p-T;-- -. ,;■ "■ "" '- . '■ ■ ;V -, ~- ■ ■ i ^ ''H' c^ '■. .■ .w.^':,.i;-^...'" '-^ /■ ' '■' ■■■.: ' ■v . •- ■-.;■ - -: ■-. ^^ ■ . ^ ^ .■-;;;' :*--.,. ,|;.: .^;"vy ;'^ ,•:./■: ■ -, : ■ '''■ \ ■' '■■'" ' \;-:. "■"' "■■ - '" . ■'F' :"«;/: ;'"■.■.;.,../ 280 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. % BttUt of Aoghrim ud death of Onenl St Rvth. hone in person ; and contributed by his activity and vigi lance to secure the victory. James was not in the battlet but stood aloof during the action, on the hill of Dunmore, surrounded with some squadrons of horse ; and at intervals was heard to exclaim, when he saw his own troops repuls- ing those of the enemy, " O spare my English subjects !'* 10. The Irish lost about fifteen hundred men, and the protestants about one-third of that number. The victory was splendid, and almost decisive ; but the death of the duke of Schomberg, who was shot as he was crossing the water, seemed to outweigh the whole loss sustained by the enemy. 11. The last battle fought in favour of James was at A.ughrim. (A.D. 1691.) The enemy fought with surpris- ing fury, and the horse were several times repulsed ; but the English wading through the middle of a bog up to the waist in mud, and rallying with some difficulty on the firm ground on the other side, renewed the combat with great fury. 12. St. Ruth, the Irish general, being killed, his fate so discouraged his troops, that they gave way on all sides, and retreated to Lirr.erick, where they resolved to make a final stand, aft^i- having lost above five thousand of the flower of their army. 13. Limerick, the last retreat of the Irish forces, made a brave defence : but soon seeing the enemy advanced within ten paces of the bridge-foot, and perceiving themselves surrounded on all sides, they determined to capitulate ; a negotiation was immediately begun, and hostilities ceased on both sides. 14. The Ro- ■\ ^i^^...- xr' ■ WILLIAM Ilk 961 man catholics, by this capitulation, were restored to the enjoyment of those liberties in the exercise of their religion, which they had possessed in the reign of king Charles the Second. All persons were indulged with free leave to re- move with their families and effects to any other country, except England and Scotland. In consequence of this, above fourteen thousand of those who had fought for king James went over into France, having transports provided by government for conveying them thither. Questions for Examination, 1, 2. What were the fint acts of WiUiam ? 3. In what manner was James received in Ireland T What was the state of afiairs in that country f Relate the particulars of the siege of Londondeny. . , Where did the armies first meet? By what means was William wounded 7 8, 9. What was the issue of this battle 7 Describe the conduct of the rival kings during this engagement 10. What loss did each side sustain ? 11. Where was the next battle fought? 12. How many of the Irish fell in this engaf^ement ? » 13. What was the !ast place of their retreat ? 14. What were the articles of their capitulation ? 4. 6. 6. 7. SECTION II. . ■■-••r.v;»¥.T: ■ ■ '■"■■'■fiUJ. Tet Fame shall stay and bend to William's praise, or bira her thousand ears shall he.tr triumphant lays ; " > - 1 Of bim her touRue shall talk, on hiai her eyes shall gaze.— Qntfreve. 1. (A.D. 1692.) James was now reduced to the lowest state of despondence : his designs upon England were quite frustrated, so that nothing was left his friends but the hopes of assassinating the monarch on the throne. These base attempts, as barbarous as they were useless, were not en- tirely disagreeable to the temper of James. 2. It is said he encouraged and proposed them ; but they all proved unser- viceable to his cause, and only en^ed in the destruction of the undertakers. From that time till he died, which was about seven years, he continued to reside at St. Germains, a pensioner on the bounty of Louis, and assisted by occa- sional liberalities from his daughter and friends in England. He died on the sixteenth day of September, in the year 1700, after having laboured under a tedious sickness ; and many miracles, as the people thought, were wrought at his to-.nb. 3. Indeed, the latter part of his life was calculated to inspire the superstitious with reverence for his piety, '^e subjected himself to acts of uncommon penance and 2a2 a;;,*:: ,,v m^ ;'?['- 282 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. mortification. He frequently visited the poor monks of La Trappe, who were edified by his humble and pious deport- ment. 4. His pride and arbitrary temper seemed to have vanished with his greatness ; he became affable, kind, and easy to all his dependants ; and at his last illness conjured his son to prefer religion to every worldly advantage, — a counsel which that prince strictly obeyed. He died with great marks of devotion, and was interred, at his own request, in the church of the English benedictines at Paris, without any funeral solemnity. 5. William, upon accepting of the crown, was resolved to preserve, as much as he was able, that share of preroga- tive which still was left him. But at length he became fatigued with opposing the laws which parliament every day were laying round his authority, and gave up the contest. 6. He admitted every restraint upon the prerogative in Eng- land, upon condition of being properly supplied with the means of humbling the power of France. War, and the balance of power in Europe, were all he knew, or indeed desired to understand. Provided the parliament furnished him with supplies for these purposes, he permitted them to rule the internal polity at their pleasure. 7. For the prose- cution of the war with France, the sums of money granted to him were incredible. The nation, not content with fur- nishing him with such sums of money as they were capable of raising by the taxes of the year, mortgaged these t'-^es, and involved themselves in debts which they have it since been able to discharge. 8. For all that profuiuui . of wealth granted to maintain the imaginary balance of Europe, England received in return the empty reward of military glory in Flanders, and the consciousness of having given their allies, particularly the Dutch, frequent opportunities of being ungrateful. The war with France continued during the greatest part of this king's reign ; but at length the treaty of Rys wick, A.D. 1697, put an end to those contentions, in which England had engaged without policy and came off without advantage. 9. In the general pacification her interests seemed entirely deserted ; and for all the treasures she had sent to the con- tinent, and all the blood which she had shed there, the only equivalent she received was an acknowledgment of king William's title from the king of France. 10. William was naturally of a very feeble constitution : and, it was by this time almost exhausted by a series of con- -J:*- -r:isi'T : .-■ T*^"* WILLIAM III. 283 ge. irely con- the nt of lion : con- tinual disquietuae and action. He had endeavoured to re pair his constitution, or at least to conceal its decays, by exercise and riding. On the twenty-first day of February, in riding to Hampton-court from Kensington, his horse fell under him, and he was thrown with such violence, that his collar-bone was fractured. His attendants conveyed him to the palace at Hampton-court, where the fracture was re- duced, and in the evening he returned to Kensington in his coach. 11. The jolting of the carriage disunited the frac- ture once more, and the bones were again replaced, under Bidloo, his physician. This in a robust constitution would have been a trifling misfortune ; but in him it was fatal. For some time he appeared in a fair way of recovery ; but, falling asleep on his couch, he was seized with a shivering, which terminated in a fever and diarrhoea, which soon be- came dangerous and desperate. 11. Perceiving his end approaching, the objects of his former care still lay next his heart ; and the fate of Europe seemed to lemove the sensa- tions he might be supposed to feel for his own. The earl of Albemarle arriving from Holland, he conferred with him in private on the posture of affairs abroad. Two days after, having received the sacrament from archbishop Tenison, he expired in the fifty-second year of his age, after having reigned thirteen years. Questions for Examination, 1. To what situation was James reduced ? and what were the designi of hii friends 7 2. When and where did James die? 3. How did the exiled monarch spend the latter part of his life ? 4. What counsel did he give to his son in his last illness 7 5. What was William's resolution on accepting the crown 7 6. Did his actions correspond with that resolution 7 7. In what maimer did William act 7 8. 9. What conseouences resulted from the war with France ? 10,11. What accident happened to William? and what were the cooM' quences? 12. What object lay nearest his heart 7 *>#■ • ' M'! How long did William reign, and what was liis age ? ■6:-;fiE/; Pomta. A.D. Alexander VIII.... 1689 Innocent XII 1691 (Uement XI 1700 Emperor of Oermany. Leopold ;.... I6a8 Emperors of the T\irk8. Soliman III 1687 CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. King of Portugal. A.D. Achmetll 1691 Miistaphall 1695 King of France. Louis XIV 1643 KinffB of Spam. Charles n 1665 Philip V 1700 Pedro II 1683 King of Denmark. Christian V 1670 Kings of Svoeden. ■' Charles XI. 1660 Charles XII 1691 284 I1I8T0KY OV KNOLAND. KMINKNT P£RS0N8. BirIhaao Newton. JoiinIx>oki. Archbishop Tillution. BUhop Biirnei. Duke Schomberff. Coneml Sohumberg, aon of the duke. MoiiUigiic, onrl lUliiiix. UuMfll, earl of Oxford. John, lord Somen. Anthony Aithley Coo))or, enrlof 8hafteab»ry(graudw)n to tlte nobleman mentioned in a fitrmor reizn). BhelHeld, dukeorBuokinghnm. John, lord CutU. Admir '*'""«' ' lord Berkley, Ac, * ; . CHAPTER XXXUI. ..;:■•■■.■'■ ■'•v^':' ANNE. Dorn 1064. Died August, 1714. degnn to reign March 8, ITOSI. Reigned 191 yean. i['i^'K SECTION I, e aotive ■(rstini, wliqr'nr rour witen flow. Kt dlitant olimtM and lMrthe«l naiiona know wliatye from Tharofli and Ilnnubn have (wen lauiht. How Anne oommandud, and how Maibro* rougbt.— Prior- 1. (A.D. 1702.) Anne, married to prince George of Denmark, ascended the throne in the thirty-eighth year of her age, to the general satisfaction of all parties. She v/ns the second daughter of king James, by his first wife, the daughter of chancellor Hyde, afterwards earl of Clarendon. Upon coming to the crown, she resolved to declare war against France, and communicated her intentions to the house of commons, by whom it was approved, and war was proclaimed accordingly. 2. This declaration of war, on the part of the English, was seconded by similar declarations by the Dutch and Germans on the same ''ay. The French monarch could not suppress his anger at such a combination, but his cliief re- sentment fell upon the Dutch. He declared with great emo- tion, that, as for these gentlemen pedlars, the Dutch, they should one day repent their insolence and presumption in declaring war against one whose power they had formerly felt and dreaded. 3. However, the affairs of the allies were no way influenced by his threaiis. The duke of Marl- borough had his views gratified, in being appointed general of the English forces : and he was still farther flattered by tlie Dutch,' who, though the earl of Athlone had a right to share the confmand, appointed Marlborough generalissimo of the allied army. 4. And it must be confessed, that few men shone more, either in debate or action, than he ; serene in the midst of danger, and indefatigable in the cabinet ; so :V\*; .^\^^-tJ:;J. ^^ rr- I ^1 / UbTi *7i^, . ':f!l?rr:is;;ji,rt;,i-/.. 4 that he became tlie most formi'hble enemy to France Ui4t England ever produced, since the conquering times of Greasy and Agincourt. 6. A great part of the history of this reign consists in bat« ties fought upon the continent, which, though of very littlt advantage to the interest of the nation, were very great additions to its honour. These triumphs, it is true, are passed away, and nothing remains of them but the names of Blenheim, Ramilies, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet, where the allied army gained gieat, but (with respect to England) use- less victories. 6. A conquest of much greater national importance was gained with less expense of blood and treasure in Spain. The ministry of England, understanding that the French were employed in equipping a strong squadron in Brest, sent out sir Cloudesly Shovel and sir George Rooke to watch their motion.^ Sir George, however, had further orders to convoy a body of forces in transport-ships to Barcelona, upon which a fruitless attack was' made by the prince of Hesse. 7. Finding no hopes, therefore, from this expedition, in two days after the troops were re-embarked, sir George Rooke, joined by sir Cloudesly, called a council of war on board the fleet, as they lay off the coast of Africa. In this they resolved to make an attempt upon Gibraltar, a city then be- longing to the Spaniards, at that time ill provided with n gnrrison, as neither expecting nor fearing such an attempt. AMMB. 286 8. The town of Gibraltar stands upon a tongue of land, as the mariners call it, and defended by a rock inaccessible on every side but one. The prince of Hesse landed his troops, to the number of eight hundred, on the continent ad- joining, and summoned the town to surrender, but without effect. 9. Next day the admiral gave orders for cannonading the town ; and, percniving that the enemy were driven from their fortifications at a place called the South Mole Head, ordered captain Whitaker to arm all the boats, and assault that quarter. Those officers who happened to be nearest the Mole immediately manned their boats without orders, and entered the fortifications sword in hand. 10. But they were premature ; for the Spaniards sprung a mine, by which two lieutenants and about one hundred men were killed or wounded. Nevertheless, the two captains. Hicks and Jumper, took possession of a platform, and kept their ground until they were sustained by captain Whitaker, and the rest of the seamen, who took a redoubt between the Mole and the town by storm. Then the governor capitulated, and the prince of Hesse entered the place, amazed at the success of the attempt, considering the strength of the fortifications. 11. When the news of this conquest was brought to Eng- land, it was for some time in debate whether it was a cap- ture worth thanking the admiral for. It was at last consi- dered as unworthy public gratitude ; and, while the duke of Marlborough was extolled for useless services, sir George Kooke was left to neglect, and soon displaced from his com- mand for having so essentially served his country. A strik- ing instance, that, even in the most enlightened age, popular applause is most usually misplaced. 12. Gibraltar has ever since remained in the possession of the English, and continues of the utmost use in refitting that part of the navy destined to annoy an enemy, or protect our trade in the Mediterra- nean. Here the English have a repository capable of con- taining all tb'..gs necessary for the repairing of fleets or the equipment ' ^i^mies. 13. Whil e English were thus victorious by land and sea, a new ax,b^.e of contention was opened on the side of Spain, where the ambition of the European princes exerted itself with the same fury that had filled the rest of the conti- nent. Philip the Fourth, grandson of Louis the Fourteenth, had been placed upon the throne of that kingdom, and had been received with the joyful concurrence of the greatest part of his subjects. 14. He had also been nominated successor \ ANNE. 287 to the crown by the late king of Spain's will. But, in a former treaty among the powers of Europe, Charles, son of the emperor of Germany, was appointed heir to that crown ; and this treaty had been guaranteed by France herself, though she now resolved to reverse that consent in favour of a de- scendant of the house of Bourbon. 15. Charles was still farther led on to put in for the crown of Spain bv the invi- tations of the Catalonians, who declared in his favour, and by the assistance of the English and the Portuguese, who promised to arm in his cause. He was furnished with two hundred transports, thirty ships of war, and nine thousand men, for the conquest of that extensive empire. But the earl of Peterborough, a man of romantic bravery, offered to conduct them ; and his single service was thought equiva- lent to armies. 10. The earl of Peterborough was one of the most sin- gular and extraordinary men of the age in which he lived. When yet but fifteen, h.e fought against the Moors in Africa ; at twenty he assisted in compassing the revolution, and he now carried on the war in Spain almost at his own expense ; his friendship for the duke Charles being one of his chief motives to this great undertaking. He was deformed in hit* person ; but of a mind the most generous, honourable, and active. His first attempt upon landing in Spain was the taking of Barcelona, a strong city, with a garrison of five thousand men, while the whole army amounted to little more than nine thousand. The prince of Hesse was killed in ihh action. 17. These successes, however, were but of short continu- ance; Peterborough being recalled, and the army under Charles being commanded by the lord Galway. This no- bleman, having received intelligence that the enemy, under the command of the duke of Berwick, was posted near the town of Almanza, he advanced thither to give him battle. 18. The conflict began about two in the afternoon, and the whole front of each army was fully engaged. The centre, consisting chiefly of battalions from Great Britain and Hoi- land, seemed at first victorious ; but the Portuguese horse, by whom they were supported, betaking themselves to flight in the first charge, the English troops were flanked and sur- rounded on every side. 19. In this dreadful emergency they formed themselves into a square, and retired to an emi nence where being ignorant of the country, and destitute of all supplies, they were obliged to surrender prisoners of -:5r«^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Owth of ttM prlnM of Hmm kt BwmIou. '.I war, to the number of ten thousand men. This victory wai complete and decisive ; and all Spain, except the province of Catalonia, returned to their duty to Philip their sovereign. Queatioru for Examination. 1. Who succeeded William ? Agaimt whom did Anne declare war ? 2. How did the French monarch express his anger f 3. Who was appointed generalissimo ? 4. What is his character ? & Where did the nation gain great victories f . < 6, 7. What important conquest was next obtained f 8—10. Relate the particulars. 11. What opinion did the nation entertain of it? c,' 12. Was not this opinion unfounded ? . ' ' 13—15. What new scenes of contention arose 7 16. What were the character and conduct of the earl of Peterborough ? 18, 19. Relate the particuls'^ of the battle <>f Almanza. AA \ SECTION II. fe- ■<>ir-'vf;.J#':< IFencerorth, fihn anid, in each rctarniriR year, Onestpm ihe Ihistlo and th« rose fihnll tiear; The ihiHile's Instinc crnce— ihou, O my rose, shalt be; The warlike thistle's arm a sure defence to thee. — Rove. 1. (A. D. 1707.) The councils of the queen had hitherto been governed by a whig ministry ; for, though the duke of Marlborough had first started in the tory interest, he soon joined the opposite faction, as he found them most sincere M t^i^f' ANNI. 289 ■«','!> (I litherto duke le soon I sincere in (heir desires to humble the power of France. Tiie whigs, therefore, still pursued the schemes of the late king ; and impressed with a republican spirit of liberty, strove to humble despotism in every part of Europe. 2. In a ^o- vernment, where the reasoning of individuals, retired from power, generally leads those who command, the deuigns of the ministry must alter as the people happen to change. The people, in fact, were beginning to change. But pre- vious to the disgrace of the whig minibtry, whose fall was now hastening* a measure of the greatest importance took place in parliament; a measure that had been wished by many, but thought too difficult for execution. 3. What f mean is. the union between the two kingdoms of England and Scotland; which though they were governed by one sovereign since the accession of James the First, yet were still ruled by their respective parliaments, and often professed to pursue opposite interests and difTerent designs. 4. The attempt for an union was begun at the commence- ment of this reign ; but some disputes arising relative to the trade of the East, the conference was broken up, and it waft thought that an adjustment would be impossible. 9. It was revived by an act in either parliament, granting power to commissioners, named on the part of both nations, to treat on the preliminary articles of an union, which should after- wards undergo a more thorough discussion by the legislative body of both kingdoms. The choice of these commission- ers was left to the queen, and she took care that none should be employed but such as heartily wished to promote so de- sirable a measure. 6. Accordingly, the queen having appointed commission- ers on both sides, they met iii Cue council-chamber of the Oockpit, near Whitehall, which was the place appointed for the conferences. As the queen frequently exhorted the commissioners to despatch the articles of this famous Union were soon agreed to, and signed by the commissioners ; and it only remained to lay them before the parliaments of both«.> nations. 7. In this famous treaty it was stipulated that the succes- sion to the united kingdom should be vested in the house of Hanover ; that the united kingdoms should be represented by one and the same parliament ; that all the subjects of Great Britain should enjoy a communion of privileges and advantages. 8. That they should have the same allowance and privileges, with respect to commerce and customs ; that 2B 200 nirroRY or England. the laws concerning public right, civil government, and policy, rliould be the same through the two united king- doms ; but that no alteration should be made in the laws which concerned private rights, except for the evident beneit oi the subjects of Scotland. 0. That the courts of session, and all other courts of judicature in Scotland, should re- main, as then constituted by the laws of that kingdom, with the same authority and privileges as before the union ; and that Scotland should be represented in the parliament of Great Britain by sixteen peers and forty-five commoners, to be elected in such a manner as should be settled by the f)resent parliament of Scotland. 10. That all peers of Scot- and should be considered as peers of Great Britain, and rank immediately after the English peers of the like degree at the time of the union, and before such as should be created af^r it; that they should enjoy all privileges of English peers, except that of sitting or voting in parliament, or sitting upon the trial of peers ; and that all the insignia of royalty and government should remain as they were. 11. That all laws or statutes in either kingdom, as far as they may be inconsistent with the terms of these articles, should cease, and be declared void by the respective parlia- ments of the two kingdoms. These were the principal articles of the union ; and it only remained to obtain the sanction of the legislature of both kingdoms to give them authority. i ^ 12. The arguments of these different assemblies were suited to the audience. To induce the Scots parliament to come into the measure, it was alleged, by the ministry and their supporters, that an entire and perfect union would be the solid foundation of a lasting peace. It would secure their religion, liberty, and property ; remove the animosities that prevailed among themselves, and the jealousies that subsisted between the two nations. 13. It would increase their strength, riches, and commerce ; the whole island would be joined in affection, and freed from all apprehen- sions of different interests ; it would be enabled to resist all its enemies, support the protestant interests, and maintain . the liberties of Europe. It was observed, that the less the wheels of government were clogged by a multiplicity of councils, the more vigorous would be their exertions. 14. They were shown that the taxes which, in consequence ■•^ of this union, they were to pay, were by no means so pro- portionably great as their share in the legislature ; that then ANNE. 201 taxes (lid not amount to a seventieth part of those supplied by the English ; and yet their share in the legislature was not a tenth part less. Such were the arguments in favour of the union addressed to the Scots parliament. 15. In the English houses it was observed, that a powerful and dan- gerous nation would thus for ever be prevented from giving them any disturbance. That, in case of any future rupture, Endand had every thing to lose, and nothing to gain, agamst a nation that was courageous and poor. 16. On the other hand, the Scots were fired with indig- nation at the thought of losing their ancient and indepen- dent government. The nobility found themselves degraded in pomt of dignity and influence, by being excluded from their seats in parliament. The trading part of the nation beheld their commerce loaded with heavy duties, and con- sidered their new privileges of trading to the English plan- tations in the West Indies as a very uncertain advantage. 17. In the English house it also was observed, that the union of a rich with a poor nation would always be benefi- cial to the latter, and that the former could only hope for a participation of their necessities. It was said that the Scots reluctantly yielded to this coalition, and it might be likened to ft marriage with a woman against her consent. 18. It was supposed to be an union made up of so many unmatched pieces, and such incongruous ingredients, that it could never take eflfect It wap complained that the proportion of the land-tax paid by the Scots was small, and unequal to their share in the legislature. 19. At length, notwithstanding all oppo8iti'>*\ made by the tories, every article in the union was approved by a great majority in both parliaments. Thus all were obliged to acquiesce in an union of which they at first had not the sagacity to distinguish the advantage. r ■ Vt- • I Queatiorufir Examination, \ I. By whom had the queen's coiuuels hitherto been governed f ' 2, 3. What important measure took place in rarliamentt 4—6. By what means was the union efiectea f 7—11. Relate the stipulations contained in this famous treaty. I2r—14. What arguments were used to induce the Scots to come measure ? tS. What arguments were made use of to the English 7 16. In what manner did the Scots receive this message t 17 How was it received by the English f 18. What opinion was held concerning it 7 IS. Did the measure succeed i ^, • r 203 HISTORY OF ENOLANO. SECTION III. or Church and State who denrntt deemi ' ^ Hhuuld eareftilly avoid extremM. — Dibdin. / » /' 1. (A.D. 1708.) In the mean time the whig ministry was every day declining. Among tiie number of those whom the dutchess of Marlborough had introduced to the queen, to contribute to her private amusement, was one Mrs. Masham, her own kinswoman, whom she had raised from indigence and obscurity. The dutchess, having gained the ascendent over the queen, became petulant and insolent, and relaxed in those arts by which she had risen. 2. Mrs. Masham, who had her fortune to make, was more humble and assiduous ; she flattered the foibles of the queen, and assented to her prepossessions. She soon saw the queen's inclination to the tory set of opinions, their divine right and passive obedience ; and instead of attempting to thwart her, as Uie dutchess had done, she joined in with her partiality, and even outolid her in her own way. 3. This lady was, in fact, the tool of Mr. Harley, secre- tary of state, who also some time before had insinuated himself into the queen's good graces, who had determined to sap the credit of the whig ministers. His aim was to unite the tory interest under his own shelter, and to expel the whigs from the advantages which they had long enjoyed under government. 4. In this career of his ambition he chose for his coad* jutor Henry St. John, afterwards the famous lord Boling- broke ; a man of great eloquence, and greater ambition ; enterprising, restless, active, and haughty, with some wit and little principle. To this junto was added sir Simon Har- court, a lawyer, a man of great abilities. 5. It was now perceived that the people themselves began to be weary of a whig ministry, whom they formerly ca- ressed. To them they imputed the burdens under which they groaned, — burdens which they had been hitherto ani- mated to bear by the pomp of triumph ; but the load of which they felt in a pause of success. 6. Harley, afterwards known by the title of lord Oxford, was at the bottom of all these complaints ; and though they did not produce an immediate effect, yet they did not fail of a grovvinjT and steady operation. 7. At length the whig party of the ministry opened their eyes to the intrigues of the tories. But it was now too late y ANNS. 30d they had entirely lost the confidence of the queen. Harley soon threw off the mask of friendshipt and took more vigorous measures for the prosecution of his designs. In him th<3 queen reposed all her trust, though he had now no visible concern in the administration. 8. The first triumph of the tories, in which the queen discovered a public par- tiality in their favour, was seen in a transaction of no great importance in itself, but from the consequence it produced. The parties of the nation were eager to engage, and they wanted but the watchword to begin. This was given by a man neither of abilities, property, nor power ; but whom accident brought forward on this occasion. 9. Henry Sacheverel was a clergyman bred at Oxford, of narrow intellects, and an overheated imagination. He had acquired some popularity ani'^ng those who had dis- tinguished themselves by the name 1' high churchmen, and had taken all occasions to vent his animosity against the dissenters. At the summer assizes at Derby, he held forth in that strain before the judges. On the fifth of November, in St. Paul's church, he, in a violent declamation, defended the doctrine of non-resistance, inveighed against the tolera- tion of dissenters, declared the church was dangerously at- tacked by its enemies, and slightly defended by its false friends. 10. He sounded the trumpet for the zealous, and exhorted the people to put on the whole armour of God. Sir Samuel Gerrard, lord mayor, countenanced this ha- rangue, which, though very weak both in matter and style, was published under his protection, and extolled by the tories as a masterpiece of writing. These sermons owed all their celebrity to the complexion of the times, and they are now deservedly neglected. II. Mr. Dolben, son of the archbishop of York, laid a complaint before the house of commons against these rhap- sodies, and thus gave force to what would soon have been forgotten. The most violent paragraphs were read, and the sermons voted scandalous and seditious libels. Sache verel was brought to the bar of the house, and he, far from disowning the writing of them, gloried in what he had done, and mentioned the encouragement he had received to publish them from the lord mayor, who was then present. 12. Being ordered to withdraw, it was resolved to impeach him of high crimes and misdemeanours at the bar of the house of lords : Mr, Dolben was fixed upon to conduct the prosecution, in the name of the commons of England. A 2b2 ■'"fPi^^t#^H 204 HISTORY OF ENOLAND committee was appointed to draw up articles of impeacff* ment : Sacheverel was taken into custody : and a day was appointed for his trial before the lords in Westminster-hall. 13. The eyes of the whole kingdom were turned upon this very extraordinary trial, which lasted three weeks, and excluded all other public business for the time. The queen herself was every day present as a private spectator, whilst vast multitudes attended the culprit each day as he went to the hall, shouting as he passed, or silently praying for his success. The managers for the commons were sir Joseph Jekyl, Mr. Eyre, solicitor-general, sir Peter King, recorder, general Stanhope, sir Thomas Parker, and Mr. Walpole. 14. l^e doctor was defended by sir Simon Harcourt and Mr. Philips, and assisted by doctor Atterbury, doctor Small' ridge, and doctor Friend. While the trial continued, nothing could exceed the violence and outrage of the populace. They surrounded the queen's sedan, exclaiming, ** God bless your majesty and the church ! We hope your majesty is for doctcNT Sacheverel." 15. They destroyed several meeting-houses, plundered the dwellings of many eminent dissenters, and even proposed to attack the bank. The queen, in compliance with the request of the commons, published a proclamation for suppressing the tumults ; and several persons, being apprehended, were tried for high- treason. Two were convicted, and senteiiced to die ; but neither suffered. Id. When the commons had gone through their charge, the managers for Sacheverel undertook his defence with great art and eloquence. He afterwards recited a speech himself, which, from the difference found between it and his sermons, seemed evidently the work of another. 17. In it he solemnly justified his intentions towards the queen and her government. He spoke in the most respectful terms of thr revolution, and the protestant succession. He maintained the doctrine of non-resistance as the tenet of the church in which he was brought up ; and in a pathetic con- clusion endeavoured to excite the pity of his audience Queationafor Examination, 1, 2. What circumstances led to the fall of the whig ininlsten t 3. 4. Who were the principal persons opposed to them 7 5. Wtint made the people dissatisfied ? 6. Who wns the cause of their discontent? 7> la wliuin did the queen repose her iru«i? ANNE. 285 8. In v^hat accident orlginafod the contention between the two partiM 9. What was the lubjeot of Sacheverel'a writings ? 10. Who countenanced and extolled them ? 11. What notice did parliament take of these writings f 12. What followed ? . ' 13. Who were the manaffers for the commons? 14. By whom was he defended ? What was the conduct of the populace f 15. Whitt outrages did they commit i 16, 17. What was the purport of Sacheverel's defence > SECTION IV. Next to tha thnndcrnr let Anne Rtand In piety lupreme ai in command ; Fnmfidror vintorioui armi and ceneroui aid, Yuung Auitiitt't refuge, and f erce Bourbon ■ dread. — Laiudeant. 1. (A.D. 1700.) At length, after much obstinate dispute and virulent altercation, Sacheverel was found guilty, by a majority of seventeen voices ; but no less than four-and- thirty peers entered a protest against this decision. He was prohibited from preaching for three years ; and his two sermons were ordered to be burnt by the hand of the com- mon hangman, in presence of the lord mayor and the two sheriffs. The lenity of this sentence, which was in a great measuie owing to the dread of popular resentment, was considered by the tories as a triumph. 2. Such was the complexion of the times, when the queen thought proper to summon a new parliament ; and being a friend to the tories herself, she gave the people an opportunity of indulging themselves in choosing representa- tives to her mind. In fact, very few were returned but such as had distinguished themselves by their zeal against the whig administration. 3. In the mean time the campaign in Flanders was con- ducted with the most brilliant success. The duke of Marlborough had every motive to continue the war, as it gratified not only his ambition, but his avarice ; a passion that obscured his shining abilities. 4. The king of France appeared extremely desirous of a peace, and resolved to solicit a conference. He employee^ one Perkum, resident of the duke of Holstein at the Hague, to negotiate upon this subject, and he ventured also to solicit the duke himself in private. A conference was at length begun at Gertruydenhurg, under the influence of Marlbo- rough, Eugene, and Zinzendorf, who were all three, from private motives, entirely averse to the treaty. 5. Upon this occasion the French ministers were subjecteu to every spe- -va^^H- 206 HISTORY OF GNOLAND. oies of mortification. Spien were placed upon all their conduct. Their master was insulted, and their letters were opened ; till at last Louis resolved to hazard another cam- paign. 6. It was only by insensible degrees that the queen seemed to acquire courr.ge enough to second her inclinations, and depose a ministry that had long been disagreeable to her. Harley, however, who still shared her confidence, did not fail to inculcate the popularity, the justice, and the secu- rity of such a measure ; and, in consequence of his advice, she began the changes, by transferring the post of lord- chamberlain from the duke of Kent to the duke of Shrews- bury, who had lately voted with the tories, and maintained an intimate correspondence with Mr. Harley. 7. Soon after the earl of Sunderland, secretary of state, and son-in- law to the duke of Marlborough, was displaced, and the earl of Dartmouth put in his room. Finding that she was rather applauded than condemned for this resolute proceed- ing, she resolved to become entirely free. 8. Soon after the earl of Godolphin was divested of his oflice, and the treasury put in commission, subjected to the direction of Mr. Harley, who was appointed chancellor of the exchequer, and under-treasurer. 0. The earl of Rochester was declared president of the council, in the room of lord Somers. The staff of the lord-steward, being taken from the duke of Devonshire, was given to the duke of Buckingham ; and Mr. Boyle was removed from the secretary's office to make way for Mr. Henry St. John. The lord chancellor having resigned the great seal, it was first put in commission, and then given to sir Simon Har- court. 10. The earl of Wharton surrendered his commis- sion of lord-lieutenani of Ireland, and that employment was conferred upon the duke of Ormond. Mr. George Grenville was appointed secretary of war, in the room of Mr. Robert Walpole ; and, in a word, there was not one whig left in any office of the state, except the duke of Marlborough. He was still continued the reluctant general of the army ; but he justly considered himself as a ruin entirely undermined, and just ready to fall. , 11. But the triumph was not yet complete until the parliament was brought to confirm and approve the queen's choice. The queen, in her speech, recommended the pro- secutioiji. of the war with vigour. The parliament were ardent in their expressions of zeal and unanimity. They ejshorted her to discountenance all ' ■% *TwS!Ppm!ipr ono of leral I ruin the ^en's [pro- ^ere 'hey and ANNE. 207 inoosures an had lately threatened her royal crown and dignity. This was but an opening to what soon after fol- lowed. 12. The duke of Marlborough, who but a few months before had been so highly extolled and carcsBcd by the representatives of the people, was now become the object of their hatred and reproach. His avarice was justly upbraided ; his protracting the war was said to arise from that mptive. Instances were every where given of his fraud ari^^extortion. These might be true ; but party had no moderation, and even his courage and conduct were called in question. 13. To mortify the duke still more, the thanks of the house of commons were voted to the earl of Peter- borough for his services in Spain, when they were refused to tlie duke for those in Flanders ; and the lord-keeper, who delivered them to Peterborough, took occasion to drop some reflection against the mercenary disposition of his rival. 14. Nothing now, therefore, remained of the whig Hys- tern, upon which this reign was begun, but the war, wliich continued to rage as fierce as ever, and which increased in expense every year as it went on. It was the resolution of the present ministry to put an end to it at any rate, as it had involved the nation in debt almost to bankruptcy ; and as it promised, instead of humbling the enemy, only to become habitual to the constitution. 15. It only remained to remrve the duke of Marlborough from his post, as he would endeavour to traverse nil their negotiations. Dut here again a difficulty started; this step could not be taken without giving offence to the Dutch, who placed entire confidence in him ; they were obliged, there- fore, to wait for some convenient occasion. Upon his return from the campaign he was accused of having taken a bribe of six thousand pounds a year from a Jew, who con- tracted to supply the army with bread ; and the queen thought proper to dismiss him from all his employments. 16. This was the pretext made use of, though his fall had been predetermined ; and though his receiving such a bribe was not the real cause of his removal, yet candour must confess that it ought to have been so. In the mean time, Prior, much more famous as a poet than a statesman, was sent over with proposals to France ; and Menager, a mar of no great station, returned with Prior to London, with full powers to treat upon the pre- liminaries. 17. The ministry having got thus far, the great difficulty 208 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Still lay before them, of making the terms of peace agreoabio to all the confederates. The earl of Strafford, who had been lately recalled from the Hague, where he resided aii ambassador, was now sent back to Holland, with orders to communicate to the pensionary Heinsius the preliminary proposals, to signify the queen^s approbation of them, and to propose a place where the plenipotentiaries should assemble. 18. The Dutch were very averse to begin the conference, upon the inspection of the preliminaries. They sent over an envoy to attempt to turn the queen from her resolution ; but, finding their elTorts vain, they fixed upon Utrecht as a place of general conference, and they granted passports to the French ministers accordingly. 19. The conference began at Utrecht, under the conduct of Robinson, bishop of Bristol, lord privy-seal, and the earl of Strafford, on the side of the English ; of Buys and Van- derdusson, on the part of the Dutch ; and of the marshal d'Uxelles, the cardinal Polignac, and Mr. Menager, in behalf of France. The ministers of the emperor and the duke of Savoy assisted, and the other allies sent also pleni- potentiaries, though with the utmost reluctance. 20. As England and France were the only two powers that were seriously inclined to peace, it may be supposed that all the other deputies served rather to retard than advance its pro- gress. They met rather to start new difficulties, and widen the breach, than to quiet the dissensions of Europe. "»/■■■',/' Queationa for Examination, * 1. Was Sacheverel found guilty f . ( What waa his sentence 7 2. Which party prevailed in the new parliament T 3—5. What took place in Flanders ? 6 — 10. What change in the minintry took place f 1 1. In what manner did the parliament act t 12, 13. What conduct was observed towards the duke of Marlborough t 14. What was the resolution of the present ministry? 15. With what crime was Marlborough chaiged ? 16. 17. What proceedings were now adopted 7 18. Were the Dutch averse to the measure? 19 Where did the conference begin t By whom waa it conducted t 20 What retarded its progress 7 ANNE. 209 'V r, ■(■•■> SECTION V. Bo r«i|n thnn Anno'n in wnr mora jutlly orown'd. oreiRn for lonrninRJuitty mora renown'il; .' ' ' Eliinliolh a BhukinfiHra own'd ; Charloi could n Millon bontt ; Bui Annn mw Newton lii|h enthroned, Amid the heavenly hoit. — Dibdin. 1. (A.D. 1712.) The English ministers, therefore, finding multiplied obstructions from the deliberations of their allies, set on foot a private negotiation with France. They stipu- lated certain advantages for the subjects of Great Britain in a concerted plan of peace. They resolved to enter into such mutual confidence with the French as would anticipate all clandestine transactiond to the prejudice of the coalition. 2. In the beginning of August, secretary St. John, who had been created lord viscount Bolingbroke, was sent to the court of Versailles to remove all obstructions to the separate treaty. He was accompanied by Mr. Prior and the abbe Gualtier, and treated with the most distinguished marks of respect. He was caressed by the French king and the marquis de Torcy, with whom he adjusted the principal interests of the duke of Savoy and the elector of Bavaria. 3. At length the treaties of peace and commerce between England and France being agreed on by the plenipotentiaries on either side, and ratified by the queen, she acquainted the parliament of the steps she had taken. 4. The articles of this famous treaty were longer ''an- vassed, and more warmly debated, than those of any other treaty read of in history. The number of different interests concerned, and the great enmity and jealousy subsisting between all, made it impossible that all could be satisfied; and indeed there seemed no other method of obtaining peace but that which was taken, for the two principal powers concerned to make their own articles, and to leave the rest for a subject of future discussion. 5. The first stipulation was, that Philip, now acknow- ledged king of Spain, should renounce all right to the crown of France, the union of two such powerful kingdoms being thought dangerous to the liberties of Europe. It was agreed that the duke of Berri, Philip's brother, and after him in succession, should also renounce his right to the crown of Spain, in case he became king of France. 6. It was stipulated that the duke of Savoy should possess the island of Sicily, with the title of king, together with Fenis . trelles, and other places on the continent; which increase of dominion was in some measure made out of the spoil& of the French monarchy. The Dutch had that barrier 900 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. granted them, which they so long sought after ; and if the crown of France was deprived of some dominions to enrich the duke of Savoy, on the other hand the house of Austria was taxed to supply the wants of the Hollanders, who were put in possession of the strongest towns in Flanders. 7. With regard to England, its glory and its interests were secured. The fortifications of Dunkirk, a harbour that might be dangerous to their trade in time of war, were ordered to be demolished, and its port destroyed. Spain gave up all right to Gibraltar and the island of Minorca. France resigned her pretensions to Hudson's Bay, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland ; but they were left in possession of Cape Breton, and the liberty of drying their fish upon the shore. 8. Among these articles, glorious to the English nation, their setting free the French protestants confined in the prisons and galleys for their religion, was not the least meritorious. For the emperor, it was stipulated, that he should possess the kingdom of Naples, the dutchy of Milan, and the Netherlands. The king of Prussia was to have Upper Guelder ; and a time was fixed for the emperor's acceding to these articles, as he had for some time obsti- nately refused to assist at the negotiation. 0. Thus Europe seemed to be formed into one great republic, the different members of which were cantoned out to different governors, and the ambition of any one state amenable to the tribunal of all. Thus it appears that the English ministry did justice to all the world ; but their country denied that jus- tice to them. f 10. But while the whtgs were attacking the tory minis- ters from without, these v^ere in much greater danger from their own internal dissensions. Lord Oxford and lord Bo- lingbroke, though they had started with the same principles and designs, yet, having vanquished other opposers, now began to turn their strength against each other. Both,began to form separate interests, and to adopt different principles. Oxford's plan was the more moderate ; Bolingbroke's the more vigorous, but the more secure. 11. Oxford, it was thought, was entirely for the Hanoverian succession ; Bo- lingbroke had some hopes of bringing in the pretender But though they hated each other most sincerely, yet they were for a while kept together for the good offices of their friends and adherents, who had the melancholy prospect of seeing the citadel of their hopes, while openly besieged from without, secretly undermined within. . ,, ANNS 301 waf Bo- ender t they their ect of singed 12. This was a mortifvinf^ prospect for the tories ; but it was more particularly displeasing to the queen, who daily saw her favourite minister declining, while her own health kept pace with their contentions. Her constitution was now quite broken. One fit of sickness succeeded another ; and what completed the ruin of her health was the anxiety of her mind. These dissensions had such an effect upon her spirits and constitution, that she declared she could not outlive it, and immediately sunk into a state of lethargic in- sensibility. 13. Notwithstanding all the medicines which the physicians could prescribe, the distemper gained ground so fast, that the day afterwards they despaired of her life, and the privy council were assembled on the occasion. All the members, without distinction, being summoned from the different parts of the kingdom, began to provide for the security of the constitution. 14. They sent a letter to the elector of Hanover, informing him of the queen's desperate situation, and desiring him to repair to Holland, where he would be attended by a British squadron to con- vey him to England. At the same time they despatched instructions to the earl of Strafford, at the Hague, to desire the states-general to be ready to perform the guarantee of the protestant succession. 15. Precautions were taken to secure the sea-ports ; and the command of the fleet was bestowed upon the earl of Berkeley, a professed whig. These measures, which were all dictated by that party, answered a double end. It argued their own alacrity in the cause of their new sovereign, and seemed to imply a danger to the state from the disaffection of the opposite interest. 16. On the thirtieth of July, the queen seemed some- what relieved by medicines, . ose from her bed about eight o'clock, and walked a little. After some time, casting her eyes on a clock that stood in her chamber, she continued to gaze on it for some minutes. One of the ladies in waiting asked her what she saw there more than usual, to which the queen only answered by turning her eyes upon her with a dying look. 17. She was soon after seized with a 6t of apoplexy. She continued all night in a stat& of stu- pefaction, and expired the next morning, in the forty-ninth year of her age. She reigned more than twelve years over a people that was now risen to the highest pitch of refine- ment; that had attained by their wisdom all the advantages 2C I r '7 y (ifr^^ -\ -; .J?'- 802 // C/ HISTORY OF BNOLAIfD. of opulence, and, by thoir valour, all tho happiness of se- curity and conquest.* 'ir.4 Question$ for Examination.'^ 1, 2. What circumBtances proceded the treaty with France t 3, 4. After its conclusion, in what manner was it received? 5. What was the first stipulation f 6. What the next 7 7. How did the treaty regard England f 8. Which article of the treaty was meritorious to the English nation t What were the stipulations regarding the emperor and the king of Prussia f 9. What appearance did Europe now exhibit f 10. What dissension took place between Oxford and Bolingbroke 11. What was thoucht to be their different views f 12. What effect hadfthis disunion on the queen f 13—15. When the queen's life was despaired of, what measures were taken 7 16. What immediately preceded the queen's death t 17. How long did she reign 7 What waa the situation of England at her death t CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Pope. A. D Clement XI 1700 Emperors qf Germany. Leopold 1658 JoRephl 1705 Charles VI 1711 Emperor of the Turks. Muitapha II A. D. Achmetlll 1703 King of France. Louis XIV 1643 King of Spain. Philip V 1700 King of Portugal. 16B< Pedro II 1683 A. D. JohnV 1707 King of Denmark. Frederick IV 1060 King of Sweden. Charles XII 1687 B King of Prussia. Frederick 1 1701 * It has been a subject of general remark, that England flourished more under the reigns of Elizabeth and Anne, than under those of its most distinguished kings. Though th« actions and principles of these princesses were widely differ- ent, yet their reigns were equally remembered with gratitude bythrir t^ubjects, and both of them have acquired the endearing epithets of good queens. With a pleasing countenance and melodious voice, were united in the person of queen Anne those amiable virtues, which add so great a lustre to the charms of beauty, and place the female character in so admirable a light. Good-natured, afTkble and kind ; she was an affectionate wife, a tender mother, a warm A'iend, a gene- rous patroness, and a benevolent and merciful sovereign. Though she was defi- cient in the shining qualities of queen Elizabeth, yet she surpassed that princess in her fondness for her subjects; and as Elizabeth acquired the good will of the English by the greatness of her actions, so Anne was beloved by her people, be- cause she evinced a maternal aflliiction for them. Nor should the fact pass unno- ticed, that notwithstandine the prevalence of factions and the dissensions of par- ties, durins this reian. the olood of no subject was shed for treason. r^nt'iWlsli^-iK- OEOROB I. \ EMINENT PERSONS. 803 CThnrchilt, diiko of Marlborniigh ;• lord llolinnhrnkc ; lir Willinm Temple; Doyle, earl of Urrttry : 8wia ; Biiliiov, oar! of (iiNlolpliin ; llarley, eiirl of Oxfoni ; Murdaunt, earl of l'tit*>rlM)Ci)UKli ; lloward, varl of Hiitlolk ; I). Fiifch, carl of NoUiiiRhnni ; (). (Iroiivllli*, lord LatiMlownn ; Philip, dukn of Wharton : K. lord Kayiiiund: lurd-chajiccllur King : T. lord Pagut ; kJaruli dutclivM uf Marlborough. CHAPTER XXXIV. GEORGE I. Born liMiO. Died June 11, 1737. Began to reign Auguit 1, 1714. Reigned 13| yean. SECTION L She oommon weal ihould be the flnt punuit r the ernwn'd warrior ; for the royal browa 'i'he people flrat enwroathed, — Stmvd. / ' 1. (A. D. 1714.) Pursuant to the act of succession, George the First, son of Ernest Augustus, first elector of^ Brunswick, and the princess Sophia, grand-daughter to * John Churchill, duko«or Marlborough, was the son of air Winaton Churchill, and waa born at Aohe, in Uevonithirc, in lOOU. At the ago of 13 he became page to the duke of York. About \VM hn was made an ensign in the guards, and survetl for some time at Tangier ; and this seems to have decided him in the choice of a profession. He was a great favourite at court, and the duchesa of Cleveland presented him £.5,000, with which he purchased a life-annuity. In MTi he accompanied the duke of Monmouth to the continent aa a captain of arenadiera, and there fought under the great Turenne, with whom ho was known by the name of the handsome Englishman. At the sieire of Maestricht hedis> tinguisliod himself so highly as to obtain the public thanks of thn king of France. Relilrning to England, he advanced f^om one post to another. On the accession of James II., he was created baron Churchill of Sundridge, and on that of Wil. liam and Mary, carl of Marlborough. When Anne took the throne in 1703, ha wns made captaingenoral of all the forces at homo and abroad, and sent plenipo. tentiary to the Hauue, whore he was also made cuptain-seneral by the statea. Thitt was followed by a series of the most splendid campaigns ever made by the armies of England. Out in 1711, he was removed fVom his command by a minis- try that was opposed to him. At the accession of George I. he was reinstated. After assisting in the defeat of the rebellion in 1715, he withdrew from public cinployinents, and died in 17*23, in the 73d year of his age. The dntchess, his widow, a lady of groat ambition and avarice, became very celebrated, and died in 1744, after amassing great wealth. The palace which was built for him by the nation at Wood8to«-k, near Oxford, after his celobrated victory at Blenheim, is ono of the finest atructurea in the kingdom. ♦ij. ■-■ • Blenheim. - * The architect, sir John Vanburgh, has been censured as having built it in too heavy a style ; and this caused the mock epitaph on him to be received witb much fkvour: Lie heavy on him, earth, for he > Laid many a heavy load on thee. ' / /7 f': , ,' ' / / M .1, I.. V. / i J V put iaany consider the criticism unjust. CLj' /e 7 -y 304 HlfTOflY nv KNOLAND. Juinei the Fii. «<cen(1ed tiio Dritish throne. Hif mature ige, he beinfr now fifty-foiir yrars old, hii sagacity and xperionce, his mimerous alliances, and the general tran- v^jillity of Europe, all contributed to establish his interests, and to promise him a peaceable and happy reign. 2. His abii ies, though not shining, werr solid; he was of a Very diflerent u imposition from the Stuart family whom he suc- ceeded. These were known, to a proverb, for leaving their friends in extremity. George, on the contrary, soon after his arrival in England, was heard to say, ** My maxim is, never to abandon my friends, to do justice to all the world, and to fear no man." • 3. To these qualifications of resolution and perseverance he joined great application to business. However, one fault with respect to England remained behind ; he studied the interest of those subjects ne had left more than those he came to govern. 4. The queen had no sooner resigned her breath, than the privy-council met, and three instruments were produced, by which the elector appointed several of his known adhe- rents to be added as lords-justices to seven great officers of the kingdom. Orders also were immediately issued out for proclaiming George, king of EnglatK^ , Scotland, and Ireland. The regency appointed the earl of Dorset to carry him the intimation of his accession to the crown, and to attend him on his journey to England. They sent the general officers, in whom they could confide, to their posts ; they reinforced the garrison of Portsmouth, and appointed the celebrated Mr. Addison secretary of state. 6. To mortify the late ministry the more, lord Bolingbroke was obliged to wait every morning in the passage among the servants with his bag of papers, where there were persons purposely placed to insult and deride him. No tumult appeared, no r < imo- tion arose against the accession c^ the new king, anu tiiirt gave a strong proof that no rational measures w >o. cMtn taken to obstruct his exaltation. 6. When he first landed at Greenwich, he was received by the d;tke of Northumberland, captain of the life-guard, and the k. is of the regency. When he retired to his bed- ehambtr, 1). fcnt I'cr such of the nobility as had distin- guishod iitiiTt lely^s by their zeal for his succession. Bu* the duk( ofOimond, the luH-chancellor, and the lord-trea- surer, found thtniiselves excluded. 7. The king of a faction is but the sovereign of half his fr OEOROK r auo • ..•.:< his •ubjecti. Of this, however, th'' new-clri^tod monarch did not seem to be sensible. It y/nn iiis mivrortiinc, and con- sequently that of the nation, ih:u he wum ''•>mmed round by men who soured him with theii own inturcstfl. Non« now but the leaders of a party were admitted into employmmt. 1'he whigs, while they pretended to bi ;iire the rrown for their king, were, with all possible arts, confirming their own interests, extending their connexions, and giving hw* to the so i're.>7n. 8. An instantaneous and total change was rot'Jc . r. dl Ho offices of trust, honour, and advantage. The 'vhigfl igroto.ned the senate and the court, whom they would h 'V '•ppresBod; bound the lower orders of people with seven laws, and kept them at a distance by vile distinctions ; and taught them to call this — liberty I 0. These partialities soon raised discontents among the pco« pie, and tiie king's attachment considerably increased the discontents throughout the kingdom. The clamour of the church's being in danger was revived. Birmingham, Bris- tol, Norwich, and Reading, still remembered the spirit with which they had declared for Sacheverel ; and now the cry was, " Down with tlie whigs, and Sacheverel for ever !" 10. Upon the first meeting of the new parliament, in which the whigs, with the king at their head, were 'predo- minant, nothing was expected but the most violent measures against the late ministry, nor were the expectations of man- kind disappointed. (A.D. 1714.) 11. The lords professed their hopes that the king would be able to recover the reputation of the kingdom on the con- tinent, the loss of which they affected to deplore. The commons went much further ; they declared their resolution to trace out those measures by which the country was de- pressed; they reso\ved to seek after those abettors on whom the pretende^ seemed to ground his hopes ; and they deter- miiitJ to bring such to condign punishment. 12. It was the artifice, during this and the succeeding reign, to stigmatize all those who testified their discontent against government as papists and Jacobites. All who at- tempted to speak against the violence of their measureb were reproached as designing to bring in the pretender ; and most people were consequently afraid to murmur, since discontent was so near akin to treason. The people, therefore, beheld the violence of their conduct in silent bright, internally dis- approving, yet not daring to avow their detestation. 13. A committee was appointed, consisting of twenty •■>•-' ^" 2c2 /■ (/ " ■y-y^'i^ ■ :<-.«*. . dod HISTORY OF ENGLAND. persons, to inspect all the papers relative to the late negoti- ation for peace ; and to pick out such of them as might serve as subjects of accusation against the late ministry. After some time spent in this disquisition, Mr. Walpole, as chair* man of the committee, declared to the house that a report was drawn up ; and in the mean time moved that a warrant might be issued for apprehending Mr. Matthew Prior and Mr. Thomas Harley, who, being in the house, were imme- diately taken into custody. 14. He then impeached lord Bolingbroke of high-treason. This struck some of the members with amazement : but they were still more asto- nished, when lord Coningsby, rising up, was heard to say, ♦♦ The worthy chairman has impeached the hand, but I im- peach the head ; he has impeached the scholar, and I the master ; I impeach Robert earl of Oxford and the earl of Mortimer of high-treason, and other crimes and misdemeii- nours. >f Questions for Examination, 1. Under what circumstances did George I. ascend the throne ? 2. Whut were his abiUties and disposition ? What was his maxim ? 3. What fault has been attributed to him 7 4. \Vhat was the firetactof the privy council? 5 In what manner was Bolingbroke treated 7 6 By whom was the king received on his landing 7 7 By whom was the king advised, and what was the result 7 8, 9. What did these partialities produce 7 10, 1 1. In what manner did the new parliament act7 12. What did their proceedings produce t 13, 14. For what purpose was a committee appointed 7 SECTION II. Whpre Scotland's nlnud-capped hilla appear, See Mar the rebol fitandard rear : The raiih pretender'* hope* are vain ; Hia followera diapersed ur 8!ain. — Davies. 1. (A.D. 1714.) When lord Oxford appeared in the house of lords the day following, he was avoided by the peers as infectious ; and he had now an opportunity of discovering the baseness of mankind. When the articles were read against him in the ho'jse of commons, a warm debate arose upon that in which he was charged with having advised t}*t French king of the manner of gaining Tournay from the Dutch. 2. Mr. Walpole alleged that it was treason. Sir Joseph Jckyi, a known whig, said that he could never be of opinion that it amounted to treason. It was his principlo \ GEORGE I. 807 he said, to do justice to all men, from the highest to the lowest. He hoped he might pretend to some knowledge of the law, and would not scruple to declare, upon this part of the question, in favour of the criminal. 3. To this Wal- pole answered, with great warmth, that there were several persons, both in and out of the committee, who did not in the least yield to that member in point of honesty, and ex- ceeded him in the knowledge of the laws, and yet were satisfied that the charge in that article amounted to high- treason. 4. This point being decided against the earl, and the other articles proved by the house, the lord Coningsby, attended by the whig members, impeached him soon after at the bar of the house of lords ; demanding, at the same time, that he might lose his seat, and be committed to cus- tody. When this point came to be debated in the house of lords, a violent altercation ensued. Those who still adhered to the deposed minister, maintained the injustice and danger of such proceedings. 5. At last the earl himself rose up, and with great tranquillity observed, that, for his own part, he always acted by the immediate directions and command of the queen, his mistress : he had never offended against any known law, and was unconcerned for the life of an in- significant old man. Next day he was brought to the bar, where he received a copy of his indictment, and was allow- ed a month to prepare his answer. Though Dr. Mead de- clared, that if the earl should be sent to the Tower his life would be in danger, it was carried in the house that he should be committed. 6. At the same time the duke of Ormond and lord Boling- broke, having omitted to surrender themselves (for they had actually fled to the continent) within a limited time, it was ordered that the earl-marshal should rase out their names and arms from among the list of peers ; and inventories were taken of their estates and possessions, which were declared forfeited to the crown. 7. Lord Oxford being confined in the Tower, he continued there for two years, during which time the nation was in a continual ferment, from an actual rebellion that was carried on unsuccessfully. After the execution of some lords, who were taken in arms, the nation seemed glutted with blood, and that was the time that lord Oxford petitioned to be brought to trial. 8. He knew that the fury of the nation was spent on objects that v/ere really culpable, and expected that hia case would look like innocence itseF compared to 308 HISTORY OF ENOLAND. theirs. A day, therefore, at his own request, was assigned him, and the commons were ordered to prepare for their charge. At the appointed time the peers repaired to the court in Westminster-hall, where lord Cowper presided as lord high steward. 0. But a dispute arising between the lords and commons, concerning the mode of his trial, the lords voted that the prisoner should be set at liberty. To this dispute he probably owed the security of his title and fortune ; for, as to the articles importing him guilty of high- treason, they were at once malignant and frivolous, so that his life was in no manner of danger. 10. In the mean time these vindictive proceedings excited the indignation of the people, who perceived that the ave- nues to royal favour were closed against all but a faction. The flames of rebellion were actually kindled in Scotland. The earl of Mar, assembling three hundred of his own vas- sals in the Highlands, proclaimed the pretender at Castle- down, and set up his standard at a place called Braemaer, assuming the title of lieutenant-general of his majesty's forces. 11. To second these attempts, two vessrls arrived in Scotland from France, with arms, ammunition, and a number of oiTicers, together with assurances to the earl, that the pretender himself would shortly come ovsr to head his own forces. The earl, in consequence of ihis promise, soon found himself at the head of ten thousand men, well armed «nd provided. 12. The duke of Argyle, apprized of his in- tentions, and at any rate willing to prove his attachment to the present government, resolved tn give him battle in the neighbourhood of Dumblain, though his forces did not amount to half the number of the enemy. After an engagement, which continued several hours, in the evening both sides ilrew off, and both side* claimed the victory. 13. Though the possession of the field was kept by neither, yet certainly nil the honour and all the advantages of the day belonged to the duke of Argyle. It was sufficient for him to have inter- rupted the progress of the enemy ; for, in their circumstances, delay was defeat. The earl of Mar soon found his disap' pointment and losses increase. The castle of Inverness, ot which he was in possession, was delivered up to the king by lord Lovat, who had hitherto professed to act in the in- terest of the pretender. ' 14. The marquis of Tullibardine forsook the earl, in order to defend his own part of the coun- try ; and many of the clans, seeing no likelihood of coming soon to a second engagement, returned quietly home * for GEORGE I. 309 A an irregular army is much easier led to battle than induced to bear the fatigues of a campaign. 15. In the mean time the rebellion was much more un- successfully prosecuted in England. From the time the pretender had undertaken this wild project at Paris, in which the duke of Ormond and lord Bolingbroke were engaged, lord Stair, the English ambassador there, had penetrated all his designs, and sent faithful accounts of all his measures, and all his adherents, to the ministry at home. Upon the first rumour, therefore, of an insurrection, they imprisoned several lords and gentlemen, of whom they had a suspicion. 16. The earls of Home, Wintown, Kinnoul, and others, were committed to the castle of Edinburgh. The king ob- tained leave from the lower house to seize sir William Wyndham, sir John Packington, Harvey Combe, and others. The lords Lansdowne and Duplin were taken into custody. Sir William Wyndham's father-in-law, the duke of Somer- set, offered to become bound for his appearance, but his surety was refused. Questions for Examination, 1. What was the conduct of the jpeera towards lord Oxford ? 2. In what way vas he defended bv sir John Jekylf 3. What was the answer of Walpofe ? 4. Who impeached the earl of Oxford before the lords ? 5. What answer did his lordship make to the charge ? 6. What proceedings were taken against Ormond and Bolingbroke 7 7. In what state was the nation at this time ? 8. Under what circumstances did Oxford request his trial 1 9. What occasioned his ))eing set at liberty ? 10. What excited the indignation of the people ? II — 14. Relate tlie particulara of the rebellion of Scotland. 15. Who, penetrating into the wild project of the pretender, sent accounti of all his measures ? IG. Who were imprisoned in consequeuce ? SECTION III. Swift to the north his troopa he leads O'er rnpid floods nnd hills of snow ; No toil the fflorioiis march impedes That bears iho Briton to the foe. — Anon 1. (A.D. 1715.) All these precautions were not able to stop the insurrection in the western counties, where it was already begun. However, aii their preparations were weak and ill-conducted, every measure was betrayed to government as soon as projected, and many revolts suppressed in the very outset. 2. The university of Oxford was treated with great severity on this occasion. Major-general Pepper, with DIO HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ^.. a strong detachment of dragoons, took possession of the ^ity at daybreak, declaring that ho Avould instantly shoot any of the students who should presume to appear without the limits of their respective colleges. The insurrections in the norlheni counties came to greater maturity. 3. In the month of Oc- tober, 1715, the earl of Derwcntwater, and Mr. Forstcr, took the field with a large body of horse, and being joined by some gentlemen from the borders of Scotland, proclaimed the pretender. Their first attempt was to seize upon New- castle, in which they had many friends, but they found tho gates shut against them, and were obliged to retire to Hex- am. 4. To oppose these, general Carpenter was detached by government witli a body of nine hundred men, and an engagement was hourly expected. The rebels had pro- ceeded by the way of Kendal and Lancaster to Preston, of which place they took possession without any resistance. dut this was the last stage of their ill-advised incursion ; for general Wills, at the head of seven thousand men, came up to the town to attack them, and from his activity there was no escaping. 5. They now, therefore, began to raise barri- cados, and to place the town in a posture of defence, repuls- ing the first attack of the royal army with success. Next day, however. Wills was reinforced by Carpenter, and the town was invested on all sides. In this deplorable situation, to which they were reduced by their own rashness, Forster hoped to capitulate with tl^e general, and accordingly sent colonel Oxburgh, who had been taken prisoner, with a trumpeter, to propose a capitulation. 6. This, however, Wills refused, alleging that he would not treat with rebels, and that the only favour they had to expect was to be spared from immediate slaughter. These were hard terms, yet no belter conld be obtained. They accordingly laid down their arms, and were put under a strong guard ; all the noblemen and leaders were secured, and a few of the officers tried for deserting from the royal army, and shot by order of a court- martial. The common men were imprisoned at Chester and Liverpool ; the noblemen and considerable officers were sent to London, and le 1 throu; h the streets, pinioned and bound t'> ether, to intiiiidate tl eir party. 7. Th»' pretender might, by this time, have been con- vinced of the vanity of his expectations, in supposing that tho wluiie country would rise up in his cause. His affairs were actually desperate ; yet, with his usual infatuation, he resolved to hazard his person among his friends in Scotland; f I OBOROE I. 311 nt a time when such a measure was too late for success. 8. Passinf^, therefore, through France in disguise, and cmbarii- ing in a small vessel at Dunkirk, he arrived, after a passage of a few days, on the coast of Scotland, with only six gen- tlemen in his train. He passed unknown through Aberdeen to Feterosse, where he was met by the earl of Mar, and about thirty noblemen and gentlemen of the first quality. 9. There he was solemnly proclaimed. His declaration, dated at Commercy, was printed and dispersed. He went from thence to Dundee, where he made a public entry, and in two days more he arrived at Scoon, where he intended to have the ceremony of the coronation performed. He order- ed thanksgivings to be made for his safe arrival ; he enjoined the ministers to pray for him in their churches ; and, with- out the smallest share of power, went through the ceremo- nies of royalty, which threw an air of ridicule on all his conduct. 10. Having thus spent some time in unimportant parade, he resolved to abandon the enterprise with the same levity with which it was undertaken. Having made a speech to his grand council, he informed them of his want of money, arms, and ammunition, for undertaking a campaign, and therefore deplored that he was compelled to leave them. He once more embarked on board a small French ship that lay in the harbour of Montrose, accompanied by several lords, his adherents, and in five days arrived at Gravelin. 1 1 . In this manner ended a rebellion, which nothing but imbecility could project, and nothing but rashness could support. But though the enemy was no more, the fury of the victors did not seem in the least to abate with success. The law was now put in force with all its terrors ; and the prisons of London were crowded with those deluded wretches, whom the ministry seemed resolved not to pardon. 12. The commons, in their address to the crown, declared they would prosecute in the most rigorous manner the authors of the late rebellion. In consequence of which the earls of Derwentwater, Nithisdale, Carnwath, and Wintown, the lords Widrington, Kenmuir, and Nairne, were impeached, and, upon pleading guiJiy, all but lord Wintown received sentence of death. No entreaties could soften the ministry to spare these unhappy men. The countess of Derwent- water, with her sister and several other ladies of the first dis- tinction, being introduced into the presence of the king, be- souffht his clemency for her husband, but without effect. 13. Orders were despatched for executing the lords Der- 812 HISTORY OF ENGLAND Counteii of Derwentwate; iDtereedins for her bnibuidt wentwater, Nithisdale, and Kenmuir immediately ; the rest were respited to a farther time. Nithisdale, however, had the good fortune to escape in women's clothes, which were brought to him by his mother, the night before he was to have been executed. Derwentwater and Kenmuir were brought to the scaffold on Tower-hill at the time appointed. Both underwent their sentence with calm intrepidity, pitied by all, and seemingly less moved themselves than those who beheld them. 14. In the beginning of April, commissioners for trying the rebels met in the court of common pleas, when bills were found against Mr. Forster, Mr. Mackitosnh, and twenty of their confederates. 15. Forster escaped from Newgate, and reached the con tinent in safety ; the rest pleaded not guilty. Pitts, the keeper of Newgate, being suspected of having connived at Forster's escape, was tried for his life, but acquitted. Yet, notwithstanding this, Mackintosh and several other prisoners broke from Newgate, after having mastered the keeper and turnkey, and disarmed the sentinel. 16. The court pro- ceeded to the trial of those that remained : four or five were hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn ; two-and-twenty were executed at Preston and Manchester ; and about a thousand prisoners experienced the king's mercy, if such it might be called, to be transported to North America. 17. A rupture with Spain, which ensued some time aftei OEORGE I. 313 served once more to raise the declining expectations of the pretender and his adherents. It was hoped that, by the assistance of cardinal Alberoni, the Spanish minister, a new insuirection might be carried on in England. The duke of Ormond was the person fixed upon to conduct this expedi- tion ; and he obtained from the Spanish court a fleet of ten ships of war and transports, having on board six thousand regular troops, with arms for twelve thousand more. 18. But fortune was still as unfavourable as ever. Having set sail, and proceeded as far as Cape Finieterre, he was encoun- tered by a violent storm, which disabled his fleet, and frus- trated the expedition. This misfortune, together with the bad success of the Spanish arms in Sicily, and other parts of Europe, induced Philip to wish for peace ; and he at last consented to sign the quadruple alliance. This was at that time thought an immense acquisition, but England, though she procured the ratification, had no share in the advantage of the treaty. Questions for ExamirutUon, I Of what nature was the insurrection in the western countiai t 2. In what manner was the university of Oxford treated f 3. By whom was the pretender first proclaimed ? 4. Relate the manner in which they were opposed. 5. 6. What was tine result of the siege of Preston f 8, 9. What was the next proceeding of the pretender T 10. What was his conduct on abandoning this enterprise f 11. What was the conduct of the victors ? What was the declaration of the commons ? and what was the com* quence ? What orders were now despatched f 14 — 16. Relate the (nrticulars which regarded the other rebels. 17. What rupture raised the declimng hopes of tlie pretender ? J 18. What was the result ? 12. 13. aftei SECTION IV. The South Sea bubble now appean. Which caused gome etniles, some countlew tears. And set half Europe by the aan. — Dibdin. 1. (A.D. 1721.) It was about this time that one John Law, a Scotcl.man, had cheated France by erecting a cora- {>any under the name of the Mississippi, which promised that deluded people great wealth, but which ended in involv- ing the French nation in great distress. It was now that the people of England were deceived by a project entirely si.nilar, whiph is remembered by the name of the South 9D .^- 814 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. £.. Sea Scheme, and which was felt long after by thousands. 2. To explain this as concisely as possible, it is to be ob- served, that ever since the revolution under king William, the government, not having had sufficient supplies granted by parliament, or what was granted requiring time to be collected, they were obliged to borrow money from several different companies of merchants, and, among the rest, from that company which traded to the South Sea. The South Sea company having made up their debt to the government ten millions, instead of six hundred thousand pounds, which they usually received as interest, were satisfied with five hundred thousand pounds. 3. It was in this situation of things that one Blount, who had been bred a scrivener, and was possessed of all the canning and plausibility requisite for such an undertaking, proposed to the ministry, in the name of the South Sea company, to buy up all the debts of the different companies of merchants, and thus to become the sole creditor of the state. 4. The terms he offered to government were ex- tremely advantageous. The South Sea company was to redeem the d^bts of the nation out of the hands of the private proprietors, who were creditors to the government, upon whatever terms they could agree on ; and for the interest of this money, which they had thus redeemed, and taken into their own hands, they would be contented to be allowed by government, for six years, five per cent. ; then the interest should be reduced to four per cent. ; and should at any time be redeemable by parliament. 5. But now came the part of the scheme big with fraud and ruin. As the directors of the South Sea company could not of them- selves be supposed to possess money sufficient to buy up the debts of the nation, they were empowered to raise it by opening a subscription to a scheme for trading to the South Seas, from which commerce immense ideal advantages were promised by the cunning directors, and still greater expected by the rapacious credulity of the people. All persons, therefore, who were creditors to the government, were invited to come in, and exchange their stocks for that of the South Sea company. 6. The directors' books were no sooner opened for the first subscription, than crowds came to make the exchange of their stock for South Sea stock. The delusion was art- fully continued and spread. Subscriptions in a very fev days fold for double the price they had been bought at. OBOROB I. 1115 the lange art- fev it at. The scheme succeeded even beyond the projectors* hopes, and the whole nation was infected with a spirit of avaricious enterprise. The infatuation prevailed ; the stock increased to a surprising degree, and to nearly ten times the value of what it was subscribed for. 7. After a few months, however, the people awoke from their dreams of riches, and found that all the advantages they expected were merely imaginary, while thousands of families were involved in one common ruin. . 8. The principal delinquents were punished by parlia- ment with a forfeiture of ail such possessions and estates as they had acquired during the continuance of this popular phrensy, and some care also wad taken to redress the suf- ferers. The discontents occasioned by these public calami- ties once more gave the disaffected party hopes of succeed- ing. But in all their councils they were weak, divided, and wavering. 9 The first person that was seized upon suspicion was Francis Atterbury, bishop of Rochester, a prelate long ob- noxious to the present government, and possessed of abilities to render him formidable to any ministry he opposed. His papers were seized, and he himself confined to the Tower. Soon after the duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Orrery, the lord North and Grey, and some others of inferior rank, were ar- rested and imprisoned. Of all these, however, only the bishop, who was banished, and one Mr. Layer, who was hanged at Tyburn, felt the severity of government, the proofs against the rest amounting to no convictive evidence* 10. The commons about this time finding many abuses had crept into the court of chancery, which either impeded justice or rendered it venal, they resolved to impeach the chancellor, Thomas earl of Macclesfield, at the bar of the house of lords, for high crimes and misdemeanors. 11. This was one of the most laborious and best contested trials in the annals of England. The trial lasted twenty days. The earl proved, that the sums he had received for the sale of places in chancery had been usually received by former lord jhanceilors; but reason told that such receipts were contrary to strict justice. Equity, therefore, prevailed above precedent ; the earl was convicted of fraudulent prac- tices, and condemned to a fine of thirty thousand pounds, with imprisonment till the sum should be paid, which was accordingly discharged about six weeks after. 12. In this manner, the corruption, venality, and avarice 816 iiirruRV or England. of the times had increased with the riches and luxury of the nation. Commerce introduced fraud, and wealth introduced prodigality. It must be owned that the parliament made some new efforts to check the progress of vice and immorality, which now began to be diffused through every rank of life. But they were supported neither by the co-operation of the ministry, nor the voice of the people. ''■ 13. It was now two years since the king had vis)ted his electoral dominions of Hanover. He, therefore, soon after the breaking up of the parliament, prepared for a journey thither. {A. D. 1727.) Having appointed a regency in his absence, he embarked for Holland, and lay upon his land- ing at a little town called Voet. Next day he proceeded on his journey, and in two days more, between ten and eleven at night, arrived at Delden, to all appearance in pet- feet health. 14. He supped there very heartily, and conti* imed his progress early the next morning, but between eight and nine ordered his coach to stop. It being per- ceived that one of his hands lay motionless. Monsieur Fa- brice, who had formerly been servant to the king of Swe- den, and who now attended king George, attempted to quicken the circulation, by chafing it between iiis hands. 15. As this had no effect, the surgeon, who followed on horseback, was called, and he also rubbed it with spirits. 6oon after the king's tongue began to swell, and he had just •trength enough to bid them hasten to Osnaburgh. Then falling insensibly into Fabrice's arms, he never recovered, but expi. ed about eleven o'clock the next morning, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and the thirteenth of his teifp\. \y- i*. Queattonafor Examination, **^ 1. What was the conduct of the South Sea scheme ? S. Explain the nature of it ,., 3. What proposition was made to the ministiy 7 ^•' r 4. What were the terms? 5. What part of the scheme wasfuU of fraud and ruin ? 6. What success attended it? 8. How were the principal delinquents punished 7 9. What persons were now seized as obnoxious to govemtnent 7 10. On what charge was the earl of Ma<:cle»field impeached 7 11. Relate the particulars of his trial. ' -- j ■. ' 12. What was now the state of the nation 7 13. About what time did the king prepare to visit his electoral dominions 7 14. What happened on his progress thither ? 15. In what iuanner did t!ie king die ? and what was his age ! ; t!U^ SEOMIB II. <* SIT ,.4 , 1 n-^t-i ,fe IX)NTEMF0RARY 80VEREK1N& Popti. A.D. Iterant XlT. 1700 *.inooent XIII 1721 BcaeJiuXlII 1784 Emperor of O tr mm ny. CharlMVI 1711 Emperor of the 7Vrl(S. \chraetlll 17US Emperor if Rvittm. i'elet the Graat, Ant emperor........ J72S. Emprtu qf /ZuMM. A.O. Catherine I. 1786 Kimgi of FVeiuw. Louie XIV. 1«43 Louie XV 1715 King tf Spain, Philip V 1700 King (f Poftugul. Johi»V 1707 EMINENT PER80N& King <f Denmark. Frederick IV im King and Queen (f Sweden. CharleeXII 1697 Utricia Leenora... 17 IB '^"V ^ Pruttia. Frederic II 171^ Sir William Windham. Sir Robert Wal pole. William Pulteneyr. Franoie, *»iihop Atlerbury. iuhn, lord Hervey. Jokn Perceval, earl of Egmoot, *rr. .ne? J CHAPTER XXXV. {v, GEORGE IL Born 1683. Died October 85. 1760. Began to reign June 11, 1737. , . .. 33^ yean. Reigned SECTION I. , The roril lire to mlmi orbliu ramovad> (Likfl the famed phonix) Troro tiie mrre shall ipriat ' > Bucoeieive Geortee, graciom Mid beloved. And iiood aud ciorioei as the parent tdag.—CmiutintkeM. 1. (A.D. 1727.) Upon the death of George the First, hii son George the Second came to the crown ; a man of infe- rior abilities to the late king, and strongly biased with a partiality to his dominions on the continent. The chief person, and he who shortly after engrossed the greatest share of power under him, was cjir Robert Walpole, who had risen from low beginnings, through two successive reigns, into great estimation. 2. He was considered as a martyr to his cause in the reign of queen Anne ; and when the tory party could no longer oppress him, he still pre- served that hatred against them with which he set out. To defend the declining prerogative of the crown might, per- haps, have been the first object of his attention ; but soon after, those very measures by which he pretended to secure it, proved the most effectual means to lessen it. By cor- rupting the house of commons, he increased their richef ¥ 3n2 816 NIITORV or ICNOLANO. and power ; and they were not avcrie to voting away thofe millions which he permitted them so liberally to share. 3. As such a tendency in him naturally produced opposi* lion, he was possessed of a most phlegmatic insensibility to reproach, and a calm dispassionate manner of reasoning upon such topics as he desired should be believed. His discourse was fluent, but without dignity, and his manner convineing, from its apparent want of art. 4. The Spaniards were the first nation who showed the futility of the treaties of tl" former reign to bind, when any advantage was to be prouuced by infraction. The people cS our West India Islands had long carried on an illicit trade with the subjects of Spain upon the continent, but whenever detected, were rigorously punished, and their cargoes confiscated to the crown. 6. Li this temerity of adventure, on the one hand, tind the vigilance of pursuit and punishment on the other, it must often have happened that the innocent must suffer with the guilty, and many complaints were made, perhaps founded in justice, that the English merchants were plundered by the Spanish king's vessels upon the southern coast of America, as if they had been pirates. 6. The English ministry, unwilling to credit every report which was inflamed by resentment, or urged by avarice, expected to remedy the evils complained of by their favourite system of treaty, and in the mean time promised the nation redress. At length, however, the complaints became more general, and the merchants remonstrated by petition to the house of commons, who entered into a deliberation on the subject. 7. They examined the evidence of several who hau been unjustly seized, and treated with great cruelty. One man, the master of a trading vessel, had been used by tlie Spaniards in a most shocking manner ; he gave in his evidence with great precision, informed the house of the manner they had plundered and stripped him, of their cut- ting off his ears, and their preparing to put him to death. *' I then looked up," said he, ** to my God for pardon, and to ray country for revenge." 8. These accounts raised a flame among the people, whicn It was neither the minister's interest nor perhaps that of the nation to indulge ; new negotiations were set on foot, and new mediators offered their interposition. A treaty was signed at Vienna, between the emperor, the king of Great Britain, and the king of Spain, which settled the \ ..'» atOKOE It. 8fO pe&ee of Europe upon its former footing, and put oflf the threatening wnr for a time. 0. By this treaty the king of Kngland coacf'ived hopes that all war would be at an end. Don Carlos, upon ;he death of the duke of Parma, was, by the assistance of an English fleet, put in peaceable posses- sion of Parma and Placentia, while six thousand Spaniards were quietly admitted, and quartered in the dutchy of Tus- cuny, to secure for him the reversion of that dukedom 10. An interval of peace succeeded, in which nothing remarkable happened, and scarcely any contest ensued, ex- cept in the British parliament, where the disputes between the court and country party were carried on with unceasiivg animosity. 11. (A.D. 1731.) A society of men, in this interested age of seeming benevolence, had united themselves into a company, by the name of the Charitable Corporation ; and their professed intention was to lend money at legal interest to the poor, upon small pledges, and to persons of higher rank upon proper security. Their capital was at first limited to thirty thousand pounds, but they afterwards increased it to six hundred thousand. 12. This money was supplied by subscription, and the care of conducting the capital was intrusted in a proper number of directors. This company having continued for more than twenty years, the cashier, George Robinson, member for Marlow, and the warehouse- keeper, John Thompson, disappeared in one day. Five hundred thousand pounds of capital was found to be sunk and embezzled by means which the proprietors could not discover. 13. They, therefore, in a petition, represented to the house the manner in which they had been defrauded, and the distress to which many of the petitioners were re- duced. A secret committee being appointed to examine into this grievance, a most iniquitous scene of fraud was discovered, which had been carried on by Robinson and Thompson, in concert with some of the directors, for em bezzling the capital, and cheating the proprietors. Many persons of rank and quality were concerned in this infamous conspiracy ; and even some of the first characters in the nation did not escape censure. 14. A spirit of avarice and rapacity infected every rank of life about this time : no less than six members of parliament were expelled for the most sordid acts of knavery. Sir Robert Sutton, sir Archibald G rant, and George Robinson, for their frauds in the manage- ment of the Charitable Corporation scheme : Dennis Bond adO HISTORY OP ENGLAND. and sorjoant Birch, fur a fraudulent lale of tlie Inte uiifortu nate carl of Dorwentwnter^M lar^u eutato ; and, lastly, John Ward, of Hackney, for forgery. 16. Luxury hud given birth to prodigality, and that was the parent of the nieanusi arts of peculation. It was asserted in the house of lords, Ht that time, that not one shilling of the forfeited estates was over applied to the service of tho public, but became the reward of fraud and venality. Quest iona for Examination, 1. By whom wm tieorgo tiio Firat Hucceedei'l 7 * Who engruMod thu gronleiit Hhan) of power uniler him ? 2, 3. Whiit ineiuiurflH did WnliHile |niniiie? what wim Ilia character t 4) 5. Under what (tinMtinHiniuHtN did tlie diiiput« with H|)ain originate f (}. What waM llio coiidiict of iliti liInuliHlt laiiiiHtry f 7. Relate tito evidence of oite who hud been treated with great cruielty hy the HiHiniurdii. H. What Tor u time prevented the threatening warT 10, In tho interval of (Msace did any thing remarkable happen ? 11. What waa the origin of the CMiaritalilo Corix>rutiun T 13. By wliom waa ita cttpihii cmbeiasied ? 13. What followed liio detection of tliia fraud ? 14. What mombera of parliament woro expelled for the moat aordid acta oT knavery ? 1ft. What remarkable oaaertion waa made in the house of lords nt thia timef SECTION II. ¥■■> R ■« OrSnain diuntiiflod once moro wo tell { On Eni|land*a iriuntplii, tuu, tlio miiiu miiiht dwoll And ung how Vernon ruuifit and Purto Bello fell.— Dibdi 1. (A. D. 1732.) A scH£Mi2, set on foot by sir Robert Walpole, soon aiXer engrossed the attention of the public, which was to fix a general excise. The minister introduced it into the house, by going into detail of the frauds practised by the factors in London, who were employed by the Ame- rican planters in selling their tobacco. 2. To prevent these frauds, he proposed, that, instead of having the custom levied in the usual manner upon tobacco, all hereafter to be imported should be lodged in warehouses appointed for that purpose by the officers of the crown ; that it should from thence bo sold, upon paying the duty of fourpence a pound, when tho proprietor found a purchaser. 3. This proposal raised a violent ferment, not less within doors than without. It was asserted that it would expose the factors to such hardships, that they would not be able to continue their trade, and that OEOKafi II. 891 such a scheme would not even prevent the frauds complained of. It wuH ndded, that a number of additional excisemen and warehouse-keeperei would tliua be employed, which would at once render the ministry formidable, and the poo|)le dependent. 4. Huch were the arf^umenta made umu of to 8tir up the citizenti to oppose this law : arguments rather specious than solid, since, with all its diMadvuntaf^es, tlie tax upon tobacco would thus be more safely and expeditiously collected, and the avenues to numberless frauds would bo shut up. The people, however, were raised into such a fer- ment, that the parliament-house was surrounded with mul- titudes, who intimidated the ministry, and compelled tlieni to drop the design. The miscarriage of the bill was cele- brated with public rejoicings in London and Westminster, and the minister was burned in elHgy by the populace of London. 6. Ever since the treaty of Utrecht, the Spaniards in America had insulted and distressed the commerce of Great Britain, and the British merchants had attempted to carry on an illicit trade in their dominions. A right which the Dnn;' lish merchants claimed by treaty, of cutting logwood in ihu bay of Campeachy, gave them frequent opporti:nilies of pushing in contraband commodities upon the continent ; so that, to suppress the evil, the Spaniards were resolved to an- nihilate the claim. 0. This liberty of ^;utting logwood had often been acknowledged, but n.ever clearly ascertained ; in all former treaties it was considered as an object of too littlo importance to make a se|)arate article in any negotiation. The Spanish vessels appointed for protecting the coast con- tinued their severities upon the English ; many of the sub- jects of Britain were sent to dig in the mines of Potosi, and deprived of all means of conveying their complaints to those who might send them redress. 7. One remonstrance fol- lowed another to the court of Madrid of this violation of treaty ; but the only answers given were promises of inquiry, which produced no reformation. Our merchants complained loudly of these outrages, but the ministers vainly expected from negotiations that redress which was only to be obtained by arms. 8. The fears discovered by the court of Great Britain only served to increase the insolence of the enemy ; and their guard-ships continued to seize not only all the guilty, but the innocent, whom they found sailing along the Spanish mai(*. At last, however, the complaints of the EngU»li 822 HISTORY OF ENGLAND merchants were loud enough to interest (hu house of com* inons ; their letters and memorials were produced, and their grievances enforcfed by council at the bar of the house. 0. It was soon found that the money which cJpain had agreed to pay to the court of Great Britain was withheld, and no rea- son assigned for the delay. The minister, therefore, to gratify the general ardou., and to atone for his former deficiencies, assured the house that he would put the nation in a condition for war. Soon after, letters of reprisal were granted against the Spaniards ; and this being on both sides considered as an actual commencement of hostilities, both diligently set forward their armaments by sea and land. 10. In this threatening situation, the French minister at the Hague de- clared that his master was obliged by treaty to assist the king of Spain ; so that the alliances, which but twenty years before had taken place, were now quite reversed. At that time France and England were combined against Spain ; at present France and Spain were united against England ; such little hopes can statesmen place upon the firmest trea- ties, where there is no superior power to compel the observ- ance. 11. (A. D. 1730.) A rupture between England and Spain being now become unavoidable, the people, who b ad long clamoured for war, began to feel uncommon alacrity at its approach ; and the ministry, finding it inevitable, began to be as earnest in preparation. Orders were issued for aug- menting the land forces, and raising a body of marines. War was declared with proper solemnity, and soon after two rich Spanish prizes were taken in the Mediterranean. 12. Admiral Vernon, a man of more courage than expe- rience, of more confidence than skill, was sent as comman- der of a fieet into the West Indies, to distress the enemy in that part of the globe. He had asserted in the house oi commons, that Porto Bello, a fort and harbour in South America, could be easily destroyed, and that he himself would undertake to reduce it with six ships only. 13. A project which appeared so wild and impossible was ridiculed by the ministry ; but as he still insisted upon the proposal, they complied with his request, hoping that his want of suc- cess might repress the confidence of his party. In -his, how- ever, they were disappointed ; for with six ships only he attacked and demolished all the fortifications of the place, and came away victorious with scarcely the loss of a man. Tills victory was magnified at home in all the strains of OCOROK II. 823 at its gan to aug- nes. after panegyric, and the triumph was far superior to the value of the conquest. 14. While vigorous preparations were making in other departments, a squadron of ships was equipped for distress- ing the enemy in the South Seas, the command of which was given to commodore Anson. This fleet was destined to sail through the Straits of Magellan, and, steering northwards along the coast of Chili and Peru, to co-operate occasionally with admiral Vernon across the isthmus of Darien. The delays and mistakes of the ministry frustrated that part of the scheme, which was originally well laid. 15. When it was too late in the season, the commodore set out with five ships of the line, a frigate, and two smaller ships, with about fourteen hundred men. Having reached the coast of Brazil, he refreshed his men for some time on the island of St. Catherine, a spot that enjoys all the fruitfulness and verdure of the luxurious tropical climate. From thence he steered . downward into the cold and tempestuous regions of the south ; and in about five months after, meeting a terrible tempest, he doubled Cape Horn. 16. By this time his fleet was dis- persed, and his crew deplorably disabled with the scurvy ; so that with much difliculty he gained the delightful island of Juan Fernandez. There he was joined by one ship, and a vessel of seven guns. From thence advancing northward, he landed on the coast r>f Chili, and attacked the city of Paita by night. 17. In this bold attempt he made no us« of his shipping, nor even disembarked all his men ; a few soldiers, favoured by darkness, sufliced to fill the whole town with terror and confusion. The governor of the gar- rison, and the inhabitants, fled on all sides ; accustomed to be severe, they expected severity. In the mean time a small body of the English kept possession of the town for three days, stripping it of treasures and merchandise tO(^ considerable amount, and then setting it on fire. Queatioru for Examination, 1. What scheme now engrossed the public attention? 2. How did the minister propose to effect it ? 3. What were the arguments used in opposition to this measure t 4. What was their success ? 6- From what cause originated the dispute with Spain ? 6. What was the conduct of the Spaniards ? 7. What measures were taken by the English merchants 7 8. What continued to be the conduct of the enemy ? V. What induced the minister to gratify the general ardour of tb« natioo In what manner did the war commence ? 824 HISTORY OF BNOLAND. 10. Under whnt pretence did Frnnce (uaiNt S|iain 7 i 11. What WM the i'ooling of the iwopln nt tlio approach of the wart 12. What (litl admiral Vornoti aHHort in Ihu huiwe of cuinmonit 13. ReUite tho tiiuu:viM of thiv itxiuHlition. 14 — 17. DnHcriho tho procomhn^N of tho Mpmdron under oommodoro Anaon» fVoni itH auiliiig to tlio taking of Paita. SECTION III. Diit wiml nro wrnnthp in hnilln won ? Anil whiit Ihn trilMiio iil' niinixo Which nmn liKt <il\ niiiilnloiii \tnyn To llie vain idol thrino oiTttliit ronown. -- .^noN. 1. (A.D. 1740.) Soon after, this small squa'lron advanced as far as Panama, situated on the istlimus of Darien, on tho western side of the great American continent. The com- modore now placed all his hopes in taking one of thoHo valuable Spanish ships which trade from the Philippine islands to Mexico. JNot above one or two at the most of these immensely rich ships went from one continent to tho other in a year ; they were, therefore, very large, in order to carry a sufficiency of treasure, and proportionably strong to defend it. 2. In hopes of meeting with one of these, the commodore, with his little fleet, traversed the Pacific Ocean ; but tho scurvy on'se more visiting his crew, several of his men died, and almost all were disabled. In this exigence, having brought all his men into one vessel, and set fire to another, he steered for tlie island of Tinian, which lies about halfway between the new world and the old. > 3. In this charming abode he continued for some time, till his men recovered their health, and his ship was refitted fur sailing. Thus refitted, he set forward for China, where he laid in proper stores for once more traversing back that immense ocean, in which he had before suffered such incredible dif- ficulties. 4. Having accordingly taken some Dutch and Indian sailors on board, he again steered towards America, and at length, after various toils, discovered the Spanish gal- leon he had so long and ardently expected. This vessel was built as well for the purpose of war as for merchandise. It mounted sixty guns and five hundred men, while the crew of the commodore did not amount to half that number. 5. However, the victory was on the side of the English, and they returned home with th-eir prize, which was esti- mated at three hundred and thirteen thousand pounds ster- ling, while the diiTefent captures that had been made before amounted to as much more. Thus, after a voyage of three OEOROE II. 826 before threq yeari, conducted with astoniMhin^ perseverance and intro- piditVi the public sustained the loss of a noblo tleet, but a few individuals became possessed of immense riches. 0. In the mean time the English conducted other opera- tions af^ainst the enemy with amazing activity. When Anson sot out, it was with a design of acting a subordinate part to a formidable arnmment designed for the coast of Now iSpain, consisting of twenty-nine ships of the line, and almost an equal number of frigates, furnished with all kinds of warlike stores, nearly fifteen thousand seamen, and as many land-forces. Never was a fleet more completely equipped, nor never had the nation more sanguine hopes of success. Lord Cathcart was appointed to command the land-forces; but he dying on the passage, the command devolved upon general Wentworth, whose abilities were supposed to be unequal to the trust reposed in him. 7. When the forces were landed at Carthagena, they erected a battery, with which they made a breach in the principal fort, while Vernon, who commandcid the fleet, sent a number of ships into the harbour to divide the Are of the enemy, and to co-operate with the army on shore. 8. The breach being deemed practicable, a body of troops were commanded to storm ; but the Spaniards deserted the forts, which, if possessed of courage, they might have de- fended with success. The troops, upon gaining this advan- tage, were advanced a good deal nearer the city ; but there they met a much greater opposition than they had expected. 0. It was found, or at least asserted, that the fleet could not lie near enough to batter the town, and that nothing re- mained but to attempt one of the forts by scaling. The leaders of the fleet and the army began mutually to accuse each other, each asserting the probability of what the other denied. At length, Wentworth, stimulated by the admiral's reproach, resolved to try the dangerous experiment, and ordered that fort St. Lazare should be attempted by scalade. 10. Nothing could be more unfortunate than this undertak- ing ; the forces marching up to the attack, the guides were slain, and they mistook their way. Instead of attempting the weakest part of the fort, they advanced to where it was the strongest, and where they were exposed to the fire of the town. Cfdonel Grant, who commanded the grena- diers, was killed in the begir.-«ing. 11. Soon after it was found that their scaling ladders were too short; the oflicf rs Were perplexed for want of orders, and the troops stood rj^- 2E w'''"iS'-- 326 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. posed to the whole fire of the enemy, without knowing how to proceed. After bearing a dreadful (ire for some hours with great intrepidity, they a', length retreated, leaving six hundred men dead on the spot. 12. The terrors of the climate soon began to be more dreadful than those of war the rainy season came on with such violence, that it was impossible for the troops to continue encamped ; and the mortality of the season now began to attack them in all its frightful varieties. To these calamities, sufficient to quell any enterprise, was added the dissension between the land and sea commanders, who blamed each other for every failure, and became frantic with mutual recrimination. They only, therefore, at last, could be brought to agree in one mortifying measure, which was to re-embark the troops, and withdraw them as quickly as possible from this scene of slaughter and contagion. 13. This fatal miscarriage, which tarnished the British glory, was no sooner known in England, than the kingdom was filled with murmurs and discontent. The loudest burst of indignation was directed at the minister ; and they who once praised him for success he did not merit, condemned him now for a failure of which he was guiltless. 14. (A. D. 1741.) The minister, finding the indignation of the house of commons turned against him, tried every art to break that confederacy, which he knev/ he had not strength to oppose. The resentment of the people had been raised against him to an extravagant height ; and their lead- ers taught them to expect very signal justice on their sup- posed oppressor. At length, finding his post untenable, he declared he would never sit more in that house ; the next day the king adjourned both houses of parliament for a few days, and in the interim sir Robert Walpole was created earl of Orford, and resigned all his employments. 15. But the pleasure of his defeat was but of short dura- tion ; it soon appeared that those who declared most loudly for the liberty of the people, had adopted new measures with their new employments. The new converts were branded as betrayers of the interests of their country ; but particularly the resentment of the people fell upon Pulteney, earl of Bath, who had long declaimed against that very conduct he now seemed earnest to pursue. 16. He had been the idol of the people, and considered as one of the most illustrious champions that had ever defended the cause of freedom; but allured, perhaps, with the hope of gu- OEOROE II. 327 irerning in Walpole's place, he was contented to give up his popularity for ambition. The king, however, treated him with that neglect which he merited ; he was laid aside for life, and continued a wretched survivor of all his formei importance. Questions for Examination, 1 — 4. Relate briefly the further proceedincB of the squadron under camino dore Anson till the capture of the rich Spanish galleon. 5. What wns the result of this enterprise ? f». What other operations were undertaken ? 7 — 9. Describe tne particulars of fio siege of Carthagena. 10, 11. What causes rendered it u. luccessful ? 12. What WON then the situation of the English troops? 13. What was the cuiiH0(|ueiice of this miscarriage? 14. \yhat was the minister's conduct? 15. Did tl»e conduct of his successors render them favourites of the people t On whom particularly did the public resentment fall f 16. In what light had Pulteney formerly been considered by the people ? ) •0 y\ SECTION IV. Hy turns oach nrmy Knin* the vantnire ground, Tliu cannons roar, and curnoBe Bpreutin around. — Duncan. 2. (A. D. 1740.) The emperor dying in the year 1740, the French began to think this a favourable opportunity for exerting their ambition once more. Regardless of treaties, particularly that called the Pragmatic sanction, by which the reversion of all the late emperor's dominions was set- tled upon his daughter, they caused the elector of Bavaria to be crowned emperor. Thus the queen of Hungary, daughter to Charles the Sixth, descended from an illustrious line of emperors, saw herself stripped of her inheritance, and left for a whole year deserted by all Europe, and without any hopes of succour. 2. She had scarcely closed her father's eyes, when she lost Silesia, by an irruption of the young king of Prussia, who seized the opportunity of her defenceless state to renew his ancient pretensions to that province, of which it must be owned his ancestors had been unjustly deprived. France, Saxony, and Bavaria attacked the rest of her dominions ; England was the only ally that seemed willing to' espouse her helpless condition. Sardinia and Holland soon after came to her assistance, and last of all Russia acceded to a union in her favour. 3. It may now be demanded what cause Britain had to intermeddle in those continental schemes. It can only be answered, that the interests of Hanover, and the security I ( 828 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. V of that electorate, depended upon nicely balancing the dif- ferent interests of the empire ; and the English ministry were willing to gratify the king. ' 4. Accordingly the king isent a body of English forces into the Netherlands, which he Lad augmented by sixteen thousand Hanoverians, to make a diversion upon the do- minions of France, in the queen of Hungary's favour ; and by the assistance of these the queen of Hungary soon began to turn the scale of victory on her side. 5. The French were driven out of Bohemia. Her general, prince Charles, at the head of a large army, invaded the dominions of Ba- varia. Her rival, the nominal emperor, was obliged to fly before her ; and being abandoned by his allies, and stripped of even his hereditary dominions, retired to Frankfort, where he lived in obscurity. 6. (A. D. 1743.) The French, in order to prevent the junction of the Austrian and British forces, assembled an army of sixty thousand men on the river Mayne under the command of marshal Noailles, who posted his troops upon the east side of that river. The British forces, to the num- ber of forty thousand, pushed forward on the other side into a country where they found themselves entirely destitute of provisions, the French having cut off all means of their being supplied. 7. The king of England arrived at the camp while his army was in this deplorable situation ; wherefore he resolved to penetrate forward to join twelve thousand Hanoverians and Hessians, who had reached Hanau. With this view he decamped ; but before his army had reached three leagues, he found the enemy had enclosed him on every side, near a village called Dettingen. 8. Nothing now presented themselves but the most mor* tifying prospects. If he fought the enemy, it must be at the greatest disadvantage ; if he continued inactive, there was a certainty of being starved ; and a retreat for all was impos- sible. The impetuosity of the French troops saved his whole army. They passed a defile, which they should have been contented to guard : and, under the command of the duke of Grammont, their horse charged the English foot with great fury. They were received with intrepidity and ..'(^solution ; so ihat they were obliged to give way, and repass the Mayne with precipitation, with ihe loss of five thousand men. 9. Meanwhile the French went on with vigour on every side. They oroiectsd an invasion of England : and Gharlea, V r*~j' OEOROE II. 329 the son of the old pretender, departed from Rome, in the disguise of a Spanish courier, for Paris, where he had an audience of the French king. 10. The family had long been the dupes of France ; but it was thought at present there were serious resolutions formed in their favour. The troo'^s destined for the expedi- tion amounted to fifteen thousand men ; preparations were made tor embarking them at Dunkirk, and some of the ports nearest to England, under the eye of the young pretender. 11. The duke de Roquefeuiile, with twenty ships of the line, was to see them safely landed in England ; and the fii- mous count Saxe was to command them when put on shore. But the whole project was disconcerted by the appearance of sir John Norris, who, with a superior fleet, made up to attack them. The French fleet was thus obliged to put back ; a very hard gale of wind damaged their transports beyond redress ; and the French, now frustrated in their scheme of a sudden descent, thought flt openly to declare war. 12. The French, therefore, entered upon the war with great alacrity. They besieged Fribourg, and in the begin- ning of the succeeding campaign invested the strong city of Tournay. Although the allies were inferior in number, and although commanded by the duke of Cumberland, yet they resolved, if possible, to save the city by hazarding a battle. They accordingly marched against the enemy, and took posi in sight of the French, who were encamped on an eminence, the village of St. Antoine on the right, a wood on the left, and the town of Fontenoy before them. 13. This advan- tageous situation did not repress the ardour of the English, who began the attack at two o^clock in the morning, and, pressing forward, bore down all opposition. They were for nearly an hour victoriojusj^^ajiii^confident of success, while Saxe, a soldier of fortun^, wKocomrHantled-the Frtach army, was at that time sick ofthe same disorder of which he after- wards died. However, he was carried about to all the posts in a litter, and assured his attendants that, notwithstanding all unfavourable appearances, the day was his own. 14, A column of the English, without any command, but by mere mechanical courage, had advanced upon the enemy's lines, which, opening, formed an avenue on each side to re- ceive them. It was then that the French artillery on the three sides began to play on this forlorn body, which, though they continued for a long lime unshaken, were obliged at last to retreat. 2e2 930 historv of knoi.and. IS. This was one of the most bloody battles that had been fought in this age ; the allies left on the field nearly twelve thousand men, and the French bought their victory Avith nearly an equal number of slain. This blow, by which Tournay was taken by the French, gave them such a manifest superiority all the rest of the campaign, that they kept the fruits of their victory during the whole continuance of the war. Questions for Examination, 1. On tho death of the emperor of Austria, what was the conduct of tht French ? 2. Describe the situation of the emperor's daughter. 3. What cause had Britain tu intcnneddlo in continental schemes T 4. 5. Witit whatsucccHs was Britain's interference attended 7 6—8. Relate the circumstances which preceded and attended the battle of Dettingeii. 9. What other project did the F'rench endeavour to effect ? 10, 11. What success attended tlieir r'^asures? 12. What preceded the battle of Foiuenoy? 13,14. Relate the parlicu.orK of this battle. 15. What loss did each side experience ? ■A. /■■ \ SECTION V. Rut Ftill to (iiirhon the ilrond elnoni of war, MiRKiii<i«<l t^toiirt (trnw roliellion'* iword: ' E'on l)iirl)}r fiaw hiH vounling Itiinnor* wiivo, And ScotUih diiefiaini hailed tiiin as their lurd.-~ Pd/py. 1. (A.D. 1745.) But though bad success attended the British arms by land and sea, yet these being distant evils, the English seemed only to complain from honourable mo- tives, and murmured at distresses of which they had but s. very remote prospect. A civil war was now going to bo kindled in their own dominions, which mixed terrors with their complaints ; and which, while it increased their per- plexities, only cemented their union. 2. It was at this period that the son of the old pretender resolved to make an effort for gaining the British crown. Charles Edward, the adventurer in question, had been bred in a luxurious court without partaking of its effeminacy. He was enterprising and ambitions ; but, either from inex- perience or natural inability, utterly unequal to the bold un- dertaking. He was long flattered by the rash, the supersti- tious, and the needy : he was taught to bdipve that the kingdom was ripe for a revolt, and that it could no longer bear the immense load of taxes with which it was burdened. fore, furnished v.'ith so.'ne ruoney, and 3 1^#«..^«w w%«^.*r ^VtAV • lacing IIU TT , IrllVl 'r,>' OGOROE II. 831 Mrith still larger promises from France, who fanned his am- bition, he emitted for Scotland on board a small frigate, accompanied by the iftarquis of TuUibardine, sir Thomas Sheridan, and a few other desperate adventurers. Thus, for the conquest of the whole British empire, he only brought with him seven officers, and arms for two thousand men. 4. The boldness of this enterprise astonished all Europe. It awakened the fears of the pusillanimous, the ardour of the brave, and the pity of the wise. But by this time the young adventurer was arrived at Perth, where the unnecessary ce- remony was performed of proclaiming his father king of Great Britain. 5. From thence, descending with his forces from the mountains, they seemed to gather as they went for- ward ; and, advancing to Edinburgh, they entered that city without opposition. There again the pageantry of procla- mation was performed ; and there ]\k promised to dissolve the union, which was considered as one of the grievances of the country. However, the castle of that city still held out, and he was unprovided with cannon to besiege it. 6. In the mean time, sir John Cope, who had pursued the rebels through the HighlantJs, but had declined meeting them in their descent, being now reinforced by two regi- ments of dragoons, resolved to march towards Edinburgh, and give the enemy battle. The young adventurer, whose forces were rather superior, though undisciplined, attacked him near Preston-pans, about twelve miles from the capital, and in a few minutes put him and his troops to flight.. 7. This victory, by which the king lost five hundred men, gave the rebels great influence ; and had the pretender taken ad- vantage of the general consternation, and marched directly for England, the consequence might have been fatal to free- dom. But he was amused by the promise of suc^yur > which never came ; and thus induced to remain at Edinburgh, to enjoy the triumphs of an unimportant victory, and to be treated as a monarch. 8. While the young pretender was thus trifling away his time at Edinburgh (for, in dangerous enterprises delay is but defeat), the ministry of Great Britain took every precaution to oppose him >/ith success. Six thousand Dutch troops, that had come over to the assistance of the crown, were despatch- ed northward^ under the command of general Wade. The duke of Cumberland soon after arrived from Flanders, and M'as followed by another detachment of dragoons and in- fantry, well disciDlinal, and inured to action. 883 HIS'VOPY OF ENGLAND. these, volunleem offered in every part of the kingdom ; ami every county exerted a vigorous spirit of indignation both against the ambition, the religion, and the allies of the young pretender. 9. However, he had been bred in a school that taught him maxims very diflcrent from those that then prevailed in England. Though he might have brought civil war, and all the calamities attending it with him, into the kingdom, ho had been taught that the assertion of his right was a duty incumbent upon him, and the altering the constitution, and perhaps the religion of his country, an object of laudable ambition. 10. Thus animated, he went forward with vi- gour ; and having, upon frequent consultations with his offi- cers, come to a resolution of making an irruption into Eng- land, he entered the country by the western border, and invested Carlisle, which surrendered in less than three days. He there found a considerable quantity of arms, and there too he caused his father to bo proclaimed king. 11. General Wade, being apprized of his progress, ad- vanced across the country from the opposite shore ; but re- ceiving intelligence that the enemy was two days' march before him, he retired to his former station. The young pretender, thus unopposed, resolved to penetrate farther into the kingdom, having received assurances from France that a considerable body of troops would be landed on the south- ern coasts, to make a diversion in his favour. 12. He was flattered also with the hopes of being joined by a considera- ble number of malecontents as he passed forward, and that his army would increase on his march. Accordingly, leav- ing a small garrison in Carlisle, which he should rather have left defenceless, he advanced to Penrith, murching on foot in a Highland dress, and continued his irnii tion till he came to Manchester, where he established his head-quarters. \ 13. He was there joined by about two hundred English, /who were formed into a regiment, under the command of co- / lonel Townley. From thence he pursed his march to Derby, ' intending to go by the way of (Jtiester into Wales, where ^ he hoped to be joined by a great number of followers ; but \ the factions among his own chiefs prevented his proceeding \ to that part of the kingdom. ^ 15 He was by this time advanced within a hundred miles of the capital, which was filled with perplexity and consternation. Had he proceeded in his career with that expedition which he had hitherto used, he might have made \ OEOROE II. 33.'} himself master of the metropolis, where he would certainly have heen joined by a considerable number of his well- wishers, who waited impatiently for his approach. Queationa for Examination. 1. What wu the lituation of Knglanil at this time f 2. By whom wiu nn ofiurt maile to gain the F.ngliih crown f 3. Under what circiimaianc«ii was it undertaken ? 6. What were the first pmoeedingH of Ihn pretender? 6. With what lurcesn (lid ho utracit Hir John Cot)e ? 7. What we're the coiifloqiioncoH uf thin victory r 8. What procaiitionB were taken by the Knghah ministry Y What won the conduit of the pretender? 11. By whom was an attempt made tu oppose him? and what was iti r»> suit? 12. Tu what places did he next proceed ? I'i By whom was he joined ? and whither did he next march ? 14. VVhat might have been the result had he prriceeded with expedition? SECTION VI. II>-riitoil youth : Ciilliulpn'i lilondy finid Hunk tho viiin mlirica nrnmbiii<in low ; PrdMKd with I'liiKiin, nnd hiinidir, InnK ho roamml. Mid icunci ordtinRor and mid lightt of woe.— Ftupv 1. (A.D. 1745.) In the mean time the king resolved to take the field in person. But he found safety from the discontents which now began to prevail in the pretender's army. In fact, he was but ''io luminal leader of his forces : as his generals, the chief ot the highland clans, were, from their education, ignontiit, and averse to subordination. Thev had from the beginning began to embrace opposite systems of operation, and Va contend with each other for pre-emi- nence ; but they seemed now unanimous in returning to their own country once more. 2. The rebels accordingly effected their retreat to Carlisle without any loss, and from thence crossed the rivers Eden and Solway, into Scotland. In these marches, however, they preserved all the rules of war ; they abstained in a great measure from plunder; they levied contributions on the towns :is they passed along ; and with unaccountable caution left a garrison at Carlisle, which shortly after was obliged to surrender to the duke of Cumoerland at discre- tion, to the number of four hundred men. 3. The pretender being returned to Scotland, he proceed ed to Glasgow, from which city he exacted severe contribu lions. He advanced from thence to Stirling, where he wai» joined by lord Lewis Gordon, at the head of some forces, 334 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. which had been assembled in his absencfj. Other clans, to the number of two thousand, came in likewise ; and from some supplies of money which he received from Spain, and from some skirmishes, in which he was successful against the royalists, his affairs began to wear a more promising as- pect. 4. Being joined by lord Drummond, he invested the castle of Stirling, commanded by general Blakeney ; but the rebel forces, being unused to sieges, consumed much time to no purpose. It was during this attempt that general Haw- ley, who commanded a considerable body of forces near Edinburgh, undertook to raise the siege, and advanced to- wards the rebel army as far as Falkirk. After two days spent in mutually examining each other's strength, the re- bels being ardent to engage, were led on, in full spirits, to attack the king's army. 5. The pretender, who was in the front line, gave the signal to engage, and the first fire put Hawley's forces into confusion. The horse retreated wit^* precipitation, and fell upon their own infantry ; while ine rebels following up the blow, the greatest part of the royal army fied with the utmost precipitation. They retired in confusion to Edinburgh, leaving the conquerors in posses- sion of their tents, their artillery, and the field of battle. Thus far the affairs of the rebel army seemed not unpros- perous ; but here was an end of all their triumphs. The duke of Cumberland, at that time the favourite of the Eng- lish army, had been recalled from Flanders, and put him- self at the head of the troops at Edinburgh, which consisted of about fourteen thousand men. 7. With these he advanced to Aberdeen, where he was joined by several of the Scotch nobility, attached to the house of Hanover ; and having revived the drooping spirits of his army, he resolved to find out the enemy, who retreated at his approach. After having refreshed his troops at Aberdeen for some time, he renewed his march, and in twelve days he came up to the banks of the deep and rapid river Spey. This was the place where the rebels might have disputed his passage, but they lost every advantage in disputing with each other. 8. They seemed now totally void of all counsel and subordination, without conduct, and without unanimity. After a variety of contests among each other, they resolved to wait their pursuers upon the plains of Culloden, a place about nine miles distant from Inverness, embosomed in hills, «!xcept on that side which was open to the sea. There they drew up in oruer oi Daitie, lu ihe numoer ui eight thuUsaud lueii, ui GEORGE II. 335 three divisions, supplied with some pieces of artillery, ill manned and served. 9. The battle began about one o'clock in the afternoon ; the cannon of the king's army did dreadful execution among the rebels, while theirs was totally unserviceable. One of the great errors in all the pretender's warlike measures, was his subjecting wild and undisciplined troops to the forms of artful war, and thus repressing their native ardour, from which alone he could hope for success. 10. After tliey had kept in their ranks and withstood the English fire for some time, they at length became impatient for closer engagement ; and about five hundred of them made an irruption upon the left wing of the enemy with their accustomed ferocity. T) ' first line being disordered by this onset, two battalions ad .iced to support it, and galled the enemy with a terrible close discharge. 11. At the same time the dragoons, under Hawley, and the Argyleshire militia, pulling down a park wall feebly defended, fell among them, sword in hand, with great slaughter. In less than thirty minutes they were totally routed, and the field covered with their wounded and slain, to the number of three thousand men. The French troops on the left did not fire a shot, but stood inac- tive during the eitgagement, and afterwards surrendered tl jygm selves prisoners of war. 12. An entire body of the clans marched off the field in order, while the rest were routed with great slaughter, and their leaders obliged with reluctance to retire. Civil war is in itself terrible, but much more so when heightened by unnecessary cruelty. How guilty soever an enemy may be, it is the duty of a brave soldier to remember that he is only to fight an opposer, and not a suppliant. 13. The victory was in every respect decisive, and humanity to the conquered would have ren- dered it glorious. But little mercy was shown here ; the conquerors were seen to refuse quarter to the wounded, the unarmed, the defenceless ; some were slain who were only excited by curiosity to become spectators of the combat, and soldiers were seen to anticipate the base employment of the executioner. 14. The duke, immediately after the action, ordered six-and-thirty deserters to be executed. The conquerors spread terror wherever they came ; and, after a short space, the whole country round was one dread- ful scene of plunder, slaughter, and desolation ; justice wa£» forgotten, and vengeance assumed the name. ' ! 336 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Questiona for Examination* 1. What WM the situation of the pretender's army f 2. To what place did the rebels retreat} 3. By whom were they joined ? 4. What succefls attended thorn in besieging Stirling castle 1 Who attempted to rnise the sipge ? 5. With whut siuu-esH did the rebels attack the royal army f G. What ended their triumphs '/ 7. What waP the rondiict of the duke of Cumberland? 8. What wns the determination of the rebel army ? What wiu the amount of their forces ? 9—12. Holato the purticidars and result of the battle ot' Cullodea 13, 14. What was the conduct of the conquerors? SECTION V[I. Thn qnnlily of mnrr.y i« not itrninnd ; ]t ilroppiiih tm tho Kimilii rnin t'rom hnnvnn Iflioii tlin plai'Q lieni'Htli : it I* ivvinft blnwiml ; It lilussoth him ihiit tiv&t and liim that iako: — Shaktveare, 1. (A.D. 1746.) In this manner were blasted all the hopes and all the ambition of the yoimg adventurer ; one short hour deprived him of imaginary thrones and sceptres, and reduced him from a nominal king to a distressed, forlorn outcast, shunned by all mankind except those who sought his destruction. To the good and the brave, subsequent distress often atones for former guilt; and while reason would speak for punishment, our hearts plead for mercy. 2. Immediately after the engagement, he fled away with a captain of Fitz-james's cavalry, and, when their horses were fatigued, they both alighted, and separately sought for safety. He for some days wandered in this country, naturally wild, but now rendered more formidable by war, a wretched spectator of all those horrors which were the result of his ill-grounded ambition. 3. There is a striking similitude between his adventures and those of Charles the Second upon his escape from Worcester. He sometimes found refuge in caves and cottages, without attendants, and dependent on the wretched natives, who could pity, but not relieve him. Sometimes he lay in forests, with one or two companions of his dis- tress, continually pursued by the troops of the conqueror, as there was a reward of thirty thousand pounds offered for taking him dead or alive. 4. Sheridan, an Irish adven::. turer, was the persociwhojcept mnatjaitl^ft^lly by hini. and inspiredTTmi with cour^gewWpport such inc redib le hard- ships. He had occasion^, in the course oftils concealment*} to trust his life to the fidelity of above fifty individuals, OEOROK II. 337 whose veneration for his family prevailed aoove their ava- rice. 5. One day, having walked from morning till night, he ventured to enter a house, the owner of which he well knew was attached to the opposite party. As he entered lie addressed the master of the house in the following man- ner : ** The son of your king comes to beg a littlo oreud, and a few clothes. I know your present attachment to my adversaries, but 14)elieve you have sufficient honour not to abuse my confidence, or to take advar ^ . of tny distressed situation* Take these rags, that have for some time beim my only covering : you may probably restore them to me one day, when I shall be sealed on the throne of Great Britain.*' 6. The master of the house was touched with pity at his distress ; he assisted him as far as ho was able, and never divulged the secret. There were few of those, who even wished his destruction, that would choose to be the imrr ''''*te actors in it, as it would have subjected them /^to tiie r - lent of a numerous party. 7. h :: '.^ manner he continued to wander among the frightful wilds of Glengary for near six months, often uemmcd round by his pursuers, but still rescued by some lucky accident froni the impending danger. At length a privateer of St. Maloes, hired by his adherents, arrived in Lochnanach, in which he embarked in the most wretched attire. He was clad in a short coat of black frieze, thread- bare, over which was a common Highland plaid, girt round by a belt, from whence were suspended a pistol and a dag- ger. He had not been shifted for many weeks ; his eyes were hollow, his visage wan, and his constitution greatly impaired by famine and fatigue. 8. He was accompanied by Sullivan and Sheridan, two Irish adherents, who had shared all his calamities, together with Cameron of Lochiel, and his brother, and a few other exiles. They set sail for France : and, after having been chased by two English men-of-war, they arrived in safety at a place called Roseau, near Morlaix, in Bretagne. Perhaps he would have found it more difficult to escape, had not the vigilance of his .pr^i- suers been relaxed by a report that he was already slain. 9. In the mean time, while the pretender was thus pur- sued, the scaffolds and the gibbets were preparing for his adherents. Seventeen officers of the rebel army were hanged, drawn, and quartered, at Kennington-common, in tue neighbourhood of liondon. 2F I'heir constancy in Uealh '■^■^■"•*'" 388 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. \ gained more proselytes to their cause than even perhaps their victories would have obtained. Nine were executed in the same manner at Carlisle, and eleven at York. A few obtained pardon, and a considerable number of common men were tr nsported to the plantations in North America. 10. The earls of Kilmarnock and Cromartie, and the lord Balmerino, were tried by their peers, and found guilty. Cromartie was pardoned, and the rest were beheaded on Tower-hill. In this manner victory, defeat, negotiation, treachery, and / rebellion, succeeded each other rapidly for some years, till I all sides began to think themselves growing more feeble, \ and gaining no solid advantage. "^ 11. A negotiation was, therefore, resolved upon; and the contending powers agreed to come to a congress at . 'Aix-la-Chapelle, where the earl of Sandford and sir Thomas ' Robinson assisted as plenipotentiaries from the king of / Great Britain. This treaty was begun upon the preliminary / condition of restoring all conquests made during the war. ^- 12. From thence great hopes were expected of conditions ' both favourable and honourable to the English ; but the treaty still remains a lasting mark of precipitate counsels and English disgrace. By this it was agreed, that all pri- soners on cnch side should be mutually restored, and all conquests given up. That the dutchies of Parma, Placentia, and Guastalla, should be ceded to don Philip, heir-apparent to the Spanish throne, and to his heirs ; but in case of his succeeding to the crown of Spain, then these dominions \ should revert to the house of Austria. 13. It was con- L.iirmed that the fortifications of Dunkirk to the sea should be demolished ; that the English ships annually sent with slaves to the coast of New Spain should have this privilege continued for four years ; that the king of Prussia should be confirmed in the possession of Silesia, which he had lately conquered ; and that the queen of Hungary should be secured in her patrimonial dominions. 14. But one article of this peace was more displeasing and afflictive to I the English than all the rest. It was stipulated that the j king of Great Britain should, immediately after the ratifica- ! lion of this treaty, send two persons of rank and distinction ] o France, as hostages, until restitution should be made of ; Cape Breton, and all other conquests which EngWnd had made during the war. 15. This was a mortifying clause; b\\\ to add to the general error of the negotiation, no men OBOilOK II. 88» tion was made of the searching the vessels of England in the American seas, upon which the war was originally begun. The limits of their respective possessions in North America were not ascertained ; nor did they receive any equivalent for those forts which they restored to the enemy. 16. The treaty of Utrecht had long been the object oi re- proach to those by whom it was made ; but with all its faults, the treaty now concluded was by far more despicable and erroneous. Yet such was the spirit of the times, that the treaty of Utrecht was branded with universal contempt, and the treaty of Aix-ia-Chapelle was extolled with the highest strains of praise. 17. This treaty, which some asserted would serve for a bond of permanent amity, was, pro-srly speaking, but a temporary truce ; a cessation from hostilities, which both sides were unable to continue. Though the war between England and France, was actually hushed up in Europe, yet in the East and West Indies it still went forward with undir..Inished vehemence ; both sides still willing to offend, still offending, and yet both complaining of the infraction. Questions Jw' Examination. 1,2. In what situation wh the pretender after the batttoof Culloden i 3. Whose adventures did his resemble ? ^..1 > 4. Who was his most faithful attendant f 6. In what manner did he address one of his opponents t ' 7. By what means did ilie escape ? and what was his appearance t 8. By whom was he accompanied ? 9. In what manner were his adherents punished ? 10. What noblemen were beheaded ? 11. What led to a negotiation between Great Britain and Spain t 12. What hopes were expected from this treaty ? What was the result f 13. What were its conditions 1 14. Which article of t! 3 peaee was very displeasing ia the English T 15. What was another error in the negotiatiou? 16. What opinion was held of this treaty f SECTION VIIL In dUtaat climes we wcge unequal wmr, ; And transatlantic broils our comlurt mar. — Joneit I. (A. D. 1750.) A NEW colony having been formed in North America, in the province of Nova Scotia, it was thought that thither the waste of aa exuberant nation might well be drained off; and those bold spirits kept in employ- ment at a distance, who might be dangerous if suffered to continue in idleness at home. Nova Scotia was a place •tA' ii^n^dlt:Liii,Jei, .1 xoauLi ^ <.. .,.,^.,-.. »iO iiiMTOiiY or Kr^ai.AND. whorf m<in mi^ht hn impriNonrd, hut wot mnintnined ; it wni ooUl, barren, imtl incnpiibln of RiiorrRiiriil cnltivntion. tf. Thfl new oolony, thnrelore, whm innintuinod thrro with n»nw rxponvn to thn f(ovcninHiitt in tho hnginningf; luul mucIi an >vrr(t p«",mitl«Mi noon vfvni Routhward to tlio ntildrr cliuiatrii, whern they were invited by an tintenanted and Irrtile noil. Tluii did the nation unf(raterully nend off her hardy veterann to periwh on inhoiipitabhf nhoreH, and this tliey were tanght to believe wonhl extend their dominionx. i). However, it wan for thin barren spot that the Knglinh nnd French revived the war, which noon nl'ier spread with ttnuh terrible devaKtation over every part td' the globe. The native Indianii bordering npon the denertH ot' Nova Ncotin, a llerco and ravage people, htoked Ironi the lirNt with jealonny upon theMO new Metllerti ; and they coiiMidered the vicinity of the l*<ngliHh an an encroachment upon their nativn pi»H- neHHionn, 4. The French, who were neighbo\ir«, in lik<» manner, and who were Htill impreRnrd with national aninio- itity, romenled tht'se MUMpicionti in the nativeii, and repre- sented the Fnglifth (and with regard to thin colony the reprenenialion might Iw? true) as enlerprlHing and wcveie, C'Ommi«Harle« were, therefore, appointed to me(<t at I'.irin, to compromiMe thcHo dit<puteM ; hot thoM<i eonlurenceR were rendered abortive by the cavillings of uwn, who could not be supposed to und'^rMtand the Hubject in debate. 0. As this seemed to be the lirtit [dace where the dissen- sions took their rise for a \w\v war, it may be necessary to be A little more minute. The French liad been the fuMt oullivntors of Nova Hcolia, and by great induNtry and long pt^rseverance bad rendered the soil, naturally barren, sonn;- wbat fertile, and capable of Hu^tnining natlkre, with some assistance from l''uri»pe. This country, however, had fre- quently changed maHters, until at length the r<!ngliMh were settled in the possession, and acknowledged as the righlfid owners, by the treaty of Utrecht. 0. The possesMion of this "ountry was reckoned necessary to defend the Fnglish colonies to the north, and to preserve their superiority in the fisheries in that part of the world. Tho French, however, who had been long settled in the back part of tho country, resolved to use every method to dispossess the new-coin(M's, and spirited up tho Indians to more open hostilities, which wore represented to the English ministry for some tin\o vvltho"t redress. 7, Suon after this, another iource of dispute began to ht ommoH II. 811 lib •Qon in the lamo part of tlio world, and proniiMsd m inuuh liuvu (iiMCovorei) tho niouili of tlio rivor MiitMiNiiipm, clitiinod ilio wliolo luljnoonl country towariU Now Muxiim) on tlin oitNt, Hiid quito to thfl Apidnrliimi inountuirtM on tlin wont. H. Ill ordor to nnitort tlioir cluiiiii, ihoy foutul Muvoriil KiigiiMli, who Imd MoUlcd boyond tlicKn iiiountiiiiiM from motivoN of ooiiiinorco, nnd uUo iiivilrd by tlio iiuturul UrautioH of i\w voiiiitry ; tboy diNpoNHt^MMod ibom of tiioir now MottltinuMilN, und built Hucb ftutH un would coininiuid tho wliolo country iMtind iibout. U. Not in Ainorinu Hlono, but nUo in Atdn, the nvm\n of a now war woro propiiriiif^ to bo oxpimdod. On the couhIn of Midubar, tlio I'tii^lish and Fnuioh lind, in fMCt, novor couNod front hoHtiiiiioH. (A. U. 17A0.^ Tho miiiiHtry, howuvor, in JCnghmd now bo^fi^i a very vigorouH cxorlion in dofonco of thoir colunioa, who rofuMuu to dofond thoinHolvoM. Four opnratiun* woro undvrtuken in Amoriou at tlio aumo timo. Of thoaot ono was cominandod by colonul Monckton, who had ordora to drivo tho Fruiich from tho oncroaclunonta u[K)n the provinou of Nova Scotia. 10. Tho aooond, more tu tho aouth, waa diroctod again«t Crown Point, undor tho command of gono- rul JohiiMon. Thclhlrd, nndor tho conduct of (ronoral Hhir* loy, waa doHtinod to Niagara, to acouro tho lorta on that rivor; and tho fourth wua farther Mouthwurd atill, againat fort dii^Quoano, undor general Braddock. .-.k. ItV^ln thoMo oxpuditiona Monckton waa auccosaful ; Johnaon alao waa viclorioua, though ho failod in taking tho fort againat which ho waa aont ; Shirley waa thought to have loat tho aeaaon for operation bv delay ; Braddock waa vigoroua and active, but fluflerod a ilefuat. Thia bold corn- inundor, who had been recom mended to thia aervico by the duke of Cumborland, act forward upon thia expedition in June, and left the cultivated pnrta of the country on tho 10th, at the head of two thouaand two hundred men, directing \m march to that part of the country whence major Waahington had retreated the year before. 12. Being at length within ton miloa of the French forlreaa ho waa appointed to bcaiege, and marching forward through the foreat with full confidence of Bucceaa, on a sudden hia whole army waa astoniahed by a general discharge of arms, both in front and flank, from an enemy that still remained unseen. It was now too lata to think of retreatinir : the troops had passed into the deiils < /? rvK uA^ 4 fir*" 2r8 / /-/ t' / / .142 HISTORY OF BNOLAND. '/ > which the enemy had artfully permitted them to do before they offered to fire. 13. The vanguard of the English now, therefore, fell back in consternation upon the main body, and the panic soon became general. The officers alone disdained to fly, while Braddock himself still continued to command his brave associates, discovering at once the greatest intrepidity and the greatest imprudence. 14. An enthusiast to the discipline of war, he disdained to fly from the field, or to permit his men to quit their ranks, when their only method of treating the Indian army was by pre* cipitate attack, or an immediate desertion of the field of battle. At length Braddock, having received a musket-shot through the lungs, dropped, and a total confusion ensued. All the artillery, ammunition, and baggage of the army was left to the enemy ; and the loss sustained by the English army might amount to seven hundred men. The remnant of the army in this emergency was saved by the courage and ability of Washington. 15. The murmurs, fears, and dissensions which this defeat gave rise to, gave the French an opportunity of car- rying on their designs in another quarter. The island of Minorca, which we had taken from the Spaniards in the reign of queen Anne, was secured to England by repeated treaties. But the ministry at this time, being blinded by domestic terrors, had neglected to take sufficient precaution for its defence, so that the garrison was weak, and no way .fitted to stand a vigo^'ous siege. 16. The French, there- fore, landed near the fortification of St. Philip, which was reckoned one of the strongest in Europe, and commanded by general Blakeney, who was brave indeed, but rather superamiuated. The siege was carried on with vigour, and for some time as obstinately defe*^ded on the side of the English ; but the place was at length obliged to capitulate. ^ QueatioTU for Examination, 1, 2. From what motive was the new colonv in Nova Scotia fumiihed with inhabitants? y'' S. V.'hat was the cause of the renewal of t\« war 7 <. Where were commissaries appointed to meet to settle these disputes T Wliat rendered these conferences abortive? Who had been the drst cultivators of^ova Scotia? Who hud been aciinow'.edged righlful owners of this country? Whnt method did the French use to dispflseess the £nglish f VVhnt other conduct of the French contributed to hasten the wart 10. What operations were undertaken by the £nglish? What success attended them ? 5. r> 8 y, II. ^i^i^'iit'^^^^^l^^^'^^^!^^-^'^ OEOROE II. 343 IS 13. Relate the p&.niculan of general Bniddock's expedition. 14. WhatwaaUiereaultofit? 15, 16. What other enterpriM did the French undertakef «m1 with what •ucceas? SECTION IX. How many trallnri to their God and King £«cap« the doaih which waa rciurvud tW Bynf. — ^non, 1. (A.D. 1757.) The ministry, being apprized of this un* expected attack, resolved to raise the siege if possible, and sent out admiral Byng, with ten ships of war, with orders to relieve Minorca at any rate. Byng accordingly sailed from Gibraltar, where he was refused any assistance of men from the governor of that garrison, under a pretence tliat his own fortifications were in danger. 2. Upon his approaching the island, he saw the French banners displayed upon the shore, and the English colours still flying on the castle of St. Philip. He had been ordered to throw a body of troops into the garrison, but this he thought too hazardous an un- dertaking, nor did he even make an attempt. While he was thus deliberating between his fears and his duty, his attention was quickly called off by the appearance of a French fleet, that seemed of nearly equal force to his own. 3. Confounded by a variety of measures, he seemed re- solved to pursue none, and, therefore, gave orders to form the line of battle, and act upon the defensive. Byng had been long praised for his skill in naval tactics ; and, per- haps, valuing most those talents for which he was most praised, he sacrificed all claims to courage to the applause .<br naval discipline. The French fleet advanced, a part of the English fleet engaged ; the admiral siill kept aloof, and gave very plausible reasons for not coming into action. The French fleet, iherefore, slowly sailed away, and no other opporturfity ever ofTercd of coming to a closer engagement 4. Nothing could exceed the resentment of the nation upon being informed of Byng's conduct. The ministry were not averse to throwing from themselves the blame of those measures which were attended with such indifferent success, and they secretly fanned the flame. 5. The news which soon after arrived of the surrender of the garrison to the French, drove the general ferment almost to frenzy. In the mean time Byng continued at Gibraltar, quite satisfied with his own conduct, and little expecting the dreadful eiorm that was gathering against him at home. Orders, ■-.ft.X', I '"''" a44 HISTORY OV ENGLAND. however, were soon sent out for puttiiiff him under an arrest, and for carrying him to England. 0. Upon his arrival he was committed to close custody in Qrecnwicii hospital, and some arts used to inflame the populace aguinbt him, who want no incentives to injure and condemn their superiors. Several addresses were sent up from different counties, demanding justice on the delinquent, which the ministry were willing to second. 7. He was soon after tried by a court-martial in tiic harbour of Portsmouth, where, after a trial which continued several days, his judges were agreed that he had not done his utmost during the engagement to destroy the enciuy, and therefore they ad- judged him to suffer death by the twelfth article of war. At the same time, however, they recommended him as an object of mercy, as they considered iiis conduct rather an the effect of error than of cowardice. By this sentence they expected to satisfy at once the resentment of the nation, and yet screen themselves from conscious severity. 8. 'J'hc government was resolved upon showing him no mercy; the parliament was applied to in his favour ; but they found no circumstance in his conduct that could invalidate the former sentence. Being thus abandoned to his fate, he maintained to the last a degree of fortitude and serenity that no way betrayed any timidity or cowardice. On the day fixed for his execution, which was on board a man-of-war in the harbour of Portsmouth, he advanced from the cabin where he had been imprisoned, upon deck, the place appointed for him to suffer. 9. After delivering a paper, containing the strongest assertions of his innocence, he came forward to the place where he was to kneel down, and for some time persisted in not covering his face ; but his friends repre- senting that his looks would possibly intimidate the soldiers who were to shoot him, and prevent their taking a proper aim, he had his eyes bound with a handkerchief; and then giving the signal for the soldiers to fire, he was killed in- stantaneously. There appears some severity in Byng's punishment ; but it certainly produced soon after very bene- ficial effects to the nation. 10. In the progress of the war the forces of the con- tending powers of Europe were now drawn out in the following manner. England opposed France in America, Asia, and on the ocean. France attacked Hanover on the continent of Europe. This country the king of Prussia undertook to protect ; while England promised him troops OEOROB II. 343 DMlbef AdnlnlByig. and money to assist in the operations. Then again Austria had her aims at the dominions of Prussia, and drew the elector of Saxony into the same designs. In these views she was seconded hy France and Sweden, and hy Russia, who had hopes of acquiring a settlement in the west of Europe. 11. The east was the quarter in which success first began to dawn upon the British arms. The affairs of the English seemed to gain the ascendency by the conduct of Mr. Clive. This gentleman had at first entered the com- pany's service in a civil capacity; but finding. his talents more adapted to war, he gave up his clerkship, and joined among the troops as a volunteer. His courage, which is all that subordinate officers can at first show, soon became remarkable ; but his conduct, expedition, and military skill soon after became so conspicuous as to raise him to the first rank in the army. 12. The first advantage that was obtained from his ac- tivity and courage was the clearing the province of Arcot. Soon after the French general was taken prisoner ; and the nabob, whom the English supported, was reinstated in the government of which he had formerly been deprived. 13. The prince of the greatest power in that country declared war against the English from motives of personal resentment; and, levying a numerous army, laid siege to Calcutta, one of the principal British forts in that part o* I I 846 HISTORY or ENGLAND. the world ; but which was not in a state of strength to (]e« fend itself against the attack even of barbarians. The fort was taken, having been deserted by the commander ; nnd the garrison, to the number of a hundred and forty^six per* sons, were made prisoners. • '# 14. They expected the usual treatment of prisoners of V ir, and were tlierefore the less vigorous in their defence ; but thfly soon found wliat mercy was to be expected from n savage ''onqueror. They were all crowded together into a narrow prison, called the IMack Hole, of about eigL -^on feet square, and received air only by tvro small windows to the west, which by no means afforded a sufficient circula- tion. 16. It is terrible to reflect on the situation of these unfortunate men, shut up in this narrow place, in the burning climate of the East, and suffocating each other. Their first efforts, upon perceiving the effects of their horrid confine- ment, were to break open the door of the prison : but, as it opened inwards, they soon found that impossible. They next endeavoured to excite the compassion or the avarice of the guard, by offering him a large sum of money for his assistance in removing them into separate prisons ; but with this he was not able to comply, as the viceroy was asleep, and no person dared to disturb him. 16. They were now, therefore, left to die without hopes of relief; and the whole prison was filled with groans, shrieks, contest, and despair. This turbulence, however, soon after sunk into a calm still more hideous ! their efforts of strength and courage were over, and an expiring languor succeeded. In the morning, when the keepers came to visit the prison, all was horror, silence, and desolation. Of a hundred and forty-six who had entered alive, twenty-three only survived, and of these the greatest part died of putrid fevers upon being set free. 17. The destruction of this important fortress served to interrupt the prosperous success of the English company ; but the fortune of Mr. Clive, backed by the activity of an English fleet under admiral Watson, still turned the scale in their favour. Among the number of those who felt the power of the English in that part of the world was the famous TuUagee Angria, a piratical prince, who had long infested the Indian ocean, and made the princes on the coast his tributaries. He maintained a large number of galleys, and with these he attacked the largest ships, and almost ever with success. 18. As the company had been greatly harassed by his depredations, they resolved to sub- ruui OEOROI II. 347 •'Pii (hie iuch a dangerous enemy, niul attack htm in his own lortresB. In pursuance of this resoUition, admiral Watson and colonel Clive sailed into his harhour of Geriah ; and though they sustained a warm fire as they entered, yet they soon threw all his fleet into flames, and obliged his fort to surrender at discretion. Tiio conquerors found there a large quantity of warlike stores, and effects to a considerable value. Queatiorufor ExamintUion, 1. Who wu lent out to the relief of Minorca ? 2, 3. What waa the conduct of admiral Byng 7 4. What was the coniequence ? 5. Whiit aflorwarda followed ? 6. What treatment did Byng experience ? 7. WImt wiiB the rcflult of the court-martial T 8. (J. Kelate the manner of Byng'i execution. 10. In what manner were the contending powers opnoeed to each Other? 11. In what quarter did succem first attend the Britun arms ? From whose conduct? 12, 13. What were the first operations ? 14—16. Kelate the terrible situation of the pnsonen conHned in the BlacV Hole at Calcutta. 17, 18. What are the particulars of the success which attended colonel CI iv « and admiral Watson 7 l^ X SECTION X. Pelhnm nii place and life rssif ns, Clivu. orit unheard ufin ihe nation, Bavei India, brisbteit itar that ihinee In our commercial cunatellation.— Dibdin. 1. (A.D. 1757.) Colonel Clive proceeded to take re- venge for the cruelty practised upon the English. About the beginning of December he arrived at Balasore, in the kingdom of Bengal. He met with little opp<>.i I'm either to the fleet or army, till they came before Caicttiia, which seemed resolved to stand a regular siege. As soon as the admiral with two ships arrived before the town, he received a furious Are from all the batteries, which he soon returned with still greater execution, and in less than two hours obliged them to abandon their fortifications. By these means the English took possession of the two strongest settlements on the banks of the Ganges ; but that of Geriah they demolished to the ground. 2. Soon after these successes, Hoogly, a city of great trade, was reduced, with as little difliculty as the former, and all the viceroy of Bengal's storehouses and granaries were destroyed. In order to repair these losses, this barba- rous prince assembled an army of ten thousand horse and 848 HIITORV Oh ENGLAND. \ iift^oii thonsnnd foot, niul prufoiiHnd n firm iniiolution of <jx|U)llinf( tlio Ei^lidh from uil tlidir aottlomimtM in that part of tlu) world. <). Upon iho first intolliK'once of liiii inarcli, 'Miloixd (Mive obtaiiKul u rctinforcoinoiit of mon from the •i.htiiruret ships, and udvuniMHl with his litllo army to attack thoHo niunorous fornrs. Hu attuckod the onnniy in thritc I'ohinius, and, thougii tho numbers wero so disproportionate, victory soon doehirod in f».vour of tho ICnji^lish. 4. Tho Engliah by ihoso viotorios havinj( phicnd a viceroy nn thu throno ffor tho Mof(u1 had lon^ lost all power in India), they tooK caro to exact such stipulations in their own favour ns would securo them in possAssion of the country whenever they thoujjht proper to resume their authority. They woro gratified in their avarice to its ex- ireniest wish ; and that wealth which they had plundered from slaves in India, they were resolved to cniploy in mak« ing slaves at home. 5. I'rom the conquest of the Indians, colonel Clivo turned to tho humbling of tho French, who had long disputed empire in that part of the world, and soon dispossessed them of all their power, and all their settlements. 0. In the mean time, while conquest shono upon us from the East, it was still more splendid in the western world. But some alti^rations in tho ministry led to those successes which had been long wished fur by the nation, and were at length obtained. The affairs of war had iiitherto been directed by a ministry but ill supported by the commons, because not confided in by tho people, 'i'hoy seemed timid and wavering, and but feebly held together, rather by their fears than their mutual confidence. 7. When any new measure was proposed which could not receive their appro- bation, or any new member was introduced into government whom they did not appoint, they considered it as an in- fringement on their respective departments, and threw up their places with disgust, with a view to resume them with greater lustre, 'i'hui tho strength of the crown was every day declining, while an aristocracy filled up every avenue to tiie throne, intent only on the emolument, not the duties of oflTice. 8. This was, at that time, the general opinion of the people, and it was too loud not to reach the throne. The ministry that had hitherto hedged in the throne were at lenurth obliired to sidinit some men into a share of the irovern- luent, whose activity at least would counterbalance theii OBOROI-lf. 840 timidity ^nd irresolution. At the hend of a nowly intro- duced party was the celebrated Mr. William Pitt, from whose vigour the nation formed very great expectations, and they were not deceived. 9. But though the old ministers were obliged to admit these new members into their society, there was no legal penalty for rui'using to co-operate with them ; they, there- fore, associated with each other, and used every art to make their new assistants obnoxious to the king, upon whom they had been in a manner forced by the people. His former ministry flattered him in all his attachments tf) his German dominions, while the new had long clamoured against nil continental connexions, as utterly incompatible with the interest of the nation. These two opinions, carried to the extreme, might have been erroneouH; but the king was naturally led to side with tho«e who favoured his own sen- timents, and to reject those who opposed them. 10. Mr. Pitt, therefore, after being a few months in office, Was ordered to resign by his majesty's command ; and his coadjutor, Mr. Leggo, was displaced from being chancellor of the exchequer. But this blow to his ambition was but of short continuance ; the whole nation, almost to a man, seemed to rise up in his defence ; and Mr. Pitt and Mr. Legge being restored to their former employments, the one secretary of stale, and the other chancellor of the exche- quer, began to act with vigour. 11. The consequence of the former ill-conducted counsels still seemed to continue in America. The generals sent over fo manage the operations of the war loudly accused the timidity and delays of the natives, whoso duty it was to unite in their own defence. The natives, on the other hand, as warmly expostulated against the pride, avarice, and incapacity of those sent over to command them. 12. General Shirley, vhc had been appointed to the supreme command there, had been for some time recalled, and re- placed by lord Loudon ; and this nobleman also soon after returning to England, three several commanders were put at the head of separate operations. General Amherst com- manded that designed against the island of Cap% Breton. The other was consigned to general Abercrombie, against Crown Point and Ticonderoga ; and the third, still more to the southward, against Fort du Quesne, commanded by britradier-ireneral Forbes^ 18. Cape Breton, which haMlMeu taken from the French . 2Q ■'Vi ( 930 HISTORY OF SN0LAND. during the preceding war, had beifin returned at the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelte. It was not till the English had been put in possession of that island that they began to perceive its advantageous situation, and the convenience of its harbour for annoying the British trade with impunity. It was also a convenient port for carrying on their fishery, a branch of commerce of the utmost benefit to that nation. The wrest- ing it, therefore, once more from the hands of the French, was a measure ardently desired by the whole nation. 14. The fortress of Louisbourg, by which it was defended, had been strengthened by the assistance of art, and was still better fortified by the nature of its situation. The garrison also was numerous, the commander vigilant, and every precaution taken to oppose a landing. An account of the operations of the siege can give but little pleasure in abridg- ment ; be it sufilcient to say, that the English surmounted every obstacle with great intrepidity. Their former timiditi and irresolution seemed to vanish, their natural courage anu confidence returned, and the place surrendered by capitula- tion. The fortifications were soon after demolished, and rendered unfit for future protection. Questtonafor Examination, 1. What further Buccesaes attended colonel Clive 7 S, 3. What victory did ho obtain over the viceroy of Bengal ? 4. What was the conHequeiice of these victories ? 5. How did colonel Clive treat the French ? 6. 7. What was the conduct of the ministry ? B. Who was at the head of the newly introduced party T 9. What was the conduct of the old ministry ? For what reasons was the king favourable to his former ministers ? 10. What followed the resignation of the new ministers ? 12. What generals commanded the American operations? 13. Why was Cape Breton considered an advantageous situation 7 14. Relate the particulars of the capture of Louisbourg. K t SECTION XI. * Hid country'! glory firnd him as hn died, Her lovq stilTioundcd in hn Ihlt'rinff breath ; O bIcM her armi, the f'allinK conqueror cried, Heav'n heard, and victory adornod hit death. Elegy on the death tj Wolfe. 1 (A.D. 1758.) The expedition of Fort du Quesne was equally successful, but that against Crown Point was once more defeated. This was now the second time that the English army had attempted to penetrate into those hideous wilds by which nature ha(||iicured the French possessions in that part of the world. Braddock fell in the attempt, It;' OEORGU 801 a martyr to his impetuosity : too much caution was equally injurious to his successor. Abercrombie spent much time in marching to the place of action, and the enemy wcro thus perfectly prepared to give him a spvere reception. 2. As he approached Ticonderoga, he found them deeply in- trenched at the foot of the fort, and still farther secured by fallen trees, with their branches pointing against him. These difficulties the English ardour attempted to surmount: but as the enemy, being securo themselves, took aim at leisure, a terrible carnage of the assailants ensued ; and the general, after repeated efforts, was obliged to order a retreat. 3. The English army, however, were still superior, and it was supposed, that when the artillery was arrived, some- thing more successful might be performed ; but the general felt too sensibly the terror of the late defeat to remain in the neighbourhood of the triumphant enemy. He therefore withdrew his troops, and returned to his camp at Lake George, from whence he had taken his departure. 4. But though, in this respect, the English arms were unsuccessful, yet upon the whole the campaign was greatly in their favour. The taking of Fort du Quesne served to remove from their colonies the terror of the incursions of the Indians, while it interrupted that correspondence which ran along a chain of forts, with which the French had envi- roned the English settlements in America. This, therefore, promised a fortunate campaign the next year, and vigorous measures were taken to ensure success. i; 5. Accordingly, on the opening of the following year, the ministry, sensible that a single effort carried on in such an extensive country could never reduce the enemy, were re- solved to attack them in several parts of the empire at once. ]*reparations were also made, and expeditions driven for- ward against three different parts of North America at the ime time. 6. General Amherst, the commander-in-chief, with a body of twelve thousand men, was to attack Crown Point, that had hitherto been the reproach of the English army. General Wolfe was at the opposite quarter io enter the river St. Lawrence, and undertake the siege of Quebec, the capital of the French dominions in America ; while ge- neral Prideaux and sir William Johnson were to attempt a French fort near the cataract of Niagara. 7. The last-named expedition was the first that succeed- ed. The fort of Niagara was a place of great importance, and served to command all t^\e communication between the 852 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. northern and western French settlements. The siege wai begun with vigour, and promised an easy conquest ; but general Prideaux was kiUed in the trenches by the bursting of a mortar, so that the whole command of the expedition devolved upon general Johnson, who omitted nothing to push forward the vigorous operations of his predecessor, to which also he added his own popularity with the soldiers under him. 8. A body of French troops, who we^^e sensi- ble of the importance of this fort, attempted to relieve it ; but Johnson attacked them with intrepidity and success ; for in less than an hour their whole army was put to the rout. The garrison soon after, perceiving the fate of their coun- trymen, surrendered prisoners of war. The success of ge- neral Amherst was less splendid, though not less servicea- ble ; upon arriving at the destined place, he found the forts, both of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, deserted and de- stroyed. 9. (A.D. 1759.) There now, therefore, remained but one grand and 'lecisive blow to put all North America into the possession of the English ; and this was the taking of Que- bec, the capital of Canada, a city handsomely built, popu- lous and flourishing. Admiral Saunders was appointed to command the naval part of the expedition ; the siege by land was committed to the conduct of general Wolfe, of whom the nation had great expectations. This young sol- dier, who was not thirty-five, had distinguished himself on many former occasions, particularly at the siege of Louis- bourg, a j)art of the success of which was justly ascribed to him, who, without being indebted to family or connexions, had raised himself by merit to his present command. 10. The war in this part of the world had been hitherto carried on with extreme barbarity, and retaliating murders were continued without any one's knowing who first began. Wolfe, however, disdaining to imitate an example that had been set him even by some of his associate officers, carried on the war with all the spirit of humanity which it admits of. 11. It is not our aim to enter into a minute detail of the siege of this city, which could at best only give amuse < ment to a few ; it will be sufficient to say, that when wo consider the situation of a town on the side of a great river, the fortifications with which it was secured, the natural strength of the country, the great number of vessels and floatinir batteries the enemy had provided for the defence of the river, the numerous bodies of savages continually hover* ).i. OCOROtMV.f 35.1 ing round the Enj^^lish army, wc must own there was such a combination of diiflicullics as might discourage and perplex the most resolute commander. 12. i'he general liimself seemed perfectly sensible of the difficulty of the undertaking. After stating, in a letter to the ministry, the dangers that pre< sented, " I know," said he, •• that the affairs of Great Britain require the most vigorous measures. But then the courage of a handful of brave men should be exerted only where there is some hope of a favourable event. At present the ditTicuUies are so various, that I am at a loss how to deter- mine.'* 13. The only prospect of attempting the town with success was by landing a body of troops in the night below the town, who were to clamber up the banks of the river, and take possession of the ground on the back of the city. This attempt, however, appeared peculiarly discouraging. 'I'he stream was rapid, the shore shelving, the bank above lined with sentinels, the landing-place so narrow as to be easily missed in the dark, and the steepness of the ground such as hardly to be surmounted in the day-time. All these difficulties, however, were surmounted by the conduct of the general, and the bravery of the men. 14. Colonel How, with the light infantry and the Highlanders, ascended the woody precipices with admirable courage and activity, and dislodged a sma'l body of troops that defended a narrow pathway up to the bank ; thus, a few mounting, the genera) drew the rest up in order as they arrived. Monsieur de Montcalm, the French commander, w i3 no sooner apprized that the English had gained these heights, which he had confidently deemed inaccessible, than he resolved to hazard a battle, and a spirited encounter quickly began. This was one of the most furious engagements during the wa- 15. The French general was slain ; the second in command shared the same fate. General Wolfe was s.anding on the right, where the attack was most warm ; as he stood con- spicuous iu the front line, he had ^een aimed at by the ene- my's marksmen, and received a ahot in the wrist, which, however, did not oblige him to quit the fiel' Having wrapped a handkerchief round his hand, he continued giving orders without the least emotion, and advanced at the head of the grenadiers, with their bayonets fixed : but a second ball, more fatal, pierced his breast ; so that, unable to pro- reed, he leaned on the shoulder of a soldier that was next mn 1A TVr>«r r\C Antih nnti met expiring, he heard a voice cry, " They run !" Upon which 2g« t virfi^wy^fj''' 'Sttl^-' ■• • '--■-■■■■:■ 'I 854 HISTORY OF KNOLANO. Diiiibof OenenI Wolie. he secm(?d for a moment to revive, and asking who ran, was informed the French. Expressing his wonder that they ran 80 soon and unable to gaze any longer, he sunk on the sol- dier's brt=:ast, and his last words were, "I die happy!'* Perhaps the loss of the English that day was greater than the conquest of Canada was advantageous. But it is the lot of mankind onlv to knov^" true merit on that dreadful oc- L'asiou when they are going to lose it. Questions for Examination, 1. What was the success against Fort du Quesne ? 2. What difficulties had Abercrombio to encounter? 3. To what place did ho withdraw his troops ? 4. What was the general success of the campaign 7 ft. Whot vigorous measures wera adopted the following year ? 6. By whom were the diflfjrent expeditions commanded f 7, 8. What are the particulars of the expedition which first succeeded 7 9. What was the next decisive blow ? To whom was intrusted the command of the expedition against Quebec 7 10. In what manner aid Wolfe carry on the war? 11. What was the situation and strength of Quebec? '2. What was the cpinionofthe general? 13, 14. Relate the particnlars and success of the siege. 15. In what manner was general Wolfe wounded ? \6 Relate his heroic cc^' ' rt in the agonies of death. OBOBOB IX. 856 SECTION XII. Frethjaurali traced the vietor'i brow _On rainden'e gory plaint : ^ But what avail tboao laureb now I— ' Imaiiuiary laioi ! — ^nra. 1. (A.D. 1760.) The surrender of Quebec was the con- euquence of this victory ; and with it soon after the total cession of all Canada. The French, indeed, the following season, made a vigorous effort to retake the city ; but by the resolution of governor Murray, and the appearance of an English llleet under the command of lord Colville, they were obliged to abandon the enterprise. 2. The whole province was soon after reduced by the prudence and acti- vity of general Amherst, who obliged the French army to tapitulate, and it has since remained annexed to the British empire. To these conquests, about the same time was added the reduction of the island of Gaudaloupe, under commodore Moore and general Hopson ; an acquisition of great importance, but which was restored at the succeeding peace. 3. These successes in India and America were great, though achieved by no very extensive efforts ; on the con- traryy the efforts of the English made in Europe, and the operations of their great ally, the king of Prussia, were asto* nishing, yet produced no signal advantages. 4. England was all this time happily retired from the mi series which oppressed the rest of Europe ; yet from her natural military ardour, she seemed desirous of sharing those dangers of which she was only a spectator. This passion for sharing in i continental war was not less pleasing to the king ot F.igland, from his native attachment, than from a desire of revenge upon the plunderers of his country. 6. As soon, therefore, as it was known that prince Ferdinand had put himself at the head of the Hanoverian army, to assist the king of Prussia, his Britannic majesty, in a speech to his parliament, observrd that the late successes of his ally in Germany i.^d j^iven a happy turn to his affairs, which it would ' .; necessary to ?mprovG. The commons concurred in hi sentiments, and lioerally granted supplies both for the service of the king of Prussia, a.-d for enabling the army formed in Hanover to act vigorously ir conjunction with him. 6. From sending money over into Germany, the nation began to extend their benefits ; and it was soon considered that men M'ouid be a more grateful supply. Mr. Pitt, who II '■* -u 350 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. p'/,j had Bt first come into popularity and power by opposing Ruch measures, was now prevailed on to enter into them with even greater ardour than any of hifc predecessors. 7. The hopes of putting a speedy end to the war by vigorous measures, the connexions with which he was obliged to co* operate, and perhaps the pleasure he found in pleasing the king, altogether inotted him eagerly to push forward a con* tinental war. However, he only conspired with the general inclinations of the people at this time, who, assured by the noble efforts of their only ally, were unwilling to see him fall a sacrifice to the united ambition of his enemies. 8. In order to indulge the general inclination of assisting the king of Prussia, the duke of Marlborough was at first sent into Germany, with a small body of British forces to join prince Ferdinand, whose activity against the French '^ began to be crowned with success. After some small suc- cesses gained by the allied army at Crevelt, the duke of Marlborough dying, the command devolved upon lord George Sackville, who was at that time a favourite with the British army. 9. However, a misunderstanding arose between him and the commander-in-chief, which soon had an occasion of being displayed at the battle of Minden, which was fought soon after. The cause of this secret disgust on both sides is not clearly known; it is thought that the extensive genius und the inquisitive spirit of the English general were by no means agreeable to his superior in command, who hoped to reap some pecuniary advantages the other was unwilling to permit. 10. Be this as it will, both armies advancing n.'ar the town of Minden, the French began the attack with great vigour, and a general engagement of the infantry ensued. Lord George, at the head of the British and Hanoverian horse, was stationed at some distance on the right <»f the in- fantry, from which they were divided by a scanty wood that bordered on a heath. The French infantry giving ground, the prince thought that this would be a favourable opportu- nity to pour down the horse among them, and accordingly sent lord George orders to come on. 11. These orders were but ill-observed ; and whether they were unintelligible or contradictory, still remains a point for posterity to debate upon. It is certain that lord George shortly after was re- called, tried by a court-martial, found guilty, and declared incapable of serving in any military command for the futuro. 12. The enemy, however, were repulsed in all their at- tacks with considerable loss, and at length, giving way, wc & OEOROr. II. 867 puraufld to the very ramparts of Minden. The victory was splendid, but laurels were the only advantage reaped from the field of battle. 18. After these victories, which were greatly magnified in England, it was supposed that one reinforcement more of British troops would terminate the war in favour of the allies, and a reinforcement was quickly sent. The British army in Germany now, therefore, amounted to above thirty thou- sand men, and the whole nation was flushed with the hopes of immediate conquest. But these hopes soon vanished, in finding victory and defeat successively following each other. The allies were worsted at Corbac, but retrieved their ho- nour at Exdorf. A victory at Warbourgh followed shortly after, and another at Zirenburg ; but then they suffered a defeat at Compen, after which both sides went into winter- quarters. 14. The successes thus on either side might be considered as a compact, by which both engaged to lose much and gain little ; for no advantage whatever followed from victory. The English at length began to open their eyes to their own interest, and found that they were waging unequal war, and loading themselves with taxes, for con- quests that they could neither preserve nor enjoy. Queatioru for Examination, 1, 2. What coniequence followed thib victory 7 4. What paasion operated for Hharing in a continental warf 6. What observation did his mfueaty make to the commoni 7 and how did they concur in his aentimenta ? 6, 7. What was Mr. Pitt's conduct ; and what were the general inclinaticns of the people? 6. What English commander was first sent to Germany 7 9. What caused the misunderstanding which took place between the oom mandera 7 10, 11. How did lord George Sackville act at the battle of Minden ! 12. What was the success of it 7 13. What followed these victories? 14. In what light might the events of this war be considered ? tt- SECTION XIII. The bosfl of heraldry, the pomp ofpow'r, And all that boauiy, all that wealth ere save, '', wnit alike the inevitable hour ; ^ The path! of glory lead but to the grave— Oray- 1. (A. b. i /59.) It must be confessed, that the efTorts of England at this time over every part of the globe, wera amazing, and the expense of her operations greater than had ever b^n disbursed by any nation before. The king of V'^iiitl^ "iVJ-t^^: - . , ^„-^ — ^ 3S8 HISTORY OF BNOLAND. fc* Prussia received a subsidy ; a larf/e body of her forces com inanded the extensive peninsula of India ; another army of twenty thousand men confirmed their conquests in North America; there y/ev \\.\::v thousand men employed in Germanyi and sevcrtl muzv bodies dispersed in different garrisons in varacas ^.JU oi the world ; but all these were nothing to the foroe maintained at sea, which carried com- mand wherever it came, and had totally annihilated the French power on that element. 2. The courage and con- duct of the English admirals had wiirno^sed wliatever had been reau in history ; neither . upunor lore*, nor number, nor even the terrors of the tempest, could intimidate them. Admiral Hawke gained a complete victory over an equal numl > r of French ships, on the coast of Bretagne, in Qui- beron ] ay, in the midst of a tempest, during the darkness of night ; and what a seaman fears more, upon a rocky shore. I. Such was the glorious figure the British nation appear- ed in to all the world at this time. But while their arms prospered in every effort tending to the real interests of the nation, an e.snt happened, which for a time obscured the splendour of her victories. On the twenty-fourth of Octo- ber, the king, without having complained of any prevl is disorder, was found by his domestics expiring in his cham- ber. 4. He had arisen at his usual hour, and observed to his attendants, that, as the weather was fine, he would take a walk in the garden of Kensington, w'lere he then resided. In a few minutes after his return, bcng left alone, he was heard to fall down upon th** floor. The noise of this bring- ing his attendants into the room, they lifted him into bed, where he desired, with a f lint vo' -e, that the princess Ame- lia might be sent to; : but, before -.he could reach the apart- ment, he expired. An attempt was made to bleed him, but without effect ; and aft:<-wards the surgeons, upon opening hin-, discovered thav the right ventricle of the heart was ruptured, and that a great quantity of blood was diooiiarged through the aperture. « 5. (Oct. 25, 1760.) Georg' he Second died in the se- venty-seventh year of his age .d lirty-third of his reign, lamented by his subjects, and in th«- midst of victory. If any monarch was happy in tho peculiar mode of his death, and the precise time of its arrival, it was he. 6. The uni- versal enthusiasm for conquest was now beginning to sub- side, and sober reason to take her turn in the administration of affairs. The factions which had been aursinff during his OEOR(. 359 ong reign had not yet come to maturity ; but threatened, with all their virulence, to afflict his successor. He was himself of no shining abilities ; and while he was permitted to guide and assist his German dominions, he intrusted the care of Great Britain to his ministers at home. However, as we stand too near to be impartial judges of his merits or defects, let us state his character, as delivered by two writ- ers of opposite opinions. 7. •• On whatever side," says his panegyrist, " we look upon his character, we shall tind ample matter for just and unsuspected praise. None of his predecessors on the throne of England lived to so great an age, or enjoyed longer feli- city. His subjects were still improving under him in com- merce and arts ; and his own economy set a prudent example to the nation, which, however, they did not follow. He •was in 'jmper sudden and \ lolent ; but this, though it influ- enced his condiict, made no change in his behaviour, which ^ was genrrally guided by reason. 8. He was plain and di- lect in his intentions, true to his word, steady in his favour and protection of his servants, not parting even with his mi- nisters till compelled to it by the violence of faction. In short, through the whole of his life, he appeared rather to live for '< he cultivation of useful virtues than splendid ones ; and, suiisfled with being good, left others their unenvied preatness." .1. Such is the picture given by his friends, but there are others who reverse the medal. " As to the extent of his uuf' standing, or the splendour of his virtue, we rather wish fur opportunities of praise than undertake the task ourselves. His public character was marked with a predi- lection for his native country, and to that he sacrificed all other considerations. 10. He was not only unlearned him- self, but he despised learning in others : and though ^)[eraus might have flourished in his reign, yet he neither promoted it by his influence nor example. His frugality bordered upon avarice ; and he hoarded not for his subjects, but him- self." Which of these two characters is true, or whether they may not in part be both so, I will not pretend to decide. If his favourers are numerous, so are they who oppose him ; et posterity, therefore, decide the contest. •- 717 '' T 800 UIITOBV or IMOLANO. Quetiiont for Examination. 1. What MtonUhing eflbrta did Britain make to carry on the war > 8. In what mannai waa the courage of the Engliah admirala ahowft t 8. What important event obaeured the lustre of thee* victoriee i 4. What oircumatanoea preceded the liing'a death 1 What waa the oauae of hie death t fi. What waa hia age, aod how long did ho reign } 0. What waa the aituation of the country at that time 1 7, 8. What ia the character of the king aa given by hia frienda f tti 10. What, aa given by hia enemiee t CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. A, D. Benedict XIII 1734 ClemenlXII 1738 Benedict XIV 1740 Clement XIII 17fi8 4 Emperors of Germany. CharleaVI 1711 Charlea VII 1740 Francia Stephen 1746 Emperora and Empreitet qf Ruuia, Peter II 1727 Anne 1730 John 1740 EUiabeth 1741 King of France. LouiaXV 1716 Kings of Spain, Philip V. (restored) 1724 Ferdinand VI 1746 Emperors of the TYtrks. A, I). Achmet III 1703 Mahomet V 1730 Oaman II 1764 MuBtapha III 1767 Kings of PortugaL John V 1707 Joaeph 1760 Kings of Denmark. Frederick IV 1609 Chriatian VI 1730 Frederick V 1748 Kings of Sweden. Frederick 1720 Adolphua 1760 Kings of Prussia. Frederick II 1713 Fredericklll 1740 %. 4' ■ .'#1^ ;. ; OIOROI III. 961. EMINENT PERBON& WUIUm Pitt, fltrl of Chtthmn. Admiral Hawke. 0«iMral Wdfc. Al«XMUil«r Po|)«. Jmiims 'i'honwon.* Dr. Young. John, lord Carlarct. Phili|>, earl ul' Hurdwiok. H«nry Pelham. H. lord Uyda and Corn- bury. Huratiu, lord WMl|>ole. tiourga Uootb, aarl of Warrington. J. UamiUoii, oarl of Abercorn* dec. itc. Slc ■nTtft Ita. i CHAPTER XXXVI. GEORGE IIL ■ora 17W. IH«4 IMO. Il«|tn to rvlga 1760. R«i|a«4 » fMM. SECTION L ♦'."i? Hall, HiMiareh 1 born Dm pMf« nf liaaptw dan, "■' To auard our (raadain Mnd uur f loriM raiM, Givan to tho world to ■uroad reUcioa'a awajr, And pour o'w maay ■ land tka nMatJ day. — MicU$. 1. (October 2S, 1760.) Though the health of George II. Iiud been loag declining^ his death was totally unexpected, and the ministryf beins unprepared for such an event, felt not a little embarrassed when they first waited on their new sovereign. George III., who succeeded, was the son of Frederick, prince of Wales, and Augusta, priiicess of Saxe* Gotha. In consequence of the premature death of his * The encouragenunt fl;iv«n to Uterarv exertion during the reign of Sueen Anne, waa altoffotner withdrawn by her succeasora. Pope and wift, indeed, atill continued to be patronized hy their former trienda, but rising merit was entirely neglected. Frederick, prince of Wales, during hia brief career, was an ostentatious rather than a generoua patron of letters ; but after his death, oven the semblance of encouragement was laid aside. The ministry had even the incredible meanness to deprive poor Thompson of a miserable pittance settled on him by Frederick. After enduring great distress, this poet at length obtained a small place, through the interest of lord Lyttleton, but he did not live to enjoy its advantages: to the disgrace of the nation and its rulers, ha'died in oiffi- mbiMuiddebt. 2H II ^oa HISTORY OF ENGLAND. father, who died without ascending the throne, his education bad devolved upon his mother, by whom he was brought up in the strictest privacy. She had unfortunately quarrelled with the late king, and the prince, though now in his twenty- second year, had been consequently such a stranger to the court of his grandfather, that he was unacquainted even with the persons of the ministers. 2. His first address to the council was gracious and conciliatory : the only remarkable occurrence that distinguished the opening of the new reign was the elevation of the earl of Bute to the office of privy counsellor. 3. The parliament was assembled in Novem- ber, and the king's first speech gave universal satisfaction to the country. The civil list was fixed at the annual sum of 800,000/. ; and liberal supplies were voted for the main- tenance of the war in which the country was engaged. The king, in return for this instance of affection on the part of the people, assented to a bill for further securing the inde- pendence of the judges, by providing that their offices should not be vacated on the demise of the crown. 4. (A.D. 1781.) The act of settlement prohibiiing the sovereigns of llritain from intermarrying with Roman Oa- tholics, his majc^sty was precluded from seeking a consort in the great families of Europe ; he therefore selected as his bride a daughter of the house of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, a small principality in the north of Germany ; the marriage was celebrated on the 8th of September, and on the 22d ot the same month the ceremony of the coronation was per- formed with r^eat pomp and magnificence. 5. The war which had been carried on with great spirit and success under the auspices of Mr. Pitt, continued to be supported with unabated vigour ; prince Ferdinand, at the head of the allies, pursued his victorious career in Germany, and Belleisle was captured by a British force under the command of admiral Keppel and general Hodgson. The French court, terrified at these losses, made an abortive atr tempt to obtain peace, but having failed in this, a successful application for assistance was made to the king of Spain, and a secret treaty, called the Family Compact, was made between the two powers. 6. This transaction, though carefully concealed, did not escape the penetration of Mr. Pitt ; he warned his colleagues of the insidious designs of Spain, and urged them to» send out a fleet to intercept the Spanish flota, or strike some other decisive blow be '>re the nostiie projects of that court were ripe for exet ^ion. 'i His ■ v^- OBOROE III. 863 proposal was very coolly received by the other members of the cabinet ; they were not in possession of all the inform a* t.'on which their colleague had obtained, and they were lesides jealous of the influence which Mr. Pitt's supnrlor popularity conferred. The project was finally rejected, and Mr. Pitt immediately rcsignea. As a marie of gratitude, however, for his eminent public services, a pension of 8000/. a year was settled on him for three lives, and his wife was created baroness Chatham. 7. The retirement of this popular minister was generally attributed to the secret influence of the earl of Bute, who was supposed to have obtained complete ascendency over the mind of his royal master. This suspicion created ge- neral displeasure among the people ; on the lord mayor's day, when his majesty and suite proceeded to dine in tlu: city, the king and queen were received with coldness and silence, the earl of Bute was grossly insulted, but Mr. Pitt was welcomed with the loudest acclamations. 8. In a few months the wisdom of Mr. Pitt's anticipa tions was fully established ; the hostile designs of Spain could no longer be concealed, and when the British ambas- sador remonstrated, he received nothing but evasive answers, or flat refusals to all his demands. He was in consequence recalled, and in a short time after a declaration of war wa« published against Spain. 9. A new parliament being assembled, the consideration of a provision for the queen, in the event of her surviving his majesty, was recommended from the throne. An annu- ity of 100,000/. was settled on her for life, together with the palace of Somerset house (afterwards exchanged for Buckingham house), and the lodge and lands of Richmond park. 10. ^A.D. 1762.) No change of importance had hitherto been made in the cabinet, except the appointment of the earl of Bute to the office of secretary of state ; but a more important alteration had long been meditated, one that in- volved almost a complete revolution in the domestic policy of England. Since the accession of the house of Bruns- wick, the administration of public affairs had been prin- cupally confided to some of the great families, by whose exertions that race of sovereigns had been placed upon the throne. Their power had been considerably strengtliened by the suppression of the two rebellions in 1715 and 1745; and the two former kings, more attached to their German ;'tl£ii„i«..„. „tfff' I ■ r 804 HISTORY Of BNGLANO. r;*';^ dominions than to their British kingdoms, surrendered the government of these countries to their ministers without reluctance. The new sovereign of Britain was entirely free from German predilections ; in the court of his mother he had been taught to dislike the politics of his grandfather, and he had no longer any reason to dread dangers from the change, for the claims of the young pretender had long since sunk into total insignificance. Unfortunately, the earl of Bute, to whom the management of such an important change was confided, did not possess abilities equal to the task. His domestic virtues, his refined taste, and generous liberality had made him deservedly beloved in private life ; but his reserved habits, his coldness of manner, and his total igno- rance of state affairs, made his public career odious to the people, painful to himself, and injurious to the popularity of his sovereign. 11. It was resolved to get rid of the Pelham family, which had been so long at the head of affairs ; the duke of Newcastle was made so uneasy in his situation, that he resigned his post as first lord of the treasury, and was suc- ceeded by the earl of Bute ; the greater part of the ministers imitated the duke's example ; and even the duke of Devon- shire, whose exertions in behalf of the Hanoverian succes- sion had been rewarded by the place of lord chamberlain, found it necessary to resign his situation. A furious paper- war ensued, and party spirit, which had slept during the triumphant administration of Mr. Pitt, was revived, and raged with unparalleled fury. National prejudices contri- buted to fan the flame ; the earl of Bute was a Scotchman, and the old jealousy between the natives of the northern and southern divisions of the country was made a formidable engine of party hostility, 12. The war was carried on with equal vigour and suc- cess by the new administration. The French and Spaniards having in vain endeavoured to detach the Portuguese from their alliance with England, sent an army to invade the country : but an English body of auxiliaries was imme- diately despatched to Portugal, and the progress of the in- vaders was soon checked. At first, indeed, the bigoted Portuguese refused to unite cordially with their heretical allies ; but when count de la Lippe was appointed to the command of their armies, he entered cordially into the views of the English general, and the Spaniards were defeated in two decisive engagements. Spain suffered still more <**» OEOROE lit. $65 ^7ere^y in other quarters of the globe ; Havannah, with 'plunder to the amount of three millions sterling, was taken by the earl of Albemarle and admiral Pococke ; the city of Manilla surrendered to general Draper and admiral Corn-' ish ; it was ransomed for the stipulated sum of one miiliont but the Spaniards violated their engagements, and the ran- som was never paid. Two valuable treasure ships, con- taining property to the amount of two millions sterling, were about the same time captured by British cruisers. (August 12, 17C2.) While the wagons that conveyed the treasure taken from the Spanish vessels to the Tower were passing in front of the palace, the cannon in tiie park an- nounced the birth of a prince of Wales, and this coincidence not a little increased the public joy at this happy event. I 13. While the arms of England were thus triumphant in various quarters of the globe, the king of Prussia, her prin- cipal, and, indeed, her almost only ally, after a series of I rilliant exploits, which have immortalized his name, seemed to have been brought to the very brink of ruin by the junc- tion of the Russians with his inveterate enemies. At the very moment, however, that his destruction seemed certain, he was rescued by one of those sudden revolutions which baffle all human calculation. Elizabeth, empress of Russia, dying, was succeeded by her nephew, Peter III., who was an enthusiastic admirer of the Prussian king ; he not only concluded a peace with Frederick, but even joined his arms to those of that monarch, and began to act nostilely against his former allies. Peter was, however, soon dethroned by his subjects; Cathirine II., his consort, then became em- press of Russia ; she withdrew her forces from those of the king of Prussia, and resolved to maintain a strict neutrality. Frederic was not slow in availing himself of these favour- able circumstances, arfl soon amply retrieved his former losses. 14. All parties were now seriously anxious for the resto- ration of peace. France was deprived of her colonial pos- sessions, and saw her commerce on the brink of ruin ; Spain had suffered still more severely ; the Austrians and Prus- sians were wearied of campaigns, whiih left the armies at tlieir close nearly in the same situation they occupied at the commencement; and England, notwithstanding her triumphs, felt that a continuation of such exertions would soon ex- hai'st her resources. The seven years' war was terminated bj /Qneral p«ace, bv which England was permitted to re- 2 Hii 866 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. tain Canada and several other conquests, receiving also from Spain, Florida, in exchange for the Havannah. 15. Though the terms of the peace were very favourable to the interests ; of the English, yet the nation, intoxicated by success, re- ;^ gretted the termination of the war. The articles had been signed several months before the city of JE^ondon eonld be prevailed upon to present a tardy and reluctant address of congratulation i and on the day of its presentation, the lord- mayor (Beckford) refused to attend, and the belle of the different ehurebes rung mulHed peals during the procession. A Questioru for Examination, 1. By whom wai Georse II. succeeded ? 2. Did any thing remarkable occur at the first meeting of the privy council ? 3. What proceedings took place in parliament ? 4. To WMMH did George III. unite himself in marriage ? b. Did any circumstances tend to show hostile dispositions in the Spanish court? 6. Under what circumstances did Mr. Pitt resign hie office? 7. What were the consequences of his resignation 7 8. Were Mr. Pitt's suspicions of the Spanish court well founded? 9. What dowry was settled on the queen ? 10. What great change took place in the administration 7 11. Did any evil consequences result from the change of ministry? 13. How was the war conducted 7 what triumphs did the Englisa obtain 7 13. Yiy what means was the khig of Prussia rescued from his difficultie*? 14. Why were all parties anxious to terminate tb« war ? 15. Was the peaee popular in England ? SECTION II. Llk« imoKe emiited from VnuviuB' top, (Dread tiarbinser of the volcano's poworii) Bo breathe the liret of diicontent—- nor stop Till sU avoHiM} is wiapt is ImrniBg ahoweis.— Bnwn. 1. (A.D. 1763.) Tranquillity might naturally ha'^c been expected at the conclusion of a glorious war, but this was prevented by the domestic dissensions which party spirit produced. The earl of Bi;te*s unpopularity still con- tmued, but his influence was apparently unabated, for not- withstanding the most vigorous efforts of the opposition, he prevailed upon parliament io impose a tax upon cider, which, without producing any great revenue, gave infinite dissatisfaction to the nation. Immediately after this triumph, his lordship, to the great surprise of every one, resigned his post and retired into private life. 2. He was succeeded by Mr. George Grenvillc. The press soon tsemed with the most virulent libels from the partisans of the several factions tVint #1iviflr>M tli*» i»r»nnfrv. Tn thpo«» rirofl'lfltinns tV><» nPfonn Aa^/M.«.« w . t^««««1^ W.^.*ft/ 0EORa£ III. 36? of the sovereign was not always spared, until at length tho ministry was roused by the appearance of No. 45 of the North Briton, a periodical paper conducted by Mr. Wilkes, the member for Aylesbury, in which it was stated that the king had uttered a deliberate falsehood in his speech to par- liament. This was an offence which could not be passed over, and a general warrant was issued for the arrest of the author, printers, and publishers of that paper. Mr. Wilkes was arrested and sent to the Tower ; several innocent per- sons were taken into custody, and the ministry found that in their eagerness to punish a delinquent, they had unfortu- nately raised a great constitutional question, which must of necessity be decided against them. 3. The printers taken up under the warrant, brought actions against the messengers by whom they had been arrested, and recovered heavy damages. Mr. Wilkes also having been brought by habeas corpus before the court of common pleas, was liberated, the judges being unanimously of opinion, that privilege of parliament extended to the case of writing a libel. The house of commons gave a different decision. They voted that No. 45 of the North Briton was a false, scandalous, and seditious libel, and that the author of such was not protected by privilege of parliament. Soon after, Mr. Wilkes fought a duel with Mr. Martin, whom he had libelled, and was severely wounded ; he had scarcely recovered from its effects when he thought fit to retire to France. (A. D. 1764.) During his absence, he was expelled the house of commons, and driven to an outlawry in the court of king's bench for not appearing to stand his trial. The only advantage that resulted from this struggle, was the declaration of the illegality of general warrants by a resolution of both houses of parliament. 4. (A. D. 1765.) The immense expenditure incurred during the late war had involved the cour.try in considerable difficulties, and it was considered only just that the Ame- rican colonies, whose interests had been most regarded in tlie treaty of peace, should bear their proportion of the public burdens ; accordingly, a bill for imposing stamp duties on all mercantile transactions in the colonies was in- troduced by Mr. Grenville, and passed into a law with but linle opposition. The Americans had been for some time previously very indignant at the treatment they had received from the mother-country ; their profitable trade v ith tho Spanish colonies had been destroyed by new fiscal regula f 868 HISTOftV OF ICNOLAND. tions ; the Indians had harassed their back settlements, and no royal forces were sent to check the progress of the bar- barians; when, therefore, news arrived that taxes were about to be imposed on the colonies by a parliament in which they were not represented, public indignation knew no bounds, and the colonial legislatures sent remonstrances couched in very strong language to the parliament and the throne. 5. The progress of these dissensions was, however, arrested by the downfall of the Grenville administration ; the minister having omitted the name of the king's mother m the bill for providing a council of regency in case of any emergency, so displeased his majesty, tiiat he was compelled to send in his resignation. A new ministry was formed, principally by the exertions of the duke of Cumberland, at the head of which was placed the marquis of Rockingliam, a nobleman conspicuous for his public and private virtues, but not distinguished by super-eminent abilities. 6. (A. D. 1766.) The chief business of th«; new ministry was to undo all that their predecessors had done ; the stamp act, which had excited so much dissatisfaction in America, and the cider tax, which was equally unpopular in England, were both repealed, and these judicious measures were fol- lowed by a brief interval of tranquillity.* 7. (A. D. 1767.) The Rockingham administration was so weakened by the death of the duke of Cumberland, that it was broken up, and a new cabinet formed under the aus- pices of Mr. Pitt, who was created earl of Chatham, and the duke of Grafton was placed at its head, as first lord of the treasury. The attention of government was first directed to the affairs of the East India company, which had been thrown into confusion by the avarice and rapacity of their servants. Lord Clive was sent out to India, with full powers to remedy these evils, and under his administration the com- pany soon recovered its former prosperity, and laid the foundations of future greatness. 8. The unfortunate design of taxing America was again revived ; an act was passed for granting duties on all glass, paper, painters* colours, and tea imported into the British colonies ; which the Americans resisted by petitions, remonstrances, and agreements not to use Briti.-jh manufactures until the obnoxious duties were repealed. An act was also passed enjoining the colonies t(» provide his majesty's troops with necessaries in their quar- ters ; the colonial house of assembly, in the state of New Yorli, peremptorily refused obedience, and another act was * The old Pretender died ut Rome in tliis year, at the age of ?6= -, -r ■'■:r",\'?-^-^, ■ OEOROE III. 860 passed restraining the assembly from making laws until they had complied with the terms of the former statute. 0. (A. D. 1768.) The natural date of the parliament having nearly expired, it was dissolved, and writs issued for tlie election of a new one. Wilkes embraced the op- portunity of returning from exile which a change of minis- try aflbrded ; ho offered himself a candidate for Middlesex, and was elected by an overwhelming majority. He then surrendered himself to the court of king's bench, and pro- cured the reversal of his outlawry ; he was, however, sen- tenced to pay a fine of a thousand pounds, and to be im- prisoned for twenty-tv/o months. As he was esteemed a martyr in the cause of liberty, a subscription was opened for paying his fine, supporting him while in prison, and compounding his debts, which amounted to more than twenty thousand pounds. 10. The disturbances in America sf .11 continued to increase, and the states of New England were particularly remarkable for their determined hostility to the new duties. Descended from the puritans and re- publicans, who had left England after the restoration of Charles II., and sought in the wilds of America the liberty of conscience denied to them at home, the New Englanders possessed in no ordinary degree the spirit of independen^^e, and the obstinate resolution which had characterized the soldiers of Fairfax and Cromwell. In Boston the commis- sioners of customs were so severely handled, that they Mjpre forced to take refuge from the fury of the populace in fort William ; and to preserve the peace of the town, it was deemed necessary to send thither two regiments of foot from Halifax, and as many from Ireland. 11. The situation of Ireland began also to give the minister considerable uneasiness ; by Poyning's law, passed in the reign of Henry VI!., and extended by several sub- sequent statutes, the legislature of that country had been made so completely dependent on the British government, that it was become a mere nullity. An unwise and unjust spirit of commercial jealousy induced the English to abuse advantages which they had obtained, and several im- politic restrictions were imposed on Irish commerce and manufactures. These measures produced little or no ad- vantage to the English, while they crushed the rising ener- gies of the slater kingdom ; but they were obstinately main tained, for the age was not yet sufficiently enlightened to discover that the prosperity of one country was intimately 870 HISTORY OF BNOLAND. connected ^vith that of the other. A strong party had, however, been formed in Ireland to achieve the legislative independence of their country, and they gained no small part of their object, by the passing of the octennial act, which limited the duration of Irish parliaments to eight years, for they had been previously dissolved only on the demise of the crown. 12. In the East Indies, the English were assailed by an enemy more formidable thua any they had hitherto met in that quarter. Hyder Ally, who had raised himself from the rank of a common sepoy to that of a sovereign prince, com- menced hostilities against the company's settlements, and for several years kept them in a state of incessant alarm. 13. When the new parliament met, the people imagined that Mr. Wilkes would be liberated to take his seat, and therefore assembled in great numbers in St. George's fields, round the king's bench prison, in order to conduct him to the house of commons. The Surry justices took the alarm, and read the riot act, but the multitude refusing to disperse, the military were called out, and unfortunately ordered to fire. One man was killed on the spot, and a great number were wounded, several mortally. It happened that a Scotch regiment had been employed in this lamentable affair, a circumstance which not a little increased the public indig- nation. Verdicts of wilful murder against the soldiery wgre returned by the different inquests, and on the sub- sequent trials several of the soldiers were found guilty of murder. 14. The government by no means participated in the popular feeling ; not only were pardons granted to those who had been convicted, but the secretary of state, lord Weymouth, sent a letter to the justices thanking them for their spirited conduct. This document was published by Mr. Wilkes, with an indignant commentary, in which he termed the affair ♦♦ a horrid massacre," and added a virulent invec- tive against the entire conduct of the government. 15. For this publication Mr. Wilkes was expelled the house of com- mons, and with strange inconsistency, the causes assigned for his expulsion included not only his late offence, but the former acts for which he had already atoned by undergoing judicial punishment. This complication of charge afforded just grounds of complaint, and not a little tended to give Wilkes a decided superiority over his opponents. (A. D. 1769.) The freeholders unanimously re-elected him, but 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. I 15. GEORGE III. 371 \he:Mii0e considered the election void, and issued a new wriR^r'The <^ihrie proceedings were twice repeated ; until at length colonel Luttrell was prevailed upon to offer himself as candidate. Wilkes as once more returned by an im- mense majority, the votti. for him being 1143, while those for his opponent amounted only to 260 ; the house of com- mons, notwithstanding, declared that Luttrell was and ought to be the sitting member. 16. This was considered, with some show of justice, a fatal blow to the liberties of the subject ; petitions and re- monstrances of the most daring nature poured in from all parts of the kingdom ; the press teemed with the most virulent attacks on all the constituted authorities, some went so far as to deny the legality of the present parliament, and the obligat'on of the people to obey its laws. An anonymous writer, nai: 3d Junius, was particularly distinguished by the fierce severity of his attacks on the ministry, and by the superior brilliancy of his style, which still preserves his celebrated letters from the oblivion into which party pro- ductions usually fall. Meantime the disputes with the colonists continued to be maintained with unabated zeal; and the Irish parliament showed such a determination to throw off the yoke, that it was found necessary to elude their demands by a prorogation. 1. 2. 3. 4. Questions for Examinatio'^ . "* How waa the tranquillity of the country disturb' •'. ' What circumstancea tor U place respectuig No. 4u •>' ^he North Briton 1 How did the n&ir ternJnntp ; Wliat circumstances led todisui ion between England and the American culoniea ? 5. How was tho Grenville ministry overthrown ? 6. By what means was tranquillity restored ? 7. What was the first measure of the Graflon administration 1 8. By what act was the discontent of the Americars revived ? 9. How did Wilkes behave on 'he change of ministry ? 10. In what manner did the Americaiia conduct themselves ? 11 . Was any important change made in the Irish legislature ? 12. Did any new power appear in the East Indies? 13. What unfortunate event took place in St. George's fields? How was Wilkes involved in a new contest with government ? What was the decision of the house of commons rr eccing the Middlesex election ? Did this decision produce any unpleasant results ? 14. 15. )6 872 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. SECTION III. « No Mir-iubjecling force offoul it thein, Ibat public toil u nobleat honour bv^n.— Sttrling. 1. (A.D. 1770.) The health of the earl of Chatham had been long in such a state as to prevent him from exerting his energies for the benefit of his country ; he had the mortification to find that his influence was lost in th« cabinet, and his popularity forgotten by the nation ; he therefore resigned his office, and his example was imitated X by the duka of Grafton. Lord North succeeded the lattei as first lord of the treasury, and so ne trifling ch?nge» were made in the inferior departments of government 2. Foreign nations seemed to have lost all respect for i country whose councils were subject to such sudden vicis situdes, and the subjects of the realm were no longei willing to pay that respect to the laws which is necessary to the well-being of a state. The new ministry seemed ill calculated to retrieve the honour of the country ; they per- mitted France to acquire the island of Corsica without ven- turing to interfere, and tamely submitted to an insult offered by Spain to Ihf* British flag in the affair of the Falkland islands. The c-pirit of the nation however forced the ministry tc ^tiakc some exertions in the latter instance, and the matter -vas {inally adjusted by a convention. 3. (A.D. 1771.) The debates in parliament had been hitherto printed surreptitiously, as their publication was deemed a breach of privilege. The interest felt by the public in the debates on the Middlesex election induced the printers to act more daringly than before, and at length a formal complaint was made in the house, and a messenger was sent into the city to arrest the most notorious of the offenders. One printer having been seized by the mes- senger, sent for a constable, who carried both before the lord mayor Mr. Crosby. Th'.*, gentleman, with the alder- men Wilkes and Oliver, not only discharged the printer, 6ut threatened to send the messenger to prison unless he /ound bail to answer for his appearance on a charge of illegal arrest. The house of commons received the news of these proceedings with the nost violent indignation ; the lord mayor and Oliver were sent to the Tower, and Wilkes was summoned to appear at the bar of the house. But an unexpected difficulty was soon raised ; Wilkes refused to appear unless permitted to take his plaoe for Middlesex* OEOROE III. 373 f George II. ^ve A'ithout the ilso passed to sed to plead, and the house at length compromised its dignity, by ordering him to attend on the 8th of April, and then adjourning tu the 9th. Since this event no attempt has been made to check the publication of the parliamentary debates, which no>v constitute the most important, as well as the mont interesting, feature in the periodical press. 4. (A. D. 1772.) The marriage of the king's brothers, the dukes of Cumberland and G! uc % wii subjects of the realm, led to the enactment of Uu marriage act, which prohibited any of the deflcmd from marrying before the age of t* consent of the king in council. An abrogate the law by which felons, wh were pressed to death ; it was enacted that, for the future, those who did not plead should be held guilty of the crimes laid to their charge. 5. The continent of Europe was the scene of an atrocious act of injustice committed by three crowned heads ; the first dismemberment of Poland was efiected by an iniquitous confederacy between the emperor of Germany, the empress of Russia, and the king of Prussia ; they left the unfor- tunate monarch of the country little more than a nominal sovereignty, and even of this he was subsequently deprived by the royal robbers, and the name of Poland blotted from the list of nations. 6. About the same time the king of Sweden, in violation of the most solemn obligations, abro- gated the free constitution of his country, and made himself despotic. 7. In Denmark, on the other hand, the royal power was overthrown by a vile faction, who deprived the king of his authority, murdered his ministers, and drove his queen, Matilda, sister to the king of England, into exile, where grief soon terminated her sufferings. 8. The planters in the island of St. Vincent had grossly ill-treated the Caribbs, or native inhabitants, who had been allowed to possess their lands in quiet while the colony remained under the dominion of the French. A civil war ensued, and the planters, notwithstanding all their advan- tages, were worsted ; application for assistance against the rebellious savages, as they thought fit to designate men who refused to submit tamely to open robbery, was made to the British parliament ; but the opposition was so strong, that the advocates of the planters were forced to yield, and peace was subsequently restored on equitable conditions. 9. (A. D. 1773.) Ireland and Scotland were, about this 21 Ai^ v>, ^.v^< IMAGE EVALUATION fEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 121 lis |25 2.2 -1^ nn m 11.25 1111.4 1^ p /2 /2 /A 7 FhotDgraphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 l\ A s^ V .V ^^^ ^i^ ^ '''■y: /■*'■-":*=?."■"" ■ ■■ .■■t ^^ .' \ x^: '-■'"- ',- ^ -0 - '-' ■•■ p O^ t }. «:*^.:; >fe',-.*- ^■r'.: '"^^' 374 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. \ time, drained of a large portion of their peasantry, drit^en to emigration by the cruel rapacity of the landlords ; the exiles sought an asylum in America, and supplied that country, at the moment it was about to commence its great struggle for independence, with a hardy population, animated by the most bitter feelings of resentment agpinst the country which they had been forced to abandon. 10. The voyages of discovery undertaken during the early part of this reign were very creditable to the adminis- tration by which they were sent out. Captain Phipps made an ineffectual effort to discover a north-west passage to the East Indies; Byron, Wallis, Carteret, and Cook suc- cessively navigated the globe, and discovered several new islands in the Pacific Ocean. The last named navigator was killed during his third voyage at Owhyhee, in an unfortu- nate dispute with the natives. 11. The determination of the Americans to use no articles on which a duty was levied by the British parlia- ment was still obstinately maintained, and the presence of the British troops in Boston kept alive those feelings of ani- mosity which more conciliatory conduct might have extin- guished. In resisting a violent act of aggression, a party of the military were compelled to fire on the populace, of whom three were killed and five dangerously wounded. The townsmen assembled on the following night, and were with much difiUculty prevented from proceeding to extremi- ties ; but on the day that the unfortunate victims were in- *: terred, most of the shops in Boston were closed, the bells of * all the churches in the town and neighbourhood rung ■f muffled peals ; and the funerals were escorted by all the ' citizens, of every rank, in mournful procession. Captain '; Preston, who had commanded the party, was tried for mur- der, and it is highly creditable to the American character, that his defence was intrusted to Adams and Quincy, the \ « most violent advocates of freedom ; and that a jury com- \ posed of townsmen acquitted the prisoner without hesitation. ^ 12. These proceedings were naturally considered by the provincial governors ap nirong evidences of a rebellious spirit, and in themsolves almost acts of treason ; they con- sequently, in their public and private letters, described them in no meas^l^^terms. Mr. Hutchinson, the governor oi MassaphusenliP^iid his lieutenant, Mr. Oliver, had written several letters^., in which they severely condemned the American leaden, called for the adoption of the most vigor- OEOROE III. 8t5 the OU8 measures, and even recommended the " takmg off" of the most active opponents of government. Of these letters Dr. Franklin obtained possession, and he immediately laid them before the provincial assembly of Massachusetts. The perusal of these documents excited violent indignation ; it was unanimously resolved, ** that the tendency of the said letters viras to overthrow the constitution of this govern- ment, and to introduce arbitrary power into the province ; and it was further voted, " that a petiiion should be imme- diately sent to the king, to remove Hutchinson and Oliver for ever from the governmer?t of the province." The peti- tion was immediately transmitted, and Franklin came over to England to support it in person before the privy council. 13. (A:D. 1774.) On the djiy appointed for hearing the petition, Mr. Wedderburne, the solicitor-general, appeared on behalf of* the governor, and assailed Franklin for the treachery of publishing a private correspondence, in one of the most elaborate invectives ever uttered. Less fervid elo- quence would have been sufficient to sway the determination of the council ; the petition was declared to be scandalous and vexatious, and Franklin was dismissed from the office which he held of postmaster-general of the colonies. 14. The refusal of the Americans to purchase tea had led to a vast accumulation of that article in the storehouses of the East India company ; in order to afford them some relief, a drawback of the import duty was allowed them on all tea that should be exported ; and the ministry believed that the colonist? would gladly pay the small tax of three pence per pound on an article which they could only pro- cure by smuggling, and at an enormous expense. But those who had formed such expectations had sadly miscalculated the spirit and firmness of the Americans ; resolutions were adopted in the several provinces, declaring that all who aided or abetted in the landing or vending of the expected tea, should be deemed enemies of their country ; and the majo- rity of the consignees, terrified at these proceedings, sent back the cargoes. In Boston, the agents of the company were dependants on the governor, and trusting to the pro- tection of the military, resolved to persevere : but during the night the leading patriots, disguised as Indians, boarded the vessels, and emptied the tea-chests into the waier. 15. The news of this proceeding was received by the British ministry with unmixed pleasure ; they thought that Boston the great focus of American sedition, having been 376 HISTORY OF fiNOLAND. < ■ ' '. / guilty of a flagrant delinquency, was now completely at their mercy, and they prepared to visit it with exemplary punish- ment. A bill for shutting up the port of Boston, and anothei for aonuUing the charter of Massachusetts, were passed with little apposition ; and these harsh measures were soon fol- loweif by. a third, of a still more dangerous tendency ; it enacted, that. " if any person were indicted for murder or any capital offence, committed in the province of Massachu- setts, in aiding the magistracy, such person or persons might be sent by the gavernor to some other colony or to Great Britain for trial." It was in vain that colonel Barre, and some others, shov/ed that this measure directly tended to sanction military outrage by the hope of impunity ; it passed through both houses with overwhelming majori^i, and im- mediately received the royal assent. - ; * 16. Nothing could exceed the burst of indfgnation with which th€ first intelligence of these harsh measures was re- ceived in the New England states. They sternly refused to obey laws which deprived them of their natural and chartered rights, and made, active preparations to resist theii enforcement. All the other colonies, except Georgia, zeal- ously adopted the cause of tho people of Massachusetts, and agreed to discontinue their commerce with Great Britain until the obnoxious statutes should be repealed. To give greater effect to their remonstrances, an assembly of delegates from the different states was organized by Franklin other provincial leaders, which, under the name of n . .gress, met in Philadelphia. The congress promised every assist ance to the New Englanders, and prepared a spirited peti- tion to be laid before his majesty, soliciting a redress of grievances. They also published addresses to the British people, to the Canadians, and to the West Indian colonies vindicating the purity of their motives, and declaring theii fixed resolution not to submit to oppression. Questions for Examination, 1. Were any changes made in the ministry? 2. JDi^any remarkable events occur abroad ? 3. ^ 'what train of events was the right of printing the parliamentaiy do> bates established ? 4. What remarkable acts of parliament were passed ? 5. Did any of the European powers combine to ruin Poland 6. What revolution took place in Sweden ? 7. Did any thing remarkable occur in Denmark I 8. What were toe circumstances of the Caribb war? ^*i^ 9. On what account did emigration to America increase? .vU , ^ \»»*f OKORGE III. 377 10. Were any remarkable voyages of discovery undertaken ? 11. What military Dutraee created a great sensation in Boston ? 12. How was the assembly of Masaachusetto placed in open hostility to itk governor ? 13. How was the Massachusetts remonstrance treated by the privy council! 14. How did the Americans treat the tea exported from England ? 15. What vindictive measures were sanctioned by the British parliament I 16. How did the Araericaas act in consequence ? yi SECTION IV. The hostile atormi but race awhile. And the tired contest ends ; But ah ! how hard to reconcile The toes who onoe were friends.— ffhiUlUad. 1. (A.D. 1775.) An opportunity of retracting their steps was afforded to the British ministers by the presentation of the petition from the congress at Philadelphia; especially as a new parliament had been summoned in the room of that which had sanctioned the late severe measures of coercion. It was reported that his majesty had received the petition most graciously, and the public consequently indulged in expectations of a reconciliation between the colonies and the mother country. These hopes were destined to be disap- pointed ; the houses of parliament, in their address to the king at the opening of the session, stated that *' a rebellion actually existed in the province of Massachusetts," and in the usual style offered to assist in its suppression with their lives and fortunes. A few members, justly anxious to avert the hazards of war, laboured hard to change the determina- tions of the minister ; in particular 'Mr. Burke proposed a plan for conciliating America, in a speech of unrivalled elo- quence ; these efforts were vain, and nothing now remained but an appeal to the sword. Franklin also, having been long employed in a kind of treaty with the ministers, finding them determined to persevere in their insane resolutions, broke off the conference, and sailed for America, resolved to share the fortunes and hazards of his fellow-citizens. 2. The New Englanders were determined to attack the royal forces as soon as ever they should march out of Bos- ton, and their adherence to this resolution was soon put to the test. On the night of the eighteenth of April, a detach- ment was sent from Boston to seize some military stores, which the insurgents had collected at Concord. In spite of every precaution, the country was alarmed, and when the advanced guard arrived early on the following morning at Lexington, they found a small body of provincials prepared 212 878 HISTORY OT ENGLAND. to oppose them. A brief skirmish ensued, in which the Americans were defeated with some loss, and the detach- ment, proceeding to Concord, destroyed all the stores that they found. But they were not permitted to return unmo- lested ; the militia, assembling in force, furiously assailed their flanks and rear ; a constant fire of rifles was maintained from every hedge and every wall which skirted the road, and had not a regiment under the command of lord Percy been sent from Boston to cover their retreat, the entire de- tachment would have been destroyed. It was late in the evening when the British forces arrived at last within the lines of their own fortifications, having lost 65 killed, 180 wounded, and 28 prisoners. . <.- 3. Blood having been thus drawn, the whole of the dis- contented colonies boldly prepared to maintain the inevita- ble contest. Volunteers enrolled themselves in every pro- vince, and the king's stores were everywhere seized and appropriated to the use of the insurgents. The fortress of Ticonderoga and Crown Point were surprised by a body of militia, and the Americans thus obtained possession of 100 pieces of cannon and a proportionate quantity of ammunition. The towns and villages in the neighbourhood of Boston were garrisoned, and that city thus placed under a strict blockade. 4. General Gage, who commanded the garrison, soon re- ceived reinforcements from Great Britain, under the com- mand of generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton. He resolved therefore to commence active operations ; but before com- mitting himself to the chances of war, he issued a procla- mation, ofiering pardon to all who should lay down their arms, except Messrs. Hancock and Adams. The Americans treated the proclamation with contempt, and soon after elected Mr. Hancock president of congress. 5. In Charlestown, a place situated to the north of Boston, is an eminence called Bunker's hill, which in some degree commands the harbour ; this post the Americans resolved to occupy ; and a party was sent over from Cambridge to in- trench themselves on* the height. This they effected with such rapidity and silence during one of the short nights of June, that the appearance of their works at daybreak was the first notice of their presence. The importance of dis- lodging the enemy was evident to the British generals, and a detachment iinder the command of Howe was sent to the peninsula in boats. A tremendous cannonade was opened ^> >^>'^ ^^ •U uJ^ Ip '' "; OEOROE III* 37U on the provincials from the ships and floating batteries in the harbour, and from Cop's-hill in Boston, but the provincials maintained their post with undaunted resolution. They re- served their fire until the royal forces had advanced within sixty yards of their line, and then poured in so close and murderous a discharge, that the assailants were broken, and fled to the water's edge. A second assault was again de- feated by the well-aimed and steady fire of the provincials ; but when Howe rallied his men to the third attempt, the ammunition of the Americans began to fail, and after an ob- stinate resistance they were compelled to retreat. In this fierce contest the provincials lost about 450 killed, wounded, and missing ; but the victors suflered still more severely ; their loss amounted to more than a thousand killed and wounded, of whom 79 were oflicers. The unusual number of oflicers that fell is attributed to the fatal aim which the provincials took with their rifles, and to the belief generally prevalent in America, that the war was odious to the great body of the English people, and only supported by the no- bility and gentry, from which classes the British oflicers are generally selected. i ' w ■ -: >!:>,. 6. Another eflbrt to avert the horrors of war was made by the congress, and a second pathetic petition forwarded to his majesty. It was intrusted for presentation to Mr. Penn, a descendant of the great founder of Pennsylvania, and one of the chief proprietors in that province. But public and private remonstrances were equally ineflectual, the peti- tion was not even honoured with an answer. 7. The Americans were far from confining their exertions to the pacific means of petition and remonstrance ; with a happy unanimity, they elected George Washington, esquire, commander-in-chief of all their forces ; and sent two bodies of militia under generals Montgomery and Arnold to drive the English from Canada. After a brief but brilliant career, Montgo nery was killed in an attempt to storm Quebec, and the cruelties perpetrated by the infamous Arnold so alien- ated the Canadians, that no hope remained of its uniting with the revolted provinces. 8. (A.D. 1776.) Boston was closely blockaded by Wash ington, and the garrison was soon reduced to the greatest distress. Howe, who had succeeded Gage in the command, though a general of great ability, found himself unequal to the difficulties of his situation. The inhabitants of Boston, as well as the garrison, had to sustain the horrors of famine 380 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. during the winter ; and early in the spring the Americans opened batteries on the neighbouring hills, which swept the town and harbour. Under these circumstances, the town was evacuated by the English, and Washington, entering it, was hailed by the citizens as their deliverer. 9. An expe- dition undertaken by the British against Charleston, m South Carolina, signally failed. The general (Clinton) was unable to second the naval operations directed by sir Peter Parker ; and, after a useless exhibition of bravery, the ad- miral was forced to retire with the loss of a ship of war, which he burned, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. 10. The Americans, and the greater part of their leaders, had hitherto entertained hopes of peacefully accommodating their disputes with England ; but the intelligence that the British minister had hired a body of German mercenaries for their subjugation wrought so powerfully on their excited feelings, that they determined to renounce their allegiance. (July 4th, 1776.) On the motion of Richard Henry Lee, member for Virginia, the congress published their declara- tion of independence, and elected the colonies into free and sovereign states. At the very time that this resolution was adopted, a British Heet was hovering round their coast, a British army was preparing to invade their territories, and symptoms of discouragement and disaffection were percep- tible in their own soldiery. Still the congress refused to despair, and prepared to support with spirit the independ- ence which they had so courageously asserted. 11. General Howe did not long remain idle at Halifax, whither he had retired after the evacuation of Boston ; he sailed for New York, and being there joined by his brother, lord Howe, with a considerable fleet, he made himself mas- ter of that city and Long Island. Following up his tri- umphs, he expelled the provincial army from the Jerseys, and conr lelled them to take refuge beyond the Delaware. This ra ' success raised the hopes of the British to the highest , 'h ; the immediate conquest of America was looked upon as absolutely certain, and little seemed wanting to complete so desirable a consummation. 12. But they soon found that Washington, though defeated, was not sub dued, and that his knowledge of the country in a great degree compensated for his inferiority of numbers. Cross- ing the Delaware in the middle of December, he attacked a body of Hessians at Trenton, and made 900 prisoners ; and *'lt','-5^;T".s^ ■** ■-' JiM^ -; OEOROE III. 381 then ivhile lord Cornwallis was advancing to recover Tren* ton, the indefatigable Americans suddenly appeared in his lordship's rear, and destroyed or captured the greater part of a detachment under colonel Mawhood. 13. A very extraordinary incident took place, about this time, in the East Indies. The council of Madras had plunged the company into an unjustifiable war with the rajah of Tanjore, whom they attacked and took prisoner. Lord Pigot was sent out as governor, with positive orders to re- store the rajah, but he had scarcely effected this object, when he was seized and thrown into prison by certain members of the council. This indignity worked so bitterly on his feelings that he sickened and died, leaving behind him a higher character for honour and integrity than'most of those who have made fortunes in the East. His perse- cutors were subsequently brought to trial and punished, but not with severity proportioned to their deserts. 14. (A.D. 1777.) The caution of Washington prevented any decisive engagement in the early part of the new cam- paign ; but the march of Howe towards Philadelphia induced the American general to hazard a battle. The armies met near the Brandy wine river, and after a long and fierce battle the English obtained a decisive victory. Philadelphia was Immediately surrendered, and occupied by the English forces : a second attempt made by Washington to retrieve his losses was defeated ; and by the aid of the fleet, Howe reduced the fortifications which the Americans had con- structed on the banks of the Delaware, and opened free communication with his supplies. f 15. But the successes of the English in the southern sutrs were more than counterbalanced by the disaster they expe- rienced in the northern. Early ir the year, general Bur- goyne, with an army of 7000 men, and a large body of Indians, received orders to advance from Canada into the state of New York, and co-operate with a body of troops which Howe was to send to his assistance. This plan, if successful, would cut off the New England states from the rest of the union, and expose them to be overrun and eon quered in detail. Burgoyne's part in this expedition was executed with equal skill and intrepidity ; he marched boldly through the country, bearing down all opposition. But the Americans soon assembled an army in his front, and as he had advanced to a distance from his supplies, his situation soon became very hazardous. The operations of the 'm 88tl HISTORY OF KNOLAND. t. s trmy, whose assistance he expected, were misernbly con- ducted ; sir Henry Clinton did not leave New York till October, and even then, instead of hastening forward to his destination, he employed his troops in burning the unre- sisting towns and villages, and devastating the country. Whether this tardiness is to be ascribed to the weakness of the general, or to the insufficiency of the orders sent out by the ministry, is not easily ascertained, but from whatever cause, it proved the ruin of the entire expedition. On the 15th of October, general Vaughan, with the van of Clinton's army, could have rescued Burgoyne from all his difficulties, but Vaughan stopped to plunder and burn the little town of iEsopus, and before he was again prepared to advance, Burgoyne and his army were prisoners of war to the Ameri- can army under the command of general Gates. 16. Bufgoyne, depending on the advance of the army from New York, had allowed himself to be cooped up in Saratoga ; his provisions were exhausted, his ammunition beginning to fail, his troops dispirited, and his lines inca- pable of long defence. He therefore surrendered on the condition that his troops, after having laid down their arms, should be sent home, provided that they should not serve again in America during the present contest. Burgoyne returned tu England on his parole only to experience greater mortifications ; the leaders of administration threw all the blame of a failure, attributable solely to themselves, on the unfortunate general; he was refused admittance into the presence of the sovereign, denied the justice of a court martial, .md subjected to a series of petty persecutions infinitely more disgraceful to the ministry than to their victim. 17. General Gates, after his victory, advanced to check the outrages committed by Clinton's soldiers ; sir Henry retreated to New York before the victorious army, and the American general was consequently enabled to send such a reinforcement to Washington's army, as made it once more a match for that of Howe, and sufficient to protect the province of Pennsylvania from the ravages of the enemy. • . ' &;•- Queationa for Examination. 1. How were the hopes of the friends of pence disappointed 7 2. What were the circumstances of the anair at Lexington ? 3. Did the Americans begin the war vigorously ? 4. How was the proclamation of general Gage treated ? 5. What were the circumstanceaof the battle of Bunker'* hill! 0£OROB III. 883 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. W«r« any efTortf made to reitora peace f How did the invasion of Canada terminate T ■ * . Why waa Boalon evacuated by the Britiih 1 Did the expedition against Charleiton lucceed T Under what cirnmutancefl did the Americans publiah th« dflolamtion of independence ? " ° i- ,< What auoceMeii did general Howe obtain T 12. Waa Waahingtun dispirited by hia looaca ? ' 13. Did any remarkable circunwtance occur in the Eoat Indie* T 14. Where was Washington defeated 7 15. What led to the surrender of Burgoyne's army f 16. How waa Burgoyno troated 7 ' 17. How did Ootea uae hia victory 7 II SECTION V. Shall Chaiham dio, and be furitnti Oh no ! Wiinii Iriiin III iiiurce let fralel'ul lorniw flow: Hw inaichleM ardour flred ench liaar-itruck mind, Ilia geniui «oaiud when Britoni droop'd and pined.— Oarriek, 1. (A.D. 1778.) The event of which the ministers had been vainly warned from the commencement of the unfortunate contest into which they had rashly precipitated the country, at length took place. France acknowledged the independence of the United States, and entered into a close alliance with the revolted colonies. Before the news of this treaty could reach America, lord North introduced two conciliatory b. 1j into the British parliament, granting the provincials every thing that they had demanded before their declaration of independence. In the debates that ensued, the minister found some of his former supporters more virulent antago- nists than the opposition — they taunted him for deserting the high principles of prerogative and British supremacy which he had hitherto maintained, and complained bitterly of the deception by which he had gained their support. The bills, however, passed the lower house, but their progress through the upper was marked by an incident that must not be carelessly passed over. It was known that the duke of Richmond was of opinion that peace should be purchased even by acknowledging the independence of America, and that he intended to propound these sentiments during the discussion. 2. The venerable earl of Chatham, sinking under the weight of years and bodily infirmities, attended in his place for the purpose of pfotesting against the dis- memberment of an empire to whose greatness he had so largely contributed, and deprecated such a proceeding with great warmth and eloquence. The duke of Richmond hav- ing answered this speech, the earl rose to reply, but the powers of nature were exhausted, he fell on the floor of t^« / I *' ' ^lita^Ls.. 884 HISTORY OF KNOLAND. house in the attempt to utter his sentiments, and being removed to his favourite country-seat, expired in a short time after. 8. The parliament paid merited honour to the memory of the most successful and able minister that Eng- land had hitherto produced ; the sum of twenty thousand pounds was granted for the payment of his debts, a pension of four thousand pounds settled on his heirs ; his remains were interred with great pomp in Westminster Abbey, and a monument erected to his memory at the public expense. 4. Commissioners had been sent out to propose measures of reconciliation to the Americans when it was too late ; of course, their mission signally failed ; the congress would not even listen to terms unless the recognition of their inde- pendence formed a preliminary article, and the commis- sioners, having made an unsuccessful attempt to bribe some of the American deputies, were dismissed with mingled contempt and indignation. 5. The first hostile collision between France and England took place at sea ; admiral Keppel attacked a French squad- ron under the command of D'Orvilliers, but, being badly supported by sir Hugh Palliser, the second in comnrand, obtained no decisive success. Advantage was taken of this circumstance by the ministry to crush Keppel, who had been long their political opponent, and at their instigation Palliser, preferred a charge of misconduct against his com- mander. But the verdict of the court-martial disappointed their expectations ; Keppel was honourably acquitted, and Palliser being subsequently brought to trial for disobedience to orders, was partially condemned, and but for the interpo- sition of the entire power of the ministry, would have been subjected to a more ignominious verdict.* 6. (A.D. 1770.) The Americans, having now obtained so powerful an ally as France, fondly hoped that the war would be terminated in a single campaign. Great, therefore, was * This year a bold adventurer, of the name of Paul Jones, kept all the west- em coast of the island in alarm. He landed at Whitehaven, where he burned a ship in the harbour, and even attempted to bum the town. He afterwards landed in Scotland, and plundend the house of the earl of Selkirk. He some time after fought a bloody battle with captain Pearson, of the Serapis, whom he compelled to submit : and so shattered was his own ship in the engnffe- ment, that he had no sooner quitted her, in order to take possession of his prize, than she went to the bottom. Captain Farmer, too, of the Quebec, (f>ught a no less desperate battle with a French ship of greatly superior force. He continued the engagement, with unremitted fury, till his own ship acci dentally took fire, and was blown into the air, together with himself ami most of tlie crew. - I. iJWWpilli iU»!-MllJJ(»l.«|i*' crnRnp, in. ?MS their mortification to find the Enf^ish superior during tlw entire year. Clinton maintained his defensive position in New Yoric, and baffled all the attempts of Washinf^ton to force an enf agement ; while in the southern states, Georgia was subdued by colonel Campbell, aided by admiral Parker, and the attempts made to recover it by the American general, Lincoln, and th^ French admiral, D Estaing, were signally defeated. 7. But the honour of England was not similarly main- tained in other quarters ; several islands of the West Indies were captured by the French ; and the united fleets of France and Spain, for the latter country was now united to the ene« raies of Britain, swept the channel, and insulted the coasts with impunity. Lord Sandwich, the first lord of the admi- ralty, was a man notoriously unfit for his situation ; but his colleagues, wiUi the blind obstinacy which characterized all their measures, determined to retain him in oflTice ; even though they were aware, that by his neglect, Plymouth was left in such a defenceless state, that its dockyards and arsenal were only saved from destruction by the ignorance of the admirale of the combined fleet. 8. In Ireland an important revolution eommenoed, which though it terminated bloodlessly, threatened at one period to have caused a separation between the two countries. The greater part of the army necessary for the defence of that country had been withdrawn to assist in the subjugation of America; and when the French and Spanish fleets menaced the island with invasion, there were no preparations made for its defence. The people, left to themnelves, showed spirit worthy of the crisis; companies of volunteers were embodied in every town and district ; arms were at first cheerfully supplied by the government ; ofidcers were chosen by election ; and the patriotic earl of Charlemont appointed commander-in>ehief of the independent companies. When England recovered her wonted superiority by sea, the fear of invasion was removed, but the volunteers retained their arms and preserved their organization. They had learned the secret of their strength, and were determined to efl^ect the regeneration of their country, by establishing the indepen- dence of her parliament and the freedom of her commerce This was a new and unexpected difficulty to the ministry ; but, pursuing consistently their steady course of narrow and illiberal policy, they refused to make any concession, and thus brought Ireland to the very brink of a r<;volution. 2K . HiU-k>iM^iuL.^»..;L/l.^LL'«^ik.'£' JlA^r^J. -^MaS^^ "^.- »86 HISTORY OP UNOLAND. 0. (1780.) Holland was soon added to the enemies or England; Mr. Laurens, who had been president of con- gress, was taken by a British cruiser, and the papers found in his possession fully proved the existence of a treaty be- tween the Dutch and the Americans. War was therefore declared, and thus was England engaged with a fourth enemy without a single ally. About the same time the northern powers of Europe joined in a confederation called the armed neutrality, which was aimed against the mari- time claims of England. Its avowed design was to pro- tect the trade of neutral vessels with the several belligerent powers. 10. But the spirit of the English nation sunk not in this apparently unequal contest. Admiral Rodney captured a Spanish convoy, defeated the enemy's fleet, though forced to engage under very disadvantageous circumstances, and relieved Gibraltar, which the Spaniards had begun to be- siege ; sailing thence to the West Indies, he dispersed a French fleet far superior to his own. In America, South Carolina was subdued by sir Henry Clinton ; ind the American general Arnold, believing the independent cause almost hopeless, abandoned his country's cause, and entered into the royal service. The acquisition of this worthless deserter cost the life of one of Britain's best and bravest officers. Major Andre, adjutant-general of the royal army, having been sent to conduct the negotiation with Arnold, was seized within the American lines, and hanged as a spy, by a rigid interpretation of the laws of war. 1 1 . The ministry had hitherto found the parliament well disposed to support their measures ; but the number of pe- titions presented from the counties and leading towns against the administration, soon raised up a formidable opposition. (April 6th.) At length Mr. Dunning moved his celebrated resolution, ** that the influence of the crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished," which was car- ried by a majority of twenty-eight votes ; but a second re- solution, designed to give effect to the former, was rejected by a majority of fifty-one, and th<6 ministry soon after re- covered their wonted superiority. 12. Some of the penal laws against the Roman catholics wsre wisely repealed by the parliament, but in consequence of the exertions of some misguided bigots, these measures by the most were r-11 I luuuweu 1" : J_i-i - luriuiuauitJ nuu) ii iiiai ever uis 0£UUGK III. 3«7 of graced the metropolis. June 2. An immense multitude assembled in St. Oeorge's-fields, to petition for a repeal ot the laws that had bjen passed in favour of the Roman cathclics, and after adopting several resolutions, proceeded in large parties to the avenues leading to the house of com- mons, where they insulted several of the members. Lord George Gordon, a visionary enthusiast, came out and made a violent harangue to the multitude, informing them that their petition had been rejected. The irritated mob at once proceeded to acts of violence ; they destroyed all the Romish chapels in and about town ; they burned the prisons of Newgate, the king's bench, and the fleet, together with several private houses ; they even threatened the bank, which was preserved with difficulty. At length the military were called out, and the rioters dispersed, though not until two hundred and twenty of the'r number had been killed or mortally wounded. T -^ 13. (1781.) The campaign which decided the question of American independence seemed at its commencement to promise a far different termination : Washington's army was so distressed that 1500 troops deserted his lines ; but though they had thus shown their resentment, they refused to listen to any offers from the British generals, and the emissaries sent to seduce them were given up and hanged. Congress, however, exerted itself so successfully, that the distresses of the army were finally relieved, and Washing- ton enabled to commence decisive operations. He at first designed to besiege New York, but being baffled by the superior forces of sir Henry Clinton, he suddenly resolved to march into the southern states, and overpower lord Oornwallis before Clinton's army could move to his as- sistance. I4s This decisive operation was crowned with complete success ; lord Cornwallis was attacked in York- town, by the combined armies of France and America ; his lordship made a gallant defence, but two redoubts in his front were carried by storm — his works ruined — his lines fiwept by the fire of the enemy's batteries, and the effective strerrjth of his garrison diminished by sickness. Under theoe circumstances, nothing remained but to propose terms of capitulation. He accordingly surrendered to general Lincoln witK the same formalities that he had pre- scribed to that officer eighteen months before at Charleston ; and it is remarkable, as a second coincidence, thai the I I W-r^ ' "Ti ,fA nus HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ^articles were drawn up by lieutenant-co.onel Laurens, whose father was still detained as a close prisoner in the Tower of London. 15. These losses were in some degree compensated by the success of our arms in the East Indies, where sir Eyre Ooote defeated Hyder Ally, and restored the company's ascendency. In the West Indies, the island of St. Eustatius was taken from the Dutch, but subsequently recaptured by the French. A. desperate engagement also took place off the Dogger Bank between an English squadron commanded by admiral Parker, and a Dutch squadron under admiral Zoutman ; after a fierce battle which lasted three hours, the victory remained undecided, and both returned to their re* spective harbours. i^vmt? ; . :r:» i v - . Queatisns for Examination, . ';.?,?:, 1. What measure did the British ministry propose? 3. Is there any thing remarkable in the circumstances of lord Chatham's death ? 3. What hiMUMirs were paid to his memory? 4. How were lord Nratn's commissioners treated bv the Americans ? 5. In what disgraceful manner was admiral Keppel treated ? 6. Did the results of the campaign answer the expectations (^ the Ame* ricans? 7. How was the English navy neglected ? . < . - 8. What important events to(m place in Ireland ? ' ' ' • - ; 9. By what new enemies was England assailed ? 10. Did the British obtain any triumphs ? 11. What remarkable resoluuon was carried in parliament ? 12. Did any ibrmidable riots occur in London ? IS. How was Washington baffled in the beginning of the last campaign ? 14. What great triumph did the Americans obtain ? . / 15. Did the ESngli^ obtain any successes ? > r / ! / I ii^SJ SECTION VI. For thoe. sweet peace, abundance loadi along Uer joyoua Uaioi and bardii awake to song. Bland's Jlntkologv. 1. (A.D. 178a) The American war was now virtually / at an end ; all mional hopes of reducing the country again under the subjection of Great Britainrwere abandoned by the great majority of the nation ; but the ministry at least manifested the virtue of perseverance, and declared their resolution to carry on " a war of posts." The nation at large was opposed to this insane project ; and parliament, yielding to the voice of the people, gradually withdrew its ^ supDort from the administration. At length, on the motion of general Conway, the house of ronimons voted '* that tSKOROG in. S89 whoever advised hi., majesty to the contintiation of the American war, should be considered as a public enemy/' This, of course, led to the resignation of lord North, and a new ministry was formed under the auspices of Mr. Fox and the marquis of Rockingham. . 2. Negotiations for peace were immediately commencedt nor were any of the belligerent powers disinclined to an accommodation. The United States, having secured theii independence, had nothing to gain by a continuance of the war ; the navy of France, after being severely crippled during the contest, was at its close almost annihilated by a victory which admiral Rodney gained over count de Grasse, in the West Indies, on the 12th of April; and the Spaniards, after having besieged Gibraltar, and wasied before its walls an incredible quantity of blood and trea- sure, had the mortification to find all their efforts fail, their grand attack signally defeated, and the floating batteries,' which they had deemed irresistible, burned to the water's edge, by a tremendous storm of hot balls and shells poured on them by the gallant garrison. 3. Wilkes took advantage of the altered spirit of the times, and procured the removal of all the resolutions con- cerning the Middlesex election from the journals of the house of commons ; after which this celebrated demagogue sunk into complete insignificance. In Ireland, the parliament, roused by the fervid eloquence of Mr. Grattan, obtained from the new ministry the concession of their legislaUve in- dependence. Immediately after which, the Irish house of commons voted a sum of d@50,000 to purchase an estate for Mr. Grattan, as a reward for the services which he had ren- dered his country^ - 4. But while the new administration was exerting itself for the reformation of abuses at home and the establishment of peace abroad, it was suddenly dissolved by the death of the marquis of Rockingham. The earl of Shelburne was appointed premier, which so displeased Mr. Fox and his friends that they immediately resigned. The noble lord did net long retain his place ; Mr. Fox, to the utter astonish- ment of the entire nation, entered into a coalition with lord North, whom he had so long and so bitterly opposed. Their united parliamentary influence was irresistible : and they forced themselves into the royal councils, in spite of the se-t ^rf>t rliBliIrA nf thp kinor ani\ tViA rtnpn HifloniRf. nf thn nntirtn. — p _j Q _. , 6. (A.D. 1783.) The success of the coalition was of short -■^^ 2k2 ; ■+. ■ -" f^H~•-ytl| p-oi" V *i^ r% 300 HISTORY or ENOLANO. duration ; mtmediately after concluding the peace vrith France and America, Mr. Fox introduced a bill for regu- lating the government of India, which his influence carried through the house of commons, notwithstanding the most ▼tgorous efforts of the company and its servants. But in the lords the opposition was more effectual, the king him- ■elf avowed his hostility to the measure, and it was finally rejected by a considerable majority. The ministry appear- ing unwilling to resign, were summarily dismissed, and a new administration formed, of which Mr. William Pitt, the second son of the earl of Chatham, was the most conspi- cuous member. 6. (A. D. 1784.) Parliament at its meeting exhibited the unusual spectacle of ministers in a complete minority ; to carry on the public business under such circumstances was, of course, 'impossible, and no sooner were the supplies voted than the parliament was dissolved. The coalition had given such general offence to the nation, that the new ministry ob- tained a decisive majority in the new house of commons. Mr. Pitt's India bill, which was less violent, but also less effective than that of Mr. Fox, was passed triumphantly ; and an act for restoring the Scotch estates forfeited in 1745, went through both houses without opposition, and received the royal assent. 7. (A. D. 1785.) Mr. Pitt, pursuant to the promises he had so often made, brought forward his motion for a reform in parliament ; his plans were very judicious and well ar- ranged, but they were rejected by a considerable majority, not, as was generally suspected, without his tacit consent. 8. (1786.) The south-western coast of New Holland afford- ing several favourable spots for colonization, it was resolved to transport convicts thither, and give them an opportunity of retrieving their characters and reforming their manners in another hemisphere. About the same time a maniac, named Margaret Nicholson, made an attempt to assassinate the king, as he was alighting from his carriage ; she was imme- diately seized, and her insanity being fully proved, she was sent to Bethlehem hospital, where she remained safely guarded, but unmolested. 9. (1787.) Mr. Sheridan, aided by Mr. Burke, Mr. Fox, and several others, brought forward a motion for the im- peachment of Warren Hastings, late governor-general of .i: e i,:->u ^. .-._ .1 !• /4 >V ■'Wk ^« «« W« «« « «w« 4\\ t^ ^««i»«k^a«A« J^V* of hit office, which passed with but little opposition. Thn OEOROE III. 301 consequent trial before the house of lords lingered out during the seven succeeding years, and ended in the acquittal of the accused. 10. A strong party in Holland, secretly supported by the French court, violently opposed their stadtholder, the prince of Orange, and disregarded the remonstrances made by England in his favour. This dispute would probably have rekindled a general war, had not the king of Prussia, en- raged at an insult offered to his sister, sent a large army into Holland, which soon restored the authority of the stadt- holder, and crushed the power of his opponents. 11. (1788.) "While the nation was enjoying profound re- pose, and silently repairing the losses incurred in the Ame- rican war, the country was suddenly astounded by the news that his majesty had been attacked by a severe illness, which' incapacitated him for discharging the duties of government. Mr. Fox insisted that the regency of right belonged to the prince of Wales ; Mr. Pitt as vehemently asserted, that par- liament alone could provide for such an emergency. (1789.) After some very warm debates, it was finally resolved that t)ie prince of Wales should be declared regent, subject how- ever to certain restrictions, and that the custody of the king's person should be intrusted to the queen, assisted by a coun- cil. The parliament of Ireland came to a very different de- cision ; they decreed tlie regency of their country to the prince of Wales, wiithout any restriction whatever. This difference between the tv/o parliaments would probably have led to fatal consequences but for the unexpected recovery of the king. His majesty's restoration to health diffused uni- versal joy through the kinadom, and was celebrated by more universal and splendid illuminations than any previously known. ,. i,. 12. (1790.) A dispute took place between England and Spain about the possession of Nootka Sound, on the north- west coast of America, where the English had planted a small colony, which the Spaniards had seized, and made the settlers prisoners. An armament was prepared with asto- nishing rapidity, but at the expense of three millions sterling ; Spain however was unprepared for war, and all disputes were finally adjusted by an equitable convention. 13. While the country was thus respected abroad, and enjoying profound peace at home, events were occurring in a neighbouring nation which soon involved England in a long, expensive, but not inglorious war ; and produced a de- n ■j--!;,-,../-v,,>j;.T 302 uirroRV OF enoLand. ■i^' cisive change in the aspect of Europe, all whose effects are probably not even yet developed* . ". Queationa for Examination 1. How waa the Ameruan war finally teiminated f ^ 2. Why were all parties inclined to peace 7 3. Whatcircunutancea showed the altered spirit of tlie times t 4. How was the ministry broken up ? 5. Did the coalition ministry long continue? 6. How was Mr. Pitt's power strengthened t 7. What important motion made by Mr. Pitt was defeated t 8. Wa3 any attempt made on the king's life ? 9. Is there any thing remarkable in the trial of Warren Hastings f 10. What disturbances took place in Holland ? 11. To what disputes did his majesty's illness give rise f 12. What arrangements were made respecting Nootka Sound t 13. What was the state of the country at this time 7 ■^' W?' SECTION VII. R«1iKion~rr()edoin— vengeanco— what jrou willi A wiird'i enoufh tu Him maDkind to ktil; gtime Ikctioua phraio by cunniiiic caucht and aprend, That Ruilt may reiKD, and wolvea and wormi bo fed. — Byron> ^ 1. No event of equal importance M'ith the French revolu* tion is recorded in history, and there is no subject which has given rise to such diversity of opinion. Its causes, its consequences, even the simple facts that occurred in its pro- gress, are to this hour matters of keen and violent debate, nor can an impartial narrative be expected while many of the actors are still alive, and while the impulse then given con- tinues to be felt in every part of Europe. It is undeniable that the form of government established in France sadly re- quired amelioration ; the privileges of the nobles were tyran- nical and oppressive, and they were exercised with strict severity ; the conduct of the clergy was far from being in accordance with the principles of that holy religion which they professed ; the prodigality of the court was extreme ; the criminal laws unjustly constituted, and worse adminis- tered ; the government placed in the hands of nobles equally ignorant and indolent ; nor was there a single office, civil or military, open to the most superior merits, unless aided by the possession of high birth and titled name. These were evils poorly compensated by the private virtues of the hap- less sovereign, who came to the throne of France at the mo- ment when the accumulated evils of centuries had nearly reached their consummation^ 2. While the higher classes were sunk in luxury and sloth, the lower ranks, in a state ' »'-rf>H." ■•*'■ f ' OCOROB III. 898 of ignorance and degradation, and goaded on by misery •WBxe ready to second every movement, and to join in every excess. In the middle classes, the elements of strife were even more thickly sown ; they were irritated at the con- tempt shown them by their haughty superiors, they were in- dignant at seeing the doors of preferment closed against the exertions of honourable ambition, and their minds were de- bauched by the perusal of the speculative treatises on *' the rights of man," which, despite of every restriction, daily issued from the press, and which, with very few exceptions, advocated princinles subversive of all religion, and cons**- quently of all gooo gcvemment. 3. The American war precipitated a revolution, which probably, could not have been much longer delayed. The French soldiers, while fighting in the cause of American freedom, naturally imbibed the principles of their allies, and diffused them over the country on their return home : the royal exchequer, which had been nearly exhausted by the profligate extravagance of the former rei^n, was totally ruined by an expensive war, and the country was on the very eve of a national bankruptcy. When a variety of ex- pedients, most of which made matters worse, had been tried in vain, the king defermined to convoke the states-general, 'which had not been assembled since 1014, and they accord- ingly met at Versailles on the 5th of May, 1789. 4. After some angry debates, it was determined ihat the three orders of the clergy, the nobles, and the commons, should meet in one body, an arrangement which threw all the power into the hands of the popular party. They as- sumed the name of the national assembly, and immediately commenced a total change in the constitution of their coun- try. Feudal privileges and titles were abolished ; local di- visions set aside ; and the country distributed into depart- ments instead of provinces, for the purpose of adopting an uniform system of taxation ; monastic institutions were suppressed, and the English system of trial by jury sub- stituted for the administration of justice by the old provincial parliaments. 5. Such an extensive alteration naturally disgusted the court and the nobility ; unable to conceal their hostility to the new measures, they exposed themselves to popular in- dignation, and dreading; \he consequences, the Count d'Artois, (afterwards Charles X.) the prince of Conde, and several others, emigrated. But this night aggravaier the jealousy i-jyM X' '■ I q "T^'^f*' lifw* ao4 HIITORY 01 BNOlbAND. of the people ; the Parisian mob stormed the fortress of the Bastile, the state prison of Franco, and levelled it with the ground ; they next formed a national ffuard, composed en- tirely of citizens, at the head of whicn was placed M. dc la Fayette ; and at length a furious mob advanced to Ver- sailles, and brought the king and royal family in triumph to the capital. 6. (1701.) The progress of the revolution in France wati anxiously watched by two powerful parties in England, who / viewed it with very different feelings. While one party looked upon it as the triumph of liberty, the administratiuii ) and a large portion of the aristocracy regarded it as the 1 triumph of anarchy over all legitimate authority. Nor were such feelings confined to the higher classes, the popu- lace shared largely in the hatred to the new politics of France ; a dinner to celebrate the capture of the Bastile was adjourned in London through dread of popular resentment ; but in Birmingham a festive meeting to commemorate the samo event was dispersed by a furious mob, which sub- sequently proceeded to destroy the dissenting chapels, and the houses of all who were supposed favourable to the French revolution. 7. (1702.) The principal powers on the continent having entered into a treaty, to check the progress of the French revolution, it was obvious that war could not long be de- layed ; but the interference of the monarchs precipitated the events which they wished to prevent. The duke of Bruns- wick, as eommander-ili-chief of the allied armies, issued an ill-judged and sanguinary manifesto, which, with some sus- picious circumstances in the conduct of the king and queen, 80 exasperated the French, that all the power of the state was thrown into the hands of the jacobins, as the most violent republicans were called. The consequences were dreadful : the palace of the king was stormed, his guards massacred, himself and family confined as close prisoners, and royalty finally abolished in France. Ere yet the world recovered from its astonishment at these events, it learned with equal surprise and indignation, that the unfortunate king had been brought to trial by his subjects, and con- demned to death by a majority of votes. This iniquitous sentence was executed on the S'lst of January, 1703. 8. While France was thus distracted, England was quietly enjoying the blessings of peace; and the parliament engaged in the advancemeni of measures equally s^uiary OKOROK ITT. 30S ' I.J Tbt Dikt of York M Ih* mmt4» of VtlMNiMMi. and judicious. Several taxes that pressed on commerce and industry were repealed ; a bill introduced by Mr. Fox to make juries in cases of libel judges of law as well as fact, was passed; some further concessions were made to the Roman catholics; but Mr. Wilberforce*8 motion for the abolition of the slave-trade was lost by a considerable ma- jority. 0. In the East Indies, Tippoo Saib (son of Hyder Ally), who seems to have inherited his father's hostility to England along with his dominions, was completely subdued by lord Cornwallis, and forced to pdrchase peace by the cession of a large portion of his dominions, and the pay- ment of an enormous sum, for the performance of which his sons were given as hostages. a 10. (1703.) The atrocities committed by the French jacobins completed the alienation of the British people from the cause of the new revolution ; and the ministry, now certain of popular support, adopted several measures which left their hostility no longer doubtful. The national con- vention immediately declared war against the king of Great Britain and the stadtholder of Holland, intimating by this artful phraseology that the people of these countries had an interest distinct from their respective sovereigns. II. It is certain that this declaration of war, if not directly provoked, was by no means unacceptable to the British miniiitry, and the great body of the aristocracy by which it a »' WHB B upportcd. Immediittely after its appearance, the duke '%';;■! ^^^A x ..',;. m HirroRT or bnoland of York WM lent to join the alliod armies in the invniion of France; but the invaderi, though at first •ucceisful, having taken Valenoiennei, lOon luflered aome aevcre oheoka ; and at the end of the aecond campaign were totally defeated by the republioani. The fortified harbour of Toulon having been aurrendered to the Engliih, the French government made the most atrenuoua eflbrta for its recovery ; these proved for a time abortive, until the direction of the siege was intrusted to Napoleon BonapartOt who now for the first time appeared on that icene where he afterwards I played so oonspiouous a part. By his exertions the Eng- lish were compelled to evacuate the town, leaving lh« greater portion of tht oitiiens exposed to the sanguinary v^ vengeance of the irritated republicans. ^i 13. (1704.) To compensate for this ill success by land, the British navy established its wonted pre-eminence, in a victory gained by earl Howe over the French fleet in the West Indies ; and several of the colonies belonging to France were about the same time conquered with little trouble. 18. The domestic occurrences of this period, though not very numerous, were not deficient in import- ance : Messrs. Hardy, Home Tooke, and others, were brought to trial at the Old Bailey on a charge of hiffh-trea- son, and acquitted, after a patient investigation, which lasted several days. That they desired to effect a great change in the oonsti^Milion of the country was acknowledged by the prisonersMhemselves ; but it was clearly proved that they wished to obtain reform only by legal and constitutional means, and that they were opnosed to violence and insur- rectionary movements. The ministers succeeded better with similar prosecutions in Ireland and Scotland, where several persons were found guilty of sedition, and sentenced to several degiees of punishment. 14. (1706.) The ill success of the war induced many of the continental sovereigns to make peace with the French republic. The grand-duke of Tuscany set the example, and was followed by the king of Spain, the Swips cantonft, and the regent of Sweden. The king of Prussia only , waited until he had received the English subsidy, and then Vsiffned a treaty with the power he had been paid to oppose. The people of Holland expelled the stadlholder, and erect- ing in their country what they called a Batavian republic, h^came virtually a province of France. In short, England had scarcely an ally remnininir but Austria, and the con 6X01101 III. 897 tinued friendship of that power wai never a matter of cer- tainty. 15. Tlie English navy obtained some triumphs, esnecially a brilliant victory under lord Rridport, at Port I'Orient ; but an expedition undertaken by the French emi- grants, under the auspices of the British ministry, waf signally defeated. 10. Symptoms of discontent, almost amounting to dis- affection, began to be manifested in various parts of the empire ; the successes of the war had been few and of little value ; but had they been still more decisive, they would not have compensated for the distress occasioned by un- prcctuientod taxation. The people of London suflfered se- verely from the interruption of commerce, and some of the lower class, irritated by their protracted misery, assailed the king's carriage when his majesty went in state to the huuso of lords. This outrage served, however, to strengthen the administration, for the parlihment, indignant at the out- rage offered to the sovereign, sanctioned several bills for the suppression of sedition ; bills, perhaps, rendered necessary by the peculiar circumstances of the period, but which greatly diminished the limits of British freedom. 17. The prince of Wales, in order to procure the payment of his debts, married his cousin, the princess Caroline of Bruns- wick ; we must once again refer to this unfortunate union, it is sufRcient to say here, that a daughter was born in the beginning of the following year, soon after which the parents were finally separated. 18. (1706.) The Dutch and Spaniards, having joined their forces to those of the French, were now become enemies of Great Britain ; and this country, from being an accessary, was now a principal in the war. Several of the Dutch set- tlements in the East Indies were subdued, but\ England lost the island of Corsica, which had been formally placed under British protection a few years previously. The Austrians were almost driven out of*^ Italy by the French under Napo- leon Bonaparte, whose brilliant career began now to excite the attention of Europe. A fruitless effort to terminate the war by negotiation was made by the British ministry ; it failed, because probably it never was intended to succeed. 19. (1797.) The enormous expenses which Great Britain had to sustain were found to have exhausted the resources of the country so much, that at length the bank stopped payment ; and an issue of paper money was of course the consequence. Two alarming mutinies broke out in the 2L % • .i IM na\ Hirromv oi bnolanc. ih >t Spithcad wa« settled by giving the fMniMi additioniil y,.j , ^nt that ut iho Nore was not quelled without bloodshed, and the execution of ^ome of the ringleaders. 20. But England still maintained her naval renown; a bril- liaiit victory was gained by sir John Jar via over the Spanish fleet, off Cane St. Vincent, and an equally glorious triumph ,/as ohtaiucd over the Dutch ^y admiral Duncan, at Cam- perdown. 21. Our ally had not equal fortune, Austria was everywhere defeated, and to escape total ruin was obliged to submit to the terms of peace which Bonaparte dictated at Oampo Formio. I..:- Queitiom for Examination, ■•iussu'i*'; 1. s. & 4. A. 6. 7. a 9. 10. 11. 12. la 14. Ifi. 16. 17. 18. 19. 90. 21. What WM the state of France at the commenceinent of the revolution f In what dangerous oircuimtanoee were the different orden of eooiety f How did the American war precipitate a revolution t What triumpha were gained oy the popular party at the meeting of the •tatea-general f Did these alterations produce any important results T In what manner was the French revolution regarded in EIngland ? What consequences were produced by the duke of Brunswick's proc1a< mationf What was the state of England at this time T Was any important advantages gained in the East Indies t How did Uie war commence f ' What reverses did the English experience? By what naval triumjphs were thesr o lapensated ? { • Did any important trials occur at f h ' t time T How did the allies of England l>eliavo ? • . . < Where was lord Bridport victuiious 7 How did the people of England show their discontent 7 What royal marriage was contracted at this time 7 In what manner was the war conducted ? Did any dangerous events occur in England 7 How did the English navy behave? Where was peace made between France and Austria f i'^ff^i ' SECTION VIII. O (Vantio thint of glory nn<1 of fhme ! — Mieklt. 1. (A.D. 1708.) The restoration of the legit . m^s^ pendence of Ireland in 1782 was far from satisfying the ex- pectations formed by a considerable party in that countiy. Reforr- in parliament, and a repeal of the remnant of the pend ^. "^ asrainst the Roman catholics, were rather de< man(I'>d ;v u rigH than craved as a boon ; a d when the govcruLea?. r'^r^sed to make concessions, the majority re* maine'i ^ikllm and disco ':iLeMted, while a few wilder spirits ►,v;j,i .,,. J .^- ■ ■-■ .,.• . . , , -. :".'n'fcF' OIOII47': III. 890 meditated i total teparation from Eiif^Itnd, and the eata- bliihment uf an Irish republic fter tlic < vample uf France. Tho lower claasee were eanily mJuced to adopt Bchemes that flattered their national pride ; and though government, having received timely information, arrested the principal leaders, disafleetion waa too extenaive to be thus chf^'-ktil, and aeveral counties broke out in open insurrection. Alter n sanguinary struggle, disgraced by several atrocities on both flidPM, the revolters were everywhere defeated ; and on the i"irrcr\tt ■'• of a small body of French who had been sent to h'u\ '.■:'* isurgents, peace was finally restored by the judi> cioas and merciful measures of lord Cornwallis. -Z. In the mean time, Napoleon, with a large fleet and triDy, proceeded to Egypt, and on his voyage obtained pos- session of Malta by the treachery of the knights, 'i'he ca v.er of the French invader was sufficiently triumphant in Egypt, but his hopes of permanent success were sadiy blighted by the loss of his fleet, over which admiral Nelson obtained one of the most complete victories recorded in the annals of war. 8. This brilliant triumph was obtained in Aboukir Bay, one of the mouths of the Nile, on the first of August ; nine sail of the line were taken ; two more and a frigate either burnt or blown up during the action, and only two escaped, which, however, were subsequently captured. Soon after Bonaparte was repulsed before Acre, chiefly by the heroic exertions of sir Sidney Smith ; and having at the same time received news from France that seemed to open safer and brighter objects, he secretly returned home, and ' soon eflfected a revolution, by which he placed himself at ^ the head of the government with the title of first consul. 4. Tho first measure taken by Napoleon after his eleva- tion, was to send a letter to the king of England offering peace ; thiis w^ instantly rejected, for a new and powerful coalition had been formed against France, from which the most splendid success wa 3 anticipated. Put this coalition soon i^U to pieces ; the Russian emperor withdrev/ his forces ; the duke of York was forced to quit Holland with his army on finding the population indisposed to second his eflforts, and the French, under the new governmeni, display- ed even more than iheir former energies. 5. In the East Indies the English waged a successful war against oir old enemy Tippoo Saib ; his capital was takep by storm, himself t^lain, and all his treasures divided among the conquerors. Since that period the entire peninsula of 400 HISTORY OF BNOLANO. India has been virtually subjected to the authority of the Engiisii. 0. (A. I). 1800.) Austria had again commenced war against France, and was maintaining it with characteristic obatinacvi when Napoleon brought it to a sudden close by oi|^ of titose master-strokes of genius which ballle ordinary calculation. He lud his army across the Alps into Italy in despite of the most appalling diilicullies, and obtained a complete victory at Marengo. A subsidy from England induced the Austrian emperor to continue his resistance, but llie battle of Uohenlinden placed him completely at the mercy of the conqueror, and he was forced to solicit terms of peace. 7. The question of a legislative union with England, Nvhich had been previously negatived in the Irish house of commons, was iinally carried by the minister ; it was deter- mined that from the 1st of January, 1801, there should bo but one imperial parliament for the British islands, in which Ireland should be represented by four spiritual peers, taken in rotation every session, twenty-eight temporal peers chosen for life, and one hundred commoners elected in the usual manner. 8. (^1801.) Paul, emperor of Russia, not satisfied with deserting the alliance of England, became her bitter enemy, and persuaded the other northern powers to revive the hostile confederation, called the armed neutrality. After negotiation had been tried ineiTectually, a fleet was sent agajinst Copenhagen, under the command of admiral Parker, assisted by lord Nelson. After having passed the 8ound with little difficulty. Nelson attacked, and almost annihilated the formidable lines of the Danish defence ; but some of his own ships having grounded in a situation exposed to the fire of the hostile batteries, he took advantage of his previ- ous success to ofler terms of accommodation, which were immediately accepted. It is probable that the war nilght have been again renewed had not intelligence ber.i received of the deposition of the emperor Paul, who had been the head of the. confederacy. His son and successoi, Alexan- der, was anxious to be on good terms with Great Britain ; and the minor states found themselves obliged to imitate his example. 9. An expedition, under the command of sir Ralph Abercrombie. was eouallv successful in exnellinir the French from Egypt, but tliat distinguished officer fell in the arms of aSOROE 111. m y'^- victory. The BVoncli, hnvinjo; been dofeated at Aloxniidrin, oflercd termn wlien j^cnnrnl liutchiiidon waM pnipariiijK to beiiic|[fo thorn in Cairo, and evacuated the country pnrtiiinnt to the articles of capitulation. 10. Before the newo of this Buccess arrived in Enffland, the country had been threatenfMl with an invasion. Troops were collected along the coasts of France and Holland, and vessels prepared for their trans- portation in the harbours along the channel. Lord NelHon was sent with a flotilla to attack Boulogne, the enemy's principal rendezvous, but failed after two brilliant efforts. The bravery, however, displayed by the British sailors, and the manifest superiority of England by sea, convinced Na- poleon that the enterprise was hopeless, and the project was soon laid aside. 11. Both the belligerent powers were now heartily tired of a war, which exhausted their resources, and conferred advantages on neither. In deference to the general wish, u change of ministry was effected in England ; Mr. Adding- ton (afterwards lord Sidmouth) became premier in place of Mr. Pitt, and negotiations instantly commenced. (1802.) 'J'he terms were soon arranged, and a peace was concluded at Amiens, which cannot be better described than by the words of an eminent statesman, ** it was a pc;ace at which everybody rejoiced, but of which nobody could be proud." 12. From the moment in which the treaty of peace wat signed, jealousies and discontents daily arose in France and England, which threatened to produce fresh hostilities at no very distant period. Bonaparte, having been appointed first consul for life, used every exertion to enlarge dominions of which he was now in all but name the sovereign ; he aggran- dized France by the annexation of Piedmont to its territories, and had given even greater offence by invading Switzer- land. On the other hand, the first consul complained that England still retained possession of Malta, which, by the terms of the late treaty, should have been restored to the knights, and remonstrated against the virulent libels on his character, which were published in the English newspapers, as he believed, with the connivance of government. (A.D. 1803.) These mutual bickerings soon produced more angry demonstrations; lord Whitworth, the English ambassador, havinji^ been treated with unmerited indignity, withdrew from trance and war was soon after proclaimed. i 3. A short time previous to the recommencement of hog= Ulilies, a conspiracy for the subversion of the government 2l2 402 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. was detected in England. It was formed by a colonel Des pard, who fancied that government had treated him with unjust neglect ; his associates wore desperate men of the lowest ranks, and nothing could be more wild or inadequate than the means by which they proposed to execute theii insane projects. 14. The execution of the principal con- spirators restored public confidence ; but in a few months the alarm was again renewed by the account of an insur- rection having broken out in Dublin. The leader of the revolt was Robert Emmett, a young man of the most amia- ble qualities, but a wild and visionary enthusiast. The insurgents were badly armed and worse disciplined ; they were consequently subdued with little difficulty, but not before lord Kilwarden and his nephew had been murdered by the infatuated mob. 16. Napoleon recommenced the war with great vigou* ; his troops overran Hanover, and compelled the princes in the north of Germany to close their ports against the English. On the other hand, the British navy blockaded the mouths of the principal rivers from which British traders were er< eluded, and captured several French colonies. The EngU^" having made prizes of many French merchant-ships, and treated their crews as prisoners, Bonaparte seized on all the English visiters who were travelling in France, and detained them as hostages. 16. About the same time, the French army, which had been employed to suppress the revolt of the negroes in St. Domingo, being cut off from all supplies by the British cruisers, was forced to surrender, and the island has since remained an independent state under the name of Hayti. The threats of invading Britain were re- peated, but after a vain display of force on both sides, no efforts were made to put the threats in execution. QuesHona for Examination, 1. What calomitous event occurred in Ireland 7 2. Whither did Napoleon lead his new armament 7 3- How was the progress of the French in Egypt checked 7 4. What was Napoleon's first attempt when appointed consul 7 fi. Did the Englisnobtr'n any triumph in the F^ast Indies 7 6. Where was the power of Austria overthrown ? 7. What important change was made in the government of Ireland 7 8. How did England escape the dangers threatened by the armed neu trality 7 Bv whom were the French driven from Egypt 7 What events were produced by the threats of inraeion't 11. How was a peace effected 7 A# 12. Did the peace promise to be permanent 7 '''^ 9, 10, ,;m' ■ i' OEOROK III. 13. Whatcmupiracy was discoverod in England J 14. Wan there not a now attempt at inturrection in Ireland f li. How did the war commence ? 16. Of what island were the French deprived 7 4oa / I if' SECTION IX. A»i»— uttho hour orulmoit nnnii rliy cinlHtiiimi IhII, thy wnrrlom blond; riiH viKorouH rninil, ina vnlimit hand, ' Dutort ut unco the mouniiiiK land. — Cooke. 1. (A.D. 1804.) The administration of Mr. Addington having failed to give satisfaction to the nation, he resigned, and was succeeded by IVk. Pitt, who immediately devoted all his energies to the foomation of a new coalition against France. In this labour ne was not a little assisted by tiie general indignation whiclu>was excited by the unprincipled murder of the duke d'Rsf^en. This unfortunate young prince was seized by the Hemissaries of Bonaparte in a neutral territory, dragged to the castle of Vincennes, sub- jected to the mockery of a trial before a military tribunal, and shot in the ditch of the castle by torch-light. Immedi- ately after the perpetration of this crime, Bonaparte was proclaimed emperor of the French and king of Italy ; but the assumption of the latter title gave great offence to Austria, whose claims on Italy were thus contemptuously disregarded. 2. One ally, however, was ensured to France by an act of questionable policy on the part of England. Spain hav- ing entered into a treaty with Napoleon, the British minister determined to intercept the treasure ships from South America, without waiting for the formality of a declaration of M'ar. Three of' f^^se vessels -^ere intercepted by the British squadron, >(\v^o were taken, but the third unfortu- nately blew u|tt and the greater part of the crew perished. The Spanishj«t«5*rt, on hearing the news, immediately pro- claimed itself |he enemy uf Great Britain. 3. (A.D. 1805.) The naval triumphs of England were consummated by the almost total annihilation of the hostile fleets. The French ships of war in Toulon, having baffled the vigilance of the blockading squadron, effected a junction with me Spanish fleet at Cadiz, and sailed for the West Indies; hither they wei pursued by lord Nelson; but hav- ing heard of his annroach. the allied admirals returned to Europe. Nelson soon followed, and after several disap- pointments, had, at length, the satisfaction to discover the t". iji^ji.- 404 HISTORY OV ENGLAND. DmUi of lord Ntltoo, French under Villeneiive, and the Spaniards under Gravina, on the morning of October 2l8t, drawn up in a double line of battle off Cape Trafalgar. The British navy attacked in two columns, the windward line being led by Nelson, in the Victory, the leeward by admiral Collingwood. After a terrible engagement, whicli lasted three hours, the English obtained a decisive victory. Nineteen sail of the line, with Villeneuvc, and two other flag officers, were captured ; the remainder, under admiral Gravina, fled, but several of them were subsequently taken by a squadron under sir R. Strachan. 4. This victory was dearly purchased by the death of lord Nelson, who had long been the pride of the English navy. He was mortally wounded by a musket-ball in the middle of the action, and died a little before its close. 5. The grief of his country was shoM'n by the honours paid to his memory ; his brother was raised to the peerage ; a liberal pension settled on his widow ; his remains were deposited in St. Paul's cathedral, accompanied by a proces- sion more splendid and magnifient than England had ever witnessed on a similar occasion, and a monumei^t erected at the public expense as a lasting testimony of national grati tude. Rewards were also voted to the companions of his victory ; admiral Collingwood Was raised to the peerage, and a liberal provision was made for the wounded, and for th« , families of the slain. 6. The triumphs of France by land amply compensated OEORO£ III. 405 for her losses by sea. The Austrians were everywhere defeated ; the archduke Charles was driven from Italy by Massena; Ulm was surrendered to Napoleon by general Mack, under circumstances that led to strong suspicions of treachery ; and, finally, Vienna itself submitted to the con- queror. The junction of the Russians gave a temporary confidence to the Austrian emperor ; but his hopes proved fallacious ; on the 2d of December Napoleon totally de- feated the allied armies at Austerlitz, and Austria was necessarily compelled to submit to whatever terms the con- queror thought fit to dictate. 7. (A.D. 1806.) The failure of a coalition which he had taken so much pains to form, and the mortification of seeing his colleague, lord Melville, impeached by the house of commons, preyed on Mr. Pitt's health, and, to use a com-' mon but expressive phrase, broke his heart. He was ho- noured with a public funeral, and a monument erected to his memory at the national expense. A new administration was formed under the auspices of lord Grenville and Mr. Fox, one of whose first measures was the final abolition of the slave-trade. Mr. Fox did not long survive his great political rival ; he died in the course of the same year. 8. During the late struggle the conduct of the king of Prussia had been marked by singular indecision. Scarcely, however, had Austria been crushed, than, to the great asto- nishment of the world, it was announced, that Prussia, in a moment of chivalrous enthusiasm, had determined singly to cope with the victorious arms of France. The war was decided in a single campaign ; the Prussians were irretrieva- bly ruined at the battle of Jena ; fortress after fortress sur- rendered to Napoleon, and the unfortunate king, stripped of the greater part of his dominions, had now no hope but in the assistance of Russia. 9. (A.D. 1807.) Even this last hope failed, an indecisive battle was fought at Eylau ; but the Russians having failed in an attempt to relieve Dantzic, and suffered a total defeat at Friedland, solicited terms of peace. A treaty was concluded at Tilsit, by which the Prussian king was stripped of half his dominions, and had the further mortification to learn that the remainder was spared only in deference to the wishes of the young emperor of Russia. 10. This decisive success enabled Bonaparte to execute the projects which he had so long formed against the com- merce of England. By the celebrated Berlin decrees, all I ! mi :^^ 406 HISTORY OF KNOLAND. the continental ports were closed against British manufac- turers, and Denmark, though long in alliance with England, was forced to comply with the imperious mandate. This ^/ led to the adoption of measures by the British government, which could only be justified by the most stern necessity. 11. An expedition, under the command of admiral lord Gambler, and general the earl of Cathcart, was sent to compel the surrender of the Danish fleet, in order that if might be retained as a deposite by England until the con- clusion of the war, as Napoleon notoriously designed to have employed it in restoring the navy of France. The demand was peremptorily refused; but the English having bombarded Copenhagen for three days successively, his Danish majesty, to save his capital from total destruction, agieed to the proposed terms, and the whole fleet, consisting of eighteen ships of the line, fifteen frigates, and thirty-one smaller vessels, was given up, together with an immense quantity of naval stores. 12. But the other foreign expeditions undertaken by the English were unusually unsuccessful ; Buenos Ayres, after its capture by sir Home Popham, was recovered by the inhabitants, and an armament sent out for its recovery under general Whitelocke failed signally and disgracefully : a Aeet under admiral Duckworth forced the passage of the Dardanelles, but being unable to make an impression on Constantinople, was compelled to retire with loss : Alexan- dria, in Egypt, was captured by general Eraser, but he was soon compelled to evacuate his conquest ; and an expedition undertaken to assist the king of Sweden had an equally inefHcient termination. 13. The Grenville administration, which had been very popular at the outset, had now declined considerably in public favour ; and it probably had never possessed the full confidence of the king. The ministers having brought for- ward some measures of concession to the Roman catholics, which his majesty disapproved, were compelled to resign, and Mr. Pitt's friends were recalled to the cabinet. 14. Portugal was now the only part of the continent open to Great Britain, and Napoleon determined that her maimfactures should be excluded from this country also. The prince-regent of Portugal, alarmed by the appearance of a powerful French army on his frontiers, promised obe- dience to the demands of the French emperor ; but finding that every compliance was insufHcient to conciliate the >4^ OEOROC 11! 407 invaderi, and that the annihilation of his kingdom waa intended, he embarked on board the English fleet, and was conveyed to the Brazilian settlements in South America. Immediately after his departure the French occupied Lisbon witliout opposition. Quutionafor Examination, 1. How did Napoleon excite the resentment of the Ruropean monarch! 2. Why did the SpaniardR support the French with all their might 7 3. What great naval victory did the KngliNh obtain? 4. Ry what event was the joy ibr tliis victory diminished 7 5. In what manner did the finglinh nation uhow its rcsiioct fi>r Nelson and his companions 7 6. Did the French gain any advantages on land 7 7. Why was 'there a chaiige made in the British rainistrv 7 8. What success hnd the PruHHiunM in their war against France 7 9. By what events was a peace precipitated 7 10. What use did Napoleon make of his victory 7 11. How did the Finglish act under these circumstances 7 12. In what expeditions were the ICnglish unsuccessful 7 13. What circumstances bmnght about n change in the British ministry f 14. What remarkable events took place in Portugal 7 SECTION X. Fint from hm irnnro tho horuic Spaniard woko fii« cimiiiii Im- hrnko, Anil cnMiwi iilf hiM iwr.k the tronRheroui yoke Ho oallo(l un England. — Southty. 1. (A.D. 1808.) The unprincipled occupation of Portu- gal was followed by a series of transactions still more iniqui- tous in Spain, which, though at first apparently successful, blighted for ever the character of Napoleon, and contributed not a little to his final overthrow. Seldom have the annals of any country presented such a picture of vice and imbe- cility as was displayed by the court of Spain at the period which now occupies our attention ; the king was a weak and irresolute monarch, destitute of abilities for managing the affairs of state, even in the most tranquil times ; and, consequently, wholly unfit to rule at a period when all Europe was convulsed by the consequences of the French revolution. His prime minister, aiid the virtual niler of Spain, was Godoy, whom the illicit attachment of the queen had raised from the rank of a private gentleman to guide the national councils, under the proud title of the Prince of the Peace. But Godoy was by no means fitted to discharge the duties of the station to which he had been raised. Possess- ing neither talent nor principle, he pursued a selfish and / 408 HISTORY OP ENGLANP. vacillating course of policy, which wasted the resources of Spain, and made the country contemptible in the eyes of all the surrounding nations. 2. Godoy was of course unpopu< tar ; the nobility despised him as an upstart ; the people regarded him as the author of all the calamities by which they were oppressed ; and, at length, reports having been circulated that he intended to remove the royal family to South America, a furious insurrection broke out, whlcli terminated in stripping Godoy of all his authority. De- prived of his only reliance, the imbecile Charles resigned the crown to his son Ferdinand, prince of Asturias, who was at once proclaimed king, to the universal delight of the people. 3. When Napoleon received intelligence of this revolution, he immediately proceeded to Bayonne, in order to be nearer the scene of action, and directed the numerous army, which he maintained in Spain, to occupy Madrid. By means of some obscure intrigues, Charles was induced to withdraw his abdication, and claim the assistance of the French emperor against his rebellious son ; while at the same time assurances were privately conveyed to Ferdinand that Napoleon was attached to his cause, and would, if an appeal was made, certainly decide in his favour. 4. By such representations the entire Spanish royal family was induced to cross the frontier ; and no sooner were they in the power of the French emperor, than they were severally compelled to abdicate their claims to the crown, which Na- poleon was determined to transfer to his brother Joseph. 5. When the iniquitous transactions at Bayonne became known, they filled the mind of every Spaniard with feelings of the deepest indignation ; one sentiment seemed to per- vade the entire nation ; a determination to maintain the independence of their country, and submit to none but their legitimate sovereign. The French were able to suppress the insurrection at Madrid after a fearful massacre, which is the deepest stain on the character of Murat, by whom the garrison was commanded ; but in the provinces, provisional juntas were formed, armies levied, and every preparation made for a vigorous resistance to the usurpers. The gar- rison of Gibraltar, and the British fleets in the Mediterra- nean, lent their assistance to the efforts of the patriots, and by their aid the important city of Cadiz was secured, and the French fleet, which lay in the harbour, forced to sur- render. 6. The armies of France also met some severe checks ; Dupont, with a force of 15,000 men, was for W-\ OEOROE III. 400 to fiurrender to the patriot general Castanos ; Monccy wat compelled to retreat from Valencia ; and lastly, a Spanish army, which had heen employed by Bonaparte in the north of Germany, revolted, and was conveyed by a British squad- ron to the peninsula. 7. The flame of insurrection soon spreid id Portugal; and though this French generals in that unhappy country endeavoured to suppress the revolt by cruelly massiering all suspected of hairlhff sharied in the efforts for the libera- tion of their country, this detestable policy only engendered a more determined spirit of resistance, and a fiercer thirst for vengeance. 8. The news of th« events in the peninsula was received in England with the greatest enthuniasm. The Spanish deputies were welcomed with the iitmost warmth ; all the Spanish prisoners released, clothed, armed, and sent to aid the efforts of their countrymen ; munitions of war were supplied to the p«triots from the British arsenals ; public aids and private subscriptions were liberally contributed for the supply of their exhausted resources ; and a well-appointed army under the command of sir Arthur Weilesley, sent to assist in the liberation of Portugal. 0. On the first of August the British troops landed in Mondego Bay, and soon commenced active operations. On the seventeenth, the French were defeated at Rolica ; but on the twenty-first, a still more decisive battle was fought at Vimiera, and the English were completely victorious. 10. Unfortunately at this important moment, sir Arthur Welles- ley was superseded in his command by sir Harry Burrard, who gave immediate orders to stop the pursuit, thus sacri- ficing all the fruits of this brilliant victory. On the following morning, sir Hew Dalrymple arrived to take the supreme command, and he entered into negotiations with the French commander. 11. A convention for the e/acuation of Portu- gal was concluded at Cintra, on terms so favourable to the French that they excited universal dissatisfaction. One article provided for the security of the Russian fleet then lying in the Tagus ; but this the English admiral, sir Charles C >4ton, peremptorily refused to ratify ; and the ships were surrendered to him on condition of being restored in six /nonths after the conclusion of peace with Russia. 12. Portugal being now free from the invader, sir John Moore, who had been annointed to the command of (he British army, was directed to advance into northern Spain, 2M 41U HISTOKY OF ENGLAND. 1. DMlh of tir John Moon. and aid the exertions of the patriots. The instructions sent to the gallant general had been prepared on the faith of the representations made by the Spanish deputies in London : it was not discovered, until too late, that these were wholly unworthy of credit. 13. The resolute spirit of hostility to the French in the lower ranks of the SpaniaTi? is indubita- ble ; but the upper ranks, at the same time ignorant and conceited, were slow to make any exertion, and thought more of securing for themselves some petty authority than joining in efforts for the liberation of their country. Like all weak and vain-glorious men, they were great boasters ; they told of countless armies and exhaustless resources ; bult when the moment of trial arrived, their armies were found to be an undisciplined rabble and even sometimes to have existed only on paper ; their magazines were discovered to be empty, and their boasted preparations to have consisted in doing nothing. Even before sir John Moore had entered Spain, the principal forces with which he had been destined to co-operate were defeated and dispersed, in a great degree by the sheer incapacity of their generals. When sir John Moore found that all the expectations which he had been led to form were utterly groundless, he resolved to return to Portugal ; the British minister to the Spanish junta, how- ever, prevailed on him to change his resolution and to hazard an advance into the heart of the country. 14. In the mean time Napoleon himself had arrived to take the direction of the invading army, and the prompiituue of his movements OEOROB III. 411 ■oon left the British general no other choice but retreat The suflerings of the army during this retrogade movement transcend the powers of description ; discipline was for the most part at an end, and the country they had come to protect was treated by the famished soldiers as if it had belonged to an enemy. 15. (A.D. 1800.) At length, when they reached Corunna, the enemy was found to have pursued them 80 close that nothing but a victory or a convention could secure their embarkation. Sir John Moore at once decided to risk the chances of battle ; he obtained a victory so glo,:iou8 as to shade the calamities of the retreat ; but unfortunately the success of the army was purchased by the life of its gallant commander. 16. (A.D. 1809.) Taking advantage of the withdrawing of the French troops from Germany to recruit the armies in Spain, the emperor of Austria again determined to encounter the hazards of war, and endeavour to retrieve his former fortunes. But the same fatality which had hitherto attended the milifary operations of this power, still counteracted its efforts. Napoleon, in a brief but decisive campaign, made himself master of Vienna ; and though his army met a severe check at Asperne, he soon after obtained a decisive victory at Wagram, which prostrated the Austrian empire at his feet. 17. But while this contest remained as yet doubtful, the English were fast retrieving their tarnished honour in the peninsula. Sir Arthur Wellesley was sent again to the scenes of his former glory, and succeeded in expelling the French from Oporto, and several other acquisitions which they had made in Portugal after the retreat of sir John Moore. He even advanced into Spain, and obtained a bril- liant victory at Talavera; but being unsupported by the Spanish authorities, he was obliged to relinquish his con- quests, and terminate the campaign without obtaining any decisive advantage. For the skili and bravery, however, which had been displayed at Talavera, sir Arthur Wellesley was elevated to the peerage with the title of viscount Wel- lington. 18. To create a diversion in favour of Austria, an expedi tion was sent to the coast of Holland, under the command of the earl of Chatham and sir Richard Strachan. The fortress of Flushing and the island of Walcheren were subdued ; but the unhealthiness of the climate forced the eouqnerors to evacuate these acquisitions after the sacrifice ■■■^: 413 IIIBTORY OF KNOLAKD. of many valuable lives. It must be confessed that this unfortunate enterprise was badly conceived and badly exe- cuted ; the armament did not reach the coast of Holland until Austria had been irretrievably ruined ; and the main objects of the expedition, the destruction of the French fleet in the i^Hchehit, and the occupation of Antwerp, were scarcely attempted. 10. There were, however, some gallant exploits per- formed during the year by the British navy, which contri- buted to maintain the national courage. A French squadron lying in Basque Roads was attacked by lords Gauibier and Cochrane ; four ships of the line and three frigates were burned, and several others disabled. Lord CoUingwood destroyed, in the bay of Rossa, three sail of the line, two frigates, and twenty transports. Sir James Saumarez cap- tured a Russian convoy in the Baltic ; and several important islands were wrested from the French in the West Indies. 20. At home the attention of the public was directed, in no ordinary degree, to a parliamentary investigation into the conduct of his royal highness the duke of York, as commander-in-chief. After a laborious inquiry, the royal duke was acquitted by a great majority, but he deemed it right to resign his situation immediately after. On the 25th of October, a jubilee was celebrated with great splendour through the kingdom on account of his majesty's having entered the fiftieth year of his reign. Queationa fur Examination, 1. What was the condition of Spain at thii time f 2. Wliat were the consequences of Godot's proceedings f 3. How did Napoleon act under these circumstances f 4. In wimt manner were the Spanish kin^ and prince treated by their ally t 5. Did the Spanish people show their '"(dignation 7 6. Were any triumphs obtained by the Spanish patriots ? 7. What was the situation of Portugal at this time t 8. How was the intelligence of these events received in England t 9. In what manner did sir A. Wellesley commence his victorious career ift the peninsula ? 10. How were the fruits of his victory lost ? 11. What was the convention of Cintra? 12. To what eipeditiun wan sir John Moore appointed ? 13. With what difficulties had he to struggle! 14. How was he compelled to retreat 7 15. By what means was the embarkation of the army secured f 16. VVhat success had the Austrians in their new war against France ? 17. For what victory was sir A. Wellesley raised to the peerage ? 18. In what unfortunate expedition did the English engage? 19. Was this loss compeuRated by any victories ? 20. What delicate investigation took place in England 7 K-i^^^i^: oEORou in. SECTION XI. United III! oa<'h Hriton Juin, (^'(iiir«(oii(iiily Milvunra; Wii'll liiiinit evtiry vain iti'«i|n, A (I check tlio f rwiti ol Frunc«. — K. ThoiiipioH. I 1. (A.D. 1810.) The peace with Austria enabled Napo- leon to send fresh armies into ttiu puninsula, and the patriots sustained a series of reverses which seemed lo have decided the fate of Spain. Kut it was not in the regular field of battle that the hostilities of the Spaniards were most to be dreaded ; their hands of guerillas, that cut olT all stragglers, intercepted convoys, and harassed every march, were more formidable than any regular army that could be assembled. The presence of the British in Portugal was justly deemed the principal impediment to the tranquillity of the French in Spain ; and Napoleon, therefore, despatched Massena with overwhelming forces to expel the British from the entire peninsula. The French ruler deemed himself at this time secure on the side of Germany, for he had married the archdutchess Maria Louisa, the daughter of the emperor of Austria, having previously divorceil Josephine, the faith- ful companion of all his fortunes. 2. On the approach of Massena, lord Wellington deter- mined to act on the defensive, and resisted every temptation to abandon this cautious line of policy. He iretreated lei- surely before the enemy until attacked at Busaco, when he turned on his pursuers, and inflicted on them a severe de- feat. His lordship then continued his retreat to the impreg- nable lines of Torres Vedras^ where he determined to remain until famine should compel Massena to retire. Nothing could exceed the astonishment of the French marshal, who tirmly believed that the British were retreating to their ships, when he found them halted in a position which it would have been madness to attack : he was at once reduced to inactivity, and forced to spend the rest of the campaign in watching the English lines. \; . rtf< 3. While tlie war thus lingered, the death of the princess Amelia, the favourite daughter of the king, spread a gloom over the royal family, and brought on a return of that ma- lady by which his majesty had been previously attacked. The remainder of his life was spent in a state of mental imbecility, and the government of the country was thence- forth intrusted to the prince of Wales, who acted as regent 4. A liiile before this event, a strange revolution took place tt Sweden, the king was deposed, and his family excluded 2m2 I I ■/■■^ 414 nirroRY of »« ilako. from the throne ; his uncle was elected in his stead, and a« he was childless, the succession was settled on Charles John Bernadotte, one of Napoleon's generals. 5. (A.D. 181 l.J The ability displayed by lord Wellington in selecting the lines of Torres Vedras, and* the patience with which he waited the progress of events in that formi- dable position, received at length their merited reward. Hunger and disease made more havoc in the French army than tlie sword, and Massena soon found that nothing hut instant retreat could save him from destruction. In this retrograde movement the French marshal fully maintained his former character for talent ; but in every other respect his conduct merits the universal reprobation of posterity. Every crime to which lust and rapine could prompt an un- principled soldiery, was committed with impunity; the claims of age or sex afforded no protection from murderous outrage ; mangled corpses and smoking ruin marked the tract by which these ruffian-warriors retreated from the land where their hopes had been baffled and their pride tamed. 6. After this success, the campaign lingered without any very decisive operation. An attempt was made to recover Badajoz, which the Spaniards had surrendered to the French under very disgraceful circumstances. Soult advanced to relieve the place, and was engaged by general Beresford at Albuera. The battle was fierce and bloody; the English purchased their victory at a very dear rate, and their losses were so great that they were unable to continue the siege which they had undertaken. Massena, to recover his lost fame, attacked the English at Fuentes d'Honore, but met with a severe repulse ; he was soon after recalled, and Mar- mont appointed in his stead. 7. The management of the Spanish armies continued to be intrusted to men, for the most part, ignorant of the first rudiments of their profession. They were frequently defeated in the course of the cam- paign ; but they were incapable of being instructed even by adversity. The English, under general Graham, obtained a brilliant victory at Barossa ; but the obstinacy and igno- rance of their allies prevented them from reaping the fruit of their success. 8. (A.D. 1812.) The restrictions which had been im- posed on the prince-regent being removed, it was expected that some important changes would be made in the adminis- tration ; none, however, took place at that time ; but a sad event in the middle of the year produced a new modification OUORGE III. 415 |. I in the ministry. The premier, Mr. Percival, was assassin* ated in the lobby of the house of commons by a merchant named Bellingham, who fancied that his just claims had been neglected by government. The murderer was tried at the Old Bailey, and executed ; but he seemed to feel little remorse for the horrid crime which he had committed. Lord Liverpool was appointed first lord of the treasury, and Mr. Vansittart chancellor of the exchequer, in the room of the deceased minister. 0. Marmont was even a less successful rival of lord Wellington than his predecessor Massena; the important fortresses of Ciudad Rodrigo and. Badajuz were besieged and stormed before the French marshal could move to their relief, and the forts erected to secure the fords of the Douro were taken almost in his presence. The two armies were several days within sight of each other near Salamanca, without coming to a general engagement : the forces were nearly equal, and the leaders anxiously waited to take ad- vantage of any blunder that might be made by their oppo- nents. At length Marmont made an injudicious movement to his left, in hopes to cut off the British from Ciudad Rodrigo ; his line was thus necessarily weakened, and Wellington instantly seized the opportunity to make his attack. The consequence was the total rout of the French, with the loss of fourteen thousand men, killed, wounded, »nd prisoners. The number of killed and wounded, on the part of the victors, scarcely exceeded five thousand. 10. Naturally expecting that the intelligence of this glo- rious victory would stimulate the Spaniards to more vigorous exertions ; and relying on the promise of the British ministry to create a powerful diversion, by sending an expedition from Sicily to the south-eastern coast of Spain, Wellington, who had been lately created an earl, resolved to advance into the centre of Spain, and drive the enemy from the capital. This brilliant and hazardous enterprise succeeded ; the English were received with enthusiasm in Madrid, and joy was difiused throughout the entire peninsula. 11. But the hopes which were thus inspired proved delusive ; the Spaniards made no exertion to second the efibrts for their liberation ; Ballasteros, one of their generals, refused to re- ceive instructions from a foreigner; the force sent from Sicily was, by some blunder of the British ministry, late in time and miserable in amount ; the French were, there- fore, enabled to threaten Wellington with armies three times 'i'i» \. f \ , .^ .^<, . ■"'i f^-- i 'k 416 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Comtitution and Quarrlan, more numerous than his own. Under these circumstances the English general resolved to transfer the scene of his operations to the north of Spain ; but having failed in an attack on Burgos, he was compelled to retire to \\^<o frontiers of Portugal. During the retreat, the British soldiers sullied their laurels by several outrages, which were severely re- prehended by Wellington, and measures taken for their pre- vention in future. 12. In the mean time the ambition of Napoleon had hurried him into a war with Russia, which, though success- ful in the outset, ended in lamentable ruin. The French army advanced in spite of every resistance to Moscow, the 'ancient capital of the kingdom, but there iheir triumphs ended. The Russians set fire to the city ; the invaders, de- prived of quarters, were forced to retreat ; a severe winter set in, cold and famine destroyed them by thousands, and only a miserable relic of the finest army which had ever been assembled in Europe escaped across the frontiers. 13. Some unfortunate disputes between the government, of Great Britain and the United States led to a w.r between two countries, which similarity of language and ancieu* connexion ought to have kept for ever in amity. The Americans unsuccessfully invaded Canada, but at sea theit frigates obtained some signal triumphs over British vessels. The first of this series of victories was the capture of th<: GEORGE III. 417 British frigate Guerriere, by the American frigate Constitu tion, commanded by captain Hull. 14. (A. D. 1813.) The Spanish Cortes became at length convinced of the necessity of giving the command of their armies to the British general, and a complete change in the fortunes of the war followed this judicious measure. By a series of brilliant operations, the French were driven from their several positions on the Ebro and the Douro, com- pelled to abandon the capital, and at length reduced to the alternative of abandoning the country, or fighting a pitched battle to preserve their conquests. Joseph adopted the latter course, and drew up his forces near Vittoria, which had been made the French dep6t in the northern provinces. In this position he was attacked by lord Wellington, on the 21st of June, and after a severe contest utterly overthrown. The artillery, baggage, and military chest of the fugitives, fell into the hands of the victors ; and so complete was the rout, that the remnants of the defeated army scarcely deemed themselves s:>fe until they had escaped beyond the frontier. Before pursuing them into France, it was neces- sary to reduce the fortresses of St. Sebastian and Pampe- luna, which were immediately invested. The former, after a frightful loss, was taken by storm ; the latter surrendered some time after by capitulation. 1 5. The reverses of the French in the north of Europe were equally signal. Prussia and Sweden joined their armies to Russia ; Austria subsequently joined the alliano'^. and their united forces obtained a decisive victory over those of the French emperor at Leipsic. The retreat of the de- feated army was disastrous in the extreme ; the €»erman8 everywhere joined the pursuers, and after suffering the most severe calamities, Napoleon's army was driven across the Rhine, and it became evident that the next campaign would commence with the invasion of France both on her eastern and western frontier. 2. 3. 4. Queattons for Examitiation, How was Bonaparte enabled to give his undivided attention to the aflbin of the peninsula ? In what manner did Wellington act? What remarkable event took place at this time .n England 7 Did any revolution take place in Sweden ? iiow did MuBBena conduct his retreat from Torres Vedras? i. Were there any other remarkable events in the campaign ? •418 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 7. How did the Spanish government behave ? 8. What event caused a chanee of ministry in Etigland 7 9. What great victory did Wellington ^ain over Marmont f 10. How did Wellington endeavour to wnprove his triumph? 11. By what circumstances were Wellington's hopes frustrated 7 12. In what new war did Bonaparte enpge ? 13. What new enemy assailed the Enghsh 7 14. What great victory did Wellington gain over Joseph Bonaparte? 15. Did Napoleon meet any other reverses 7 SECTION XII. \ Oh, more or less than man— in high or low, Battling with nations, flying frum the field ; Now making monarch's necks thy Iboistuol, now Morti than thy meanest soldier taught to yield. — Byron. 1. (A. D. 1813.) The operations of the allied armies in the south>eastern provinces of Spain were singularly ill- conducted. Sir John Murray, to whose guidance they were intrusted, proved totally unfit for his situation. He precipitately commenced the siege of Tarragona, and ther abandoned his works and guns with still more disgraceful rapidity ; after which he returned to a state of inactivity 2. But the vigour of Wellington more than atoned for these deficiencies ; he crossed the Bidassoa in October, and on the 10th of November defeated Soult's army on the Nivelle (A. D. 1814.) Winter did not interrupt the operations of the armies. Soult, continually pushed by the British forces, assumed a strong position at Orthes, from which he was driven with severe loss, and Bordeaux was consequently exposed to the invading army. In the mean time the duke d'Ango'ileme, the representative of the ancient line of French raonarchs, haa »-rrived in Wellington's camp ; to him the inhabitants of Bordeaux opened their gates, and received with the utmost enthusiasm the descendant of their former kings. 3. Wellington, pursuing his victorious career, again defeated Soult at Toulouse ; but while preparing to follow up his victory, news arrived from Paris that Napoleon had abdicated, and that the war was at an end. 4. In January, 1814, the allied armies had crossed the Rhine, and advanced into the heart of France ; negotiations for peace were indeed commenced at Chatillon, but the in- sincerity which marked the conduct of the French commis- sioners prevented them from coming to any conclusion. Napoleon's great object was to recover Holland, which had achieved its independence after the battle of Leipsic, by the aid of England, and had recalled the stadtholder to hie ancient dominions. The French emperor had strong hopes GEORGE IV. 419 that one great victory would restore him to his former pre eminence. 5. Never in his proudest and most palmy days did Napoleon display more energy and ability than in this his time of difficulty; but he had beaten his enemies into the art of conquering. While he was manoeuvring in theii rear, the Prussians and Austrians made a rush on Paris, which fell almost without resistance. On the 6th of April, Bonaparte signed the instrument of abdication, and Louis XVIII. was recalled from exile to ascend the throne of his ancestors. The fallen emperor received the island of Elba as an independent sovereignty ; the dutchies of Parma and Placentia were settled on his wife and son. 6. The return of peace was celebrated with general re- joicings throughout England ; and the metropolis was illu- minated during three successive nights. Immediately after, the emperor of Russia, the king of Prussia, and a numerous train of other distinguished foreigners came over to England, and met a most magnificent reception. After a short but gratifying visit, they returned to the continent, leaving behind a favourable impression of their urbanity, and of the respect they showed for the institutions of this country. 7. The American war was soon after terminated ; the triumphs and losses on both sides were nearly balanced by land, but the superiority of American courage and discipline at saa was made clearly manifest in every engagement, in which ships of equal force on both sides were opposed to each other. The treaty of peace was not signed before December, 1814. 8. (A.D. 1815.) A congress of ambassadors from the leading powers of Europe had assembled at Vienna to settle the state of the continent, when they were astounded by intelligence which threatened to render all their deliberations useless. Bonaparte, wearied of his exile, and invited by numerous partisans in France, sailed from Elba, and having escaped the vigilance of the cruisers, landed once more in the country which had so long acknowledged his sway. 9. The army everywhere declared in his favour ; no effectual resistance was attempted ; Louis, with a few friends, escaped beyond the Belgian frontier ; and in an incredibly short time Bonaparte once more ascended the imperial throne. The allied sovereigns took immediate measures to dethrone an usurper whom experience had shown to be the common disturber of nations, and a violater of the faith of treaties ; and preparations were made for a second invasion of France ^■^:■ 420 lIISTOnV OP F.Nm.AND. BktU* of WalHtoo. 10. The English and Prussians began rapidly to concen* trate their forces in the newly formed kingdom of Belgium, when Bonaparte, trusting to that activity which had before produced so many triumphs, determined to become the as- sailant, and rapidly advanced against the Prussians. After a severe contest, Blucher was forced to retire from liigny ; but he accomplished his retreat in good order, and left no trophy to the enemy but the field of battle. This caused a corresponding movement in the English forces, which had advanced to Quatre-bras, and fought a furious but indecisive battle with the enemy. 'Wellington halted his troops on the memorable plains of Waterloo, and t'ode across the country to Blucher, in order to concert a plan for their mutual operations. 11. On the 18th of June was fought the memorable battle which may be said to have decided the fate of Europe. Napoleon, believing the Prussians completely broken, hoped, by forcing the British lines, to open a passage to Brussels, and then overwhelm the allies in detail : the object of the duke of Wellington was to maintain his ground until the arrival of the Prussians should give him a decided superi* ority over his opponents. The efforts of the French to force the British positions were met with most undaunted firmness; the fire of an immense park of artillery, the charges of the cuirassiers, the attacks of immense columns GEOKOR Iir. 421 nilcd to brnnk any of thn flquarcR wliich the English ha* furmod ; and ut lotifi^th, whon ni^lit approached, the heads of the PruHHian rohimnei worn nvcn advancinji^ to sharo in tho conihat. Napoleon aHNcmbhHl his guards for one last and deHperato effort ; hut instead of heacUng them himstdf, he gave the eomniand to marshal Ney. The English wings, whieh had rather declined from the field at the commencu- mentof the fight, had, after the defeat of the former charges, gradually come forward, until they formed a concave front to tho French. They now poured a dreadful storm of musketry on the heads '^f the advancing columns ; the im- perial guards were unu Me to deploy into line under the heavy fire ; they made the attempt and fell into confusion. At this moment tho duke of Wellington gave the word to charge, tho soldiers rushed forward with resistless impetu- osity ; some battalions, which Ney had rallied, were broken in an instant ; it was no longer a battle, but a rout. The Prussians, who were comparatively fresh, continued the pursuit, and the army of Napoleon was virtually annihilated. 12. The victorious armies now advanced towards Paris without meeting any serious obstacle. On the 22d of June, Napoleon once more abdicated the throne, and fled to the sea-coast, in hopes of making his escape to America* But finding that it was impossible to baffle the vigilance of the English cruisers, he surrendered himself to captain Mait- land, of the liellerophon, and was conveyed, with his retinue, to an English harbour. When the allies were informed of this event, they decided that he should be sent as a prisoner to the island of St. Helena, in the southern Atlantic, and there detained under the strictest observation. In this little island tho illustrious exile died on the 6th of May, 1821. 13. Louis XVIII. was restored to his throne without op- position : a few of Napoleon's most zealous partisans, of whom the chief were marshal Ney and colonel Labedoyere, suffered ihe penalties of treason ; but the greater part of the delinquents escaped with impunity. The long wars which had distracted western and central Europe were now terminated, and a tranquillity, promising to be of long dura- tion, was established. \ Questinna for Examination, 1. How were operations conducted in the south of Spain 7 2. Did VVellingion o'otain any success in Frarstie ? 3. Why was nut the victory at Toulouse followed up? 2N IT 1 1 423 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 4. What operationa were undertaken at the north-east aide of JPrance f A. How was the war terminated ? 6. In what manner was the return of peace celebrated in England I 7. How was the American war terminated ? 8. By what news was the congress at Vienna disturbed T 9. Did Napoleon again become m&ster of France ? 10. How was the war recommenced 7 11. What particulars of the battle of Watsrloo are mentioned f 12. What became of Bonaparte ? 13. How was the war finally ended f SECTION XIII. The deeds of tboie cbiefi who fell covered with glory Blili beam on our record or (riumphi and tears ; While the memory of Nelson and Waterloo's itorjr Are blended by fame with the fall of Allien. -- /¥(Zir<raM. 1. (A.D. 1816.) It had been hoped, rather than expected, that the exertions made by the people in the different Euro- pean nations to overthrow the power of Napoleon, would have been rewarded by the sovereigns conceding to them free constitutions. But the monarchs, terrified at the evils which the French revolution had produced, were firmly resolved to extend rather than abridge the royal authority. 2. The restored king of Spain, whose slavish weakness had been the first cause of his own imprisonment and his kingdom's degradation, treated with the greatest ingratitude those whose blood had been shed like water to effect his restoration. The inquisition was revived, and every despotic custom, which made the government of Spain infamous, and the country miserable, were re-established in full force. The Spaniards, who entertained liberal opinions, and who had been the most zealous opponents of the French power, were bitterly persecuted, and either brought to the scaffold or driven into exile. 3. This aspect of affairs by no means contributed to allay the dissatisfaction which pervaded Britain at the termination of the war. The channels of trade, which were only opened by a long course of warfare, were suddenly closed ; the manufacturers had no demand for their goods, the prices of agricultural produce were seriously diminished, and all the evils which attend a sudden transition from war to peace we 3 felt the more sensibly on account of the tremendous addition which the expenditure requisite to support such un- paralleled exertions had made to the national debt. 4. The marriage of the princess Charlotte of Wales, with Leopold, prince of Saxe-Cobourg, and that of the duke of Qloucester, with his cousin the princess Mary, for a time ofiOROE m 423 averted the gloom which seemed fast spreading over the nation ; and a brilliant victory obtained by lord Exmoiitli over the Algerines, diverted ;•• lie attention from intestine calamities. 5. Though Algiers was defended by 1000 pieces of cannon, it could not resist the intrepidity of Bri- ' tish seamen ; its defences wer<" destroyed, its fleet burned in the harbour, and at length, to save it from total destruc- tion, the dey offered terms of peace. He was pardoned on the conditions of liberating the Christian slaves, more than a thousand of whom were received on board the British fleet ; of abolishing slavery for ever in his dominions; and making reparation to the powers who had been the more immediate objects of his barbarous aggressions. 6. (A.D. 1817.) But even naval glory, always the most pleasing to Englishmen, failed to allay the discontents that pervaded the lower ranks of society ; alarming riots oc- ouired in many parts of the kingdom, and meetings were held in the metropolis, where the most threatening discourses were pronounced. The parliament in this crisis passed laws to increase the powers of government, especially the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and several of the popular leaders were arrested. Some were brought to trial in London, and acquitted ; but in Derby several were found guilty, and suffered the penalties of high-treason, which had not been inflicted for seventy years before. These vigorous measures, followed by a revival of commerce, and an im- proved harvest, restored public tranquillity ; but the gloom which hung over the nation was not dispelled, and a new event served to deepen it still further. 7. The princess Charlotte of Wales, the pride and darling of England, died, with her child, who would have been heir-apparent to the throne. Never was grief more universal — ^never was a nation's sorrow so deeply felt, and so generally manifested. The day of the funeral was voluntarily observed as a day of fasting and humiliation throughout the three kingdoms ; .ind a stranger, witnessing the affliction on every counte- nance, might have supposed that every family in the realms had been deprived of one of its most beloved members. 8. (A.D. 1818.) To supply the chasm which this lamen- table event had occasioned in the succession to the crown, several of the royal family formed matrimonial alliances. The dukes of Cambridge, Kent, and Clarence, and the prin- cess Elizabeth were united to branches of different princely tumilirs ill Germany, and sucxi an increase was maue la 4S4 HISTORY OF KNOLAND their rovoniiotf by parliament m mif^ht enable them to sup- port the uilditiunal expensos which they neceHsarily incurrud. 'J'heHe arranf^emcnts had nut been long concluded, when the royal family RuiFored a second loss by the death of ({uecn Charlotte, who expired at Kew, on the 17th of November, in the seventy-fifth year of her age. 0. (A.l). 1819.) The extensive colonies which Spain had recently possessed in South America, wearied by the tyranny to which they had been subjected, threw off the yoke, and commenced a successful struggle for indepen- dence. The king of Spain, however, imagined that tnoir subjugation was still possible, and assembled an army at Cadiz, in the isle of Leon, to form an expedition against the revolted provinces. But the soldiers who had been thus collected to crush the rising freedom of America, disap- pointed the hopes of their despotic sovereign. 10. *Tliey unanimously refused to embark ; and directing their attention to the miserable condition of tiieir own country, they demand- ed the establishn.ent of a free constitution, which Ferdinand was compelled to concede. Similar revolutions subsequently took place in Portugal, Naples, and Piedmont; bufin the two latter countries the old despotic governments were restored by the Austrians, who have ever been strongly opposed to liberal institutions. 11. The public mThd in England continued to be agitated by projects for efTecting reform in parliament, and other changes in the constitution. Public meetings, attended by immense multitudes, were held in different parts of the country. One in particular, at Manchester, was attended with lamentable consequences. The magistrates having determined to arrest the leaders, especially Mr. Hunt, sent a party of yeomanry to aid the officers of police ; unfortu- nately, in passing through the immense assembly, some confusion took place, which led to a serious affray ; several of the multitude were killed, and a still greater number wounded by the sabres of the yeomanry, or severely crushed. Hunt and his friends were taken into custody on a charge of high-treason ; but this was soon abandoned, and they were ordered to find bail on a charge of sedition. 12. This event produced great diversity of opinion, and very angry debates within and without the walls of parliament; but the sentiments of government were expressed unequivocally in * These events did not take place until the following year ; but are placed here to preserve the continuity of the narrative. np.oRnK in i'2!f Q Inttcr ofthunks ndilrrsNcd to tlio ma^istratcn and ynomonry oi' Mniirh(*Mt(jr, for i\mr prompt and spi riled conduct. At tli(! following UN.si/x>8 tlio )j;rand jury throw out tho hills rhiir^it)^ tho ycotnunry witji murder ; hut Hunt nnd \\\h u.sso('iules, heinjr (bund guilty of sedition, wen; Hcnteticed to diilerent periods of imprisonrnt^nt. Kir Francis Hiirdeii nKso, who had denounced tho conduct of tho magistrates and tho ministry in very sevoro turms, in a letter addressed to his constituentH, was hrought to trial, and found guilty of a lihel on his majesty's government. Finally, parliament was assend)l«!d in tho end of the year, and six restrictive! acts passed for the prevention of pediiious meetin<^s, (or prohi- hiling training and arming, for chocking blasphemous and 8(!(litious writings, and to im[)oso u tax on chca|) periodical publications. IM. (A. 1). 181>0.) On tho 2:)d of Januory, his royal highness Iho duko of Kent (lied ct Hldmouth, in tho OJid year of his ago, leaving behind him nn oidy daughter, the princess Vicloria Augusta, now tho presumptive inheritor of the British ihronii. On tho 29th of tho same month, Geor^o HI. died at Windsor Cnstle, at tho advanced age Windior Cutle. of eighty-one, after a reign of fifty-nine years seven months and three days ; the longest and most memorable in the an- nals of England. Wo are still too near the times in which this eve u occurred, and too much swayed by the opinions and prejudices resulting from personal feelings, to draw an impartial character of this venerable sovereign. But what. oyer diversity of opinion there may bo respecting the politics of the monarch, none can deny the virtues of the man ; 2n2 420 UrTClY or ENGLAND. amiable, morcifiil, l)onpvolcnt, ho wns on nffbctlonate hua- bnnd, u IoikKt fatlior, nnd q (aithful Irinnd ; no prouder cpi- tuph nccdii to bo inscribed upon his tomb.* Quesiionn fitr Examination. 1. In wimt inniinor wt>ro the hopus of thu people of Europe diaap- poiniiui ? 2. How did thn rentored kinif of Spnin bolmvo T 3. What wan tlio stiite uf KiiKliirid aftur iho wiir ? 4. tiv what circiunfliiiiiuua wcru (he liopoH uf tlio pooplo raisod T 9. VVhnt victory wiis obtninod at AlKiorn ? 6. How did govnriiinoiit nridRnvoiir to chock thn progrosaof sedition f 7. What fatal ovuiit fiUcd the nation with iindnnaB f 8. Did any other ronnirkahio circutnHtancu occur in tho royal fumily f 9. What colonics ruvolii'd n^ainHt tho parent ntatu? 10. How wai* n conHtiintion cHtabliHhod in Spain ? 11. What nnfortunato circumntancc took pluco at Manchester? 12. >Vhat wuro tho coiistKiucnccH of this ovont'/ 13. What deaths took place in tho royal family 7 CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popta. A. D. Clement XIV 1769 Pius VI 1775 PiusVII 1800 Emperor$ of Germany, Joseph II 1765 Leopold 1790 Francis II 1792 Assumod the title of em- peror of Austria 1804 Emperors of the I\trk$. Mustaphalll 1757 AohmotIV 1774 Selimlll 1789 Mahmoud II 1808 Emperor a and Empreaaea of Ruaaia. A. I). Peter III 17Ga Catharine II 1763 Paul 1 1797 Alexander 1801 Sovereigna of France. Louis XVI 1774 Republic 1793 Napoleon consul 1799 emperor 1804 Louis XVIII 1814 Kings of Spain. Charles III H.W Charles IV 1788 Ferdinand VII 1808 * The following lines form part of a poetic tribute to the memory of George III. from the pen of tlu- Rev. (icorge Croley. Some m»y con- sider them too laudatory ; but the world is so accustomed to hearing flat- tery poured at the feet oi Kings, that it would misunderstand a candid acknowledgement of their virtues, uuiuss made in the grave style of history : Raise we his monument ! what piant pile Shall honour him to far posiorii y ? His monument shall bo liis ocean-isle, • The voice of his redeeming thunders be His epitaph upon the silver sea. And milhon spirits from who.«<e neck he bore Tho fetter, and made soul and hody free ; And unborn millions, trom earth's farthest shore, StKalt Klaaaa th* ^'^. hriatinn Winre till tUa \aa* a.in ia #>*a.. ..'•«*««& »^*«ri<«*» **B^r ^ir ••■ *^ .*.*•* AAi.l^ «... ...w .^M9V l«tA«. tm V V.. OBOROE IV, 49: Quttn and King of Portugal, A. U. Maria 1777 John VI King$ of Pruitia. FrccJoriok 11 1740 Frodcriok III 17KU Frederick IV 17U7 Kingt of Poland. 8taniNlaua 1 78() AuifUituit IV 17bG A. D. Divided l)ctw(!<!n RuMia, PruHiiiu, uiid (iuriiiuiiy. 1793 Kingii of Denmark. ChriHtittn VII 1756 Frederick VI 1808 Kingi of Sweden. GufltavuHlII..... 1773 GuHtuvuH IV 17!)a CliurioH XIU 1H0<J ClmrlodXlV 1818 For a list of thoso pcrsonR, who, during thia bng reign, dislinguiehed thoiuHelvtiH in ^<u iitorury, clerical, pohiiciil, nuvai, inihtury, or ni«rostiiiio worlds, wo ruler tho reader to ('hapter XI., in which many illuitrious nninoB v/ill bo found arranged under dilfurunt heada. Indeed, among hu manv, it ia diflicitit to draw a line betwjen those without which our work would be inconiplclo, and those which arc necessarily excluded by the want of space. CHAPTER XXXVII. GEORGE IV. Born 1763. Died 1830 nigatn to rcigo 1830. Roignod 10 years. SECTION II. No, Kim— mr rn«nl clnitn, my rightful crown, '!>(. hoiinitir'd titli) of your tovorfign'ri wife. No Vv>itie DUall flVr inducn iiiu lu Iny ilown, .\<ir fiirco oxturt it, lave but with my life.— F.ltAam " '< 1 . (A. I). 1820.) The accession of a monarch, who had been actually in the possession of sovereign power for so many prrvious years, produced no iriiporfnnt political changes. George IV. was publicly proclaimed on the yist of January in London and Westminster, and matters went on for some time in their ordinary course. On the 2.*]d of February, the metropolis was astounded by intclli- gonce of a plot being discovered for the assassination of his majesty's ministers. 2. The Cato-strect conspiracy, as it was called, from the little street near the Edgeware- road, where the conspirators used to assemble, was planned by Thistlewood, who had been before acquitted on a charge of treason, and some other men of desperate fortunes. Their design was to obtain, on some pretence, admis.<3ion to ■H 4U8 IIINTORV OP ICNOr.AND. loni Ilnrrnwhy'N, wlirn tlin ininiMUirit wnrn niMrmblcd iit n ciihint'l (linnnr, luul tlinrii inunior llin (uiliro purly. Jl. Hut nil {\mr plniiN worn hotrnyod to ftdvurniiionl by a Hpy, niul n ntrnnuf body of polico, HiM'oinpuiiimI by u dnturbiiidiil of Ihn ^[iumlH, biirNt into ibrir rtutdtr/.vouN iit tlin iiioiiHMit tbul Uioy W(<r<) prtipiirii))( lor ilui uxrculioii of tbiur doNi^iiN. Al'Uir i«omo roRiMttutcn, in wbicb Hniilluirn, ii pidicr ofliror, v/iin killml, tlniy woro ovorpowiM'od, mid tbo ^nuUrr part inndo prinonorN ; TIumUowoiuS mado bin rNitapo, bnt wan nubHiv qntMitly lakon at a Iioiino in MoorlitddN. Siitdi wait tlio povtM'ty and nuNiM'y ol' dioHO wmtrbrd inadmon, wbo pro* poMod to mdivort a powrrl'nl |yrovornni(MU, tbal wbon tliry worn 8(<arciu)d, not iwrn a idiillin^; wati lotnid ainon^ tlio wlndo party. Tboy wrrn Noon aiU^r brouHbt to trial : TbiN< tlvwood and fonr oIImmn M'rro (txcrntml, Nonio morn trann- portiul, and f(ovornni«Mit, MaliMliod with tluiKo oxaniid(*M, f(avo np tbo proR(Mniti«)n af^ainnl tbo roMt. 4. I'rnparationM wtiro now ocnnmcnnul lor tbo coroinition of bin niajortty, wbnn tboy worn Ninblnnty HUNptMidtul by an nvnnt wliirb oxciliMi uioro pnblir inlrroNt and nioro an^ry lorlingM tban any ollior tbat bad occurred tor a lon^ period. 'J'Ium waN tbu return of (picon (.Caroline to b^n^land, and bor RtdiNixpicnt trial bo ibro llu) bouMC of IohIm — niattcrN over wliicb tbc liiMlorian would willingly camt u vuil, but wliicb arc tar too important to be omitteci. /' 5. We bavc already mentioned tbe formal Meparalion bc- / tween tbe prince of VVab.'H and bis conttort, sotm after their ntarriaffi; ; Home yearM after, ber conduct wad made tbe Ntdi- ject of a secret inventigation, wbicb, after a lon|U[ and diM- ^^URtin)i[ impury, terminated in bcr aciptittal. After being «ubject to sucb an indignity, tbe unfortunate princeHH quitted England, and spent ber time in travelling, especially in visiting tbe most celebrated spotis on tbe coasts of tbe Mv- diterranean. Sbo visited .leruHuleni, and several otber towns of Palestine, and afterwards took up ber residence in timt part of Italy wbicb is subject to tbe Austrian emperor. Keporls very injurious to ber cbaracter began to be circulated, and a secret commission of eminent lawyers was sent out to Milan to investigate tbeir trutb. 6. On tbe king's accession to die tbrone, tbe evidence collected by tbe Milan commission was made tbe pretj'xl for omitting tbe queen's name in tbe liturgy ; and at tbe mnmo time tbo bonours due to ber rank were refused by r <♦_ ioreign powers, i/oepiy irriuncu ui incso insults, sue lie- OKOIKtK IV. 4W lit n Dill <in tlin lilvt tnrminAil to rnturn to Kn^lnrul, though nwnrn tliiit linr liirKl- \iifl( would Ihj tliv n\fit\i\\ lor tliii <!oiiiiiif)n<'<(on()iit of u ri)(orouN proN(i«Milloii, tiiul llioiigli nIio Ii»<I boon oH'onxl iiii imiiiiity of lii'ty thoiiNiuMl pouridM on coiulilioii of htir ntmiiinintf uliroiid. 7. Hlin lamittd at Dovor on tlio Ath of Jiui9, iinuwitM ro- rnivud with tlin KnnitoMl (uithuNiuNin by tlio populiittu. I'Jqiiut lioitourN wnro piiid to lior hIoiik llio roiul to tlin iniitropoiiN, and linr rrnoplion in Jiondon wna fttill tiioni ^rati^yin((. H. On tim vnry day of tho (|uefln'M arrival in Jiondon, a inoNNM({;o w:iH Nioit to both Iiouhcn oI' parliamont, re(pi(!Ntinf{ that lirr roiidurt Mhould bo mado tho xnbjoct of invcNtigation, and that thn ovidonco rotlocUMl nt Milan Mhould ho takon into conMidnration. Homo dolay waH o(!iMii4ion<)d by an umo- InHN (dlort oflhn houNo of utunnionM to oniiict a compromiNo : hin liavinK failod, *' a bill oi paiuN and ponaltioN/' tod(!privo iMo (piorn o\' \wr ri^btN ami di^nilioM, and to divorce her from hnr huMband, wan introdurod into tho lordl. U. 'J'ho trial Moon rornnuHKMul, and hiMlod forty'fivo dayM, after whic'h thn bill wuN road a Hocond timo by a majority of twenty* vifihi ; hut on tho third roadin^d ^''<' niiniMtorM could only rommund a majority of nino, and tho bill waH thcri^forc abandonod. 10. Ourin^ tbono proncodingN, tho agitation of tho public rnind knew no bounds ; cavalcade after cavalcade wan NOOn proceeding out to llarnmorMmith, where the (|Uoen rcMidud, with addroHMCH containing tho warincMt oxprcMNionN of atTtc- tion for lierNolf, and hatred of her o|)ponontN ; tho proMi teemed with virulent liheU on all who were couNpicuouM in either party ; diHunion even reached tho domoMtic circle, and tho quoNtion of tho queon'H guilt or innocence wni debated furiouNly in every Mocietv and in every family within tho HritiHli HoaH. Tho ahanilonnuint of tho bill wan hailed by the queon'H friendH an a com[)leto actpiittal, and their delight waH toMtified by a pretty gftncral illumination, though it rnuHt bo confoMticd that many who exhibited thin outward Hign of joy wore forced to tho diHplay through dread of popidar vi(donce. - 11. (A. 1). 1821.) Tho heatH and animoHitle« produced by the (pietui'H trial continued to rage with unabated fury thron;;h the remainder of the life of that unhappy lady ; it was <!ven HuppoHcd that tho rejection of her claim to par- ticipate in tlie coronation would have led to Home nerioun commotion. Hut that auguHt ceremony wan performed without interruption; the queen, indeed, pre»cntcu her ,X. - ««lf »■•■;'! '•^T-^'f-w ■\' 480 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. / at the doors of Westminster Abbey, and was refused ad mittance, but no serious display of popular displeasure followed. 12. This last event produced a fatal effect on her health, which had been long declining ; and her death, which followed soon after, was generally attributed to a oroken heart. The fatality which attended this unfortunate woman seemed to follow her very remains. Her funeral was a scene of outrage and violence. It had been intended that the procession should not pass through the metropolis ; but the populace attacked the military escort, and after some loss of life succeeded in forcing away the hearse ; the fu- neral array then passed through the city to Whitechapel, where the corpse was restored to the constituted authorities, and then allowed to pass quietly to Harwich, whence it was transferred to Brunswick, to repose with the ashes of her illustrious ancestors. 13. Immediately after the coronation, his majesty paid a visit to Dublin, and was received by the Irish people with a burst of loyal affection such as was probably never before witnessed. After a short visit, he embarked at Kingstown in the presence of a countless multitude, who rent the air with acclamations, and with blessings on the head of the first English sovereign who had visited Ireland without hostile intentions. Shortly after his return, the king made an excursion to Hanover, the cradle of his race ; and after a brief stay returned to England. "* 14. Great distress was experienced throughout the British islands by the depreciation of agricultural produce, and con- sequent difTiCulty of paying rents. In Ireland, the mutual discontents of the land-holders and peasaalry led to several outrages on the part of the latter, perfectly disgraceful to a civilized country. By a little vigorous exertion, however, these violences were repressed, and comparative tranquillity restored. The distress of the lower classes, which indeed almost exceeded credibility, was relieved by a general and generous subscription in England, which arrested the pro- gress of a pestilential disease, produced by famine and distress. I& J);/- 1. ' :' 2. U: 3. Questions for Examination, By what event were the minds of the people disturbed at the commence- ment of the new reign ? What were the designs of the Cato street conspirators ? How wero the plans of the conspirators defeated ? GEORGE IV. 431 4. What event caused the coronation to be postponed 6. How did the queen become exposed to suspicion? 6. On what occasion were the effects of these suspicionji manifested f 7. How was the queen received in England ? 8. What measures were taken by the ministry ? 9. How did the queen's trial terminate ? 10. What effect did this lamentable occurrence produce in the country T 1 1. Wtu the ceremony of the coronation disturbed ? 12 Did any remarkable circumstances attend the queen's death ..ad burial f 13. How was the king received in Ireland ? 14. Was any distress experienced in the country T / SECTION II. O! heard they but thn avenKing call Thnir brothred'a murder nave; DineiiHiuii nu'ur ihuir riinkH had mown, JNor putiiot valuur, dexptirtite Rrown, HuuKht rofuKe ia the vruvu. — Scott, r. A TIME of profound peace furnishes but few incident* wofi' ' rf being recorded by the historian; during sach a pr i nation is silently employed in improving its re- sou. ...b and repair iiig the injuries which had been inflicted by war on its finances. The unparalleled contest in which England had been so long engaged, imposed on her rulers a task of no ordinary difficulty ; the immense debt which had been accumulated, required a large taxation to pay its inter- est ; and though many exertions have been made to relieve the country from such pressure, no extensive reduction can reasonably be expected for a very long period. (1822.) 2. After the termination of the parliamentary session, the kin^ proceeded to visit the Scottish capital, and was received by h*s northern subjects with the utmost enthusiasm. The {* stivities were, however, soon interrupted by the melancholy news of the death of the marquis of Londonderry, the se- cretary for foreign affairs, who had committed suicide in a fit of temporary insanity. After an interval of more than a month, Mr. Canning was appointed his successor, and re- ceived the seals of office at a time when a minister possessing his talents and energy was most wanting to the country. 3/ The European sovereigns had entered into a league to check the progress of revolution, and chose to call their union the holy alliance. A congress was held at Verona, and a resolution taken to subvert the constitution, and restore despotism in Spain. The duke of Wellington, on the part of England, refused to sanction the design, the execution of which was intrusted to the king of France. 4. (1823.) !Early in the following year, the duke of Angouleme, at the nead of a powerful army, entered Spain, and soon compelled 482 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. / /. the constitutionalists, wholly unprepared for resistance, to unqualified submission. Ferdinand, restored to the exer- cise of despotic power, persecuted all whom he suspected of liberal principles with extreme severity, and revived all tlie cruel institutions by which the government of Spain has been so long disgraced, with even more than ordinary rigour. 5. The feelings of the great majority of the English peo- ple were powerfully excited by this outrage on the liberties of a neighbouring nation ; but the ministers had determined to maintain a strict neutrality, though they severely condemned the principles and conduct of the French government. Bui while despotism was thus re-establishing its iron reign in Europe, freedom had obtained signal triumphs in America; the revolted colonies of Spain had now completed their emancipation, and their independence was acknowledged by England and several other European powers. 6. A sanguinary struggle for the liberation of Greece from the Turkish yoke had commenced some time previ- Oiisly, but had long produced no result but terrific massacres. The principal members of the holy alliance viewed the ins'jrrection of the Greeks viih secret dislike ; but the sympathies of the greater part of the people of Europe were awakened in their f: vour, and several volunteers from England and other countries tendered their assistance to the insurgents. 7. (1824.) Lord Byron, whose poetry had created a powerful feeling in favour of the Greeks, proceeded to aid them by his personal exertions, but unfortuntitely fell a victim to a fever at Missolonghi, in Western Greece. 8. The British colonies in Africa and India were severely harassed by the assaults of barbarous enemies ; in the former, the governor, sir C. McCarthy, was defeated, and cruelly murdered by the Ashantees ; but his death was sub- sequently avenged, and these savage warriors forced to submission. 9. In Hindostan, the Burmese were totally defeated, their strongest fortifications captured, and their territories placed at the mercy of the British troops ; they were consequently forced to solicit peace, which was granted on terms that tend greatly to increase the security of the British possessions in the East. 10. From the time that the union between England and Ireland had been effected, attempts were annual ,r made for the repeal of the remaining restrictive laws against the Ro- man catholics ; repeated failures by no means diminished , » OEORGK IV. 433 the hopes of the catholic leaders and their friends ; and in Ireland they formed a permanent association for the further- ance of their objects. (1826.) The members of the Catholic Association were not always very measured in their lan- guage, or temperate in their attacks on government, and it was judged expedient to suppress meetings which seemed pregnant .viih danger. 11. A bill for extending the law in Ireland against illegal societies was introduced into parlia- ment, and as it was expected that catholic emancipation would immediately follow, it passed with but little opposition. This hope was, however, doomed to be disappjinted, the catholic question was indeed carried in the lower house, but it was lost in the lords principally on account of the exertions made by his royal highness the d > s of York. / 12. Speculations and joint-stock companies of every description had lately multiplied so fast, that the nation seemed infected with a species of insanity ; but the bubbles doon, burst, and a terrible reaction ensued. The confusion of the money market, and the commercial embarrassments thus created, did not entirely disappear for the next two or three years. 13, (A.D. 1826.) The state of Portugal, the oldest ally of England, began riow to attract the attention of the public. On the death of John VI. the succession devolved on Don Pedro, who resided in Brazil ; he, however, satisfied with the imperial crown which he had acquired in South America, abdicated the Portuguese throne in favour of his daughter Donna Maria, and, to prevent any domestic commotion, betrothed her to his brother Don Miguel. Before taking this decisive step, he prepared a constitution, securing the blessings of civil and religious liberty to the Portuguese, who, unfortunately, could neither appreciate the one nor the other. 14. A strong party resolved to make Don Miguel absolute king, and under the- secret sanction of the Spanish government, began to assemble forces on the frontiers. Under these circumstances, application was made to England for assistance ; and an expeditton was sent out with a promptitude that excited the admiration of Europe. To preserve the continuity of the narrative, we must complete the account of the. transactions in Portugal before we again return to the affairs of England. 15. In September, 1827, Don Miguel was appointed regent by his brother, and imme- diately proceeded to assume the reins of power. In the following year, after the departure of the English troops, he 2 e 484 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. usurped the crown in defiance of Uie claims of his niece, and immediately after abrogated the constitution and pro- claimed himself absolute. The young queen of Portugal had, in the mean time, arrived in England, but finding her frienr^'i not sufficiently strong to overthrow the usurper, she returned to her father's court at Rio Janeiro. \' , Questions for Examination. 1. By what circumstances have the English ministers been lon^ ambar rassed? 2. What event caused a change in the ministry 7 3. For what purpose was the noly alliance formed T 4. How was the Spanish constitution overthrown ? 5. What revolutions occurred in South America ? 6. Did any European nation make a fierce struggle for freedom ? 7. What remarkable English nobleman died while aiding the Greeks t 8. Did any wars take place in the British colonies ? 9. How did the Bunnose war terminate ? 10. What remarkable circumstances occurred in Ireland ? 11. Did parliament adopt any measure in consequence ? 12. What pecuniary embarrassments occurred in England 7 13. How was public attention directed to the affairs of Portugal 7 14. In what manner did the English eovernment behave 7 15. What was the final termination or the struggle in Portugal 7 / I - SECTION III. We cannot walk, or sit, or ride, or travel, ':'?{-; 'V ' Uu. death is by to seize ua when he ligli. — Scott. 1. (A.D. 1827.) Death and disease, among the great and noble of the land, produced some important changes in the councils of Great Britain. On the 5th of January, his royal highness the duke of York died, sincerely and generally lamented, more especially by the army ; for his conduct ever since his restoration to the ofHce of commander-in-chief, had deservedly procured for him the endearing appellation of " the soldier's friend." 2. Oa the 17th of February, the earl of Liverpool, prime minister of England, was seized with a fit of apoplexy, which terminated his political exist- ence, though his natural life was prolonged to the close of the succeeding year. He was succeeded by Mr. Canning, whose commanding eloquence and enlightened views had made him almost irresistible in the house of commons. 3. But the additional fatigues imposed upon this highly-gifted statesman, and the fierce opposition he had to encounter, proved too much for a constitution already enfeebled by neglected disease; lie died on the 8th of Augusli io ti^e ?■^^;^^;, ■■ r ttEOROE IV. 435 6rty*eighth year of his age. 4. Mr. F. Robinson, having been elevated to the peerage, by the title of lord Godcrich, was next appointed premier, but his administration was loose and unsettled, and the cabinet which he had formed soon fell to pieces. The duke of Wellington was then called by his majesty to preside over the councils of Britain, and aided by Mr. Peel, he succeeded in forming a ministry, promising more firmness and stability than that which it succeeded. 6. The atrocities which marked the warfare between the Greeks and Turks were so shocking to humanity, that the sovereigns of Europe felt themselves bound to interfere, and a treaty for the pacification of Greece was signed, u London, on the 0th of July, 1827, by the representatives of England, France, and Russia. 6. In consequence of this, the allied fleets in the Mediterranean prepared to force the combatants to consent to an armistice, and blockaded the Turkish fleet in the harbour of Navarino. Ibrahim Pacha, the Turkish commander in the Morea, paying but little attention to the remonstrances of the allied admirals, the united fleets sailed into the harbour, on the 20th of Oc- tober, under the command of sir Edward Codrington, to intimidate him into submission. 7. A shot fired by a Turkish vessel was the signal for a general engagement, which lasted four hours. It terminated in the almost utter annihilation of the Turkish fleet, with comparatively little loss to the allied squadrons. The independence of Greece was virtually achieved by this brilliant victory, and was further secured by the arrival of a small military force from France ; the Turkish government, however, refused sub- mission, and war was commenced against Russia. 8. The events of this war, though not properly belonging to Eng- lish history, demand a brief notice ; in the first campaign the Turks made an obstinate resistance, and gained some advantages over their opponents ; but in the following year (1829), the Russian arms were everywhere successful ; the passages of the Balkan were forced ; Adrianople, the second city in the empire, was captured, and the sultan forced to consent to terms of peace, dictated almost at the gates of Constantinople. 9. The demands of Russia were, how- ever, less exorbitant than might have been expected under the circumstances, but there is reason to believe that this moderation was inspired by a dread of provoking the jea- lousy and resentment of England. 480 fimTORV OF ENGLAND / 10. (A. D. 1828.) Arter the reiignation oflord Goderich Mr. Huskisflon ani! soino otiior friends of the late Mr. Can- ning, had joined in the duko of Wellington*! administration, but they soon found that little harmony could exist in such a coalition. At lengtli Mr. Huskisson, having voted against ministers, tendered his resignation, which to his great sur- prise and mortification was accepted, nor could all his sub- sequent ofTorts alter the inflexible spirit of the duke of Wel- lington. The time of the house of commons was wasted < in the discussion of this and smiilar petty disputes, hut one act of the session made an important change in the forms of the constitution. The test and corporation acts, which required the receiving of the sacrament of the Lord's supper, according to the rites of the church of England, as a neces- sary qualification for office, were repealed after a brief par- liamentary struggle ; and the hopes of the Roman catholics, for the repeal of tlie laws by which they were excluded from parliament, were greatly raised by this event. A mo- tion in their favour was made by sir Francis Uurdctt, and carried by a majority of six; but it terminated ineffectively, as a similar motion was negatived in the house of peers. y^ 11. The country continued to be agitated by the catholic ^ ' question during the remainder of the year ; on the one hand, Brunswick clubs were formed by the advocates of protestant ascendency, to resist all further concession ; on the other side, the catholic leaders and their friends strenu- ously exerted themselves to render the cause of emancipa- tion popular. In Ireiand, the agitation was so violent that there was reason to apprehend a civil war : the most in- temperate harangues were made at Brunswick meetings and in the Catholic Association ; it was manifest that nothing but promptitude and decision on the part of government could avert the effusion of blood. . 12. (A. D. 1829.) The commencement of the ensuing / session of parliament was expected by all parties with the utmost anxiety ; and it was not without surprise, that both parties found catholic emancipation recommended in the ' speech from the throne. A bill to give effect to this re- cooiniendation passed both houses by triumphant majorities, '::ough not without encountering a vigorous opposition, and received the royal assent on the 13th of April. ^v--- 13. From the date of this important change in the con stitution, to the close of the reign, nothing of great import- ance occurred in England ; but in France the disiatiefaction J ^^^Al&i^li CKOnUK IV. 437 of the people wiih their rulers became daily more mnnifesl An expedition wan undertaken againnt Algiers, probably with the hope of diverting the attention of the French peo- ple from poiiticfl, to what had been so long their fuvourilo pattsion, — military glory. (A. 1). 1830.) The expedition wan eminently succosnful ; Algiorn wan captured, and the entire presidency subjected to the power of France : but the discontents of the French people continued to rage with us much violence as ever. y^\^> The illness of the king in the commencement of the year 1830 threw a damp on public aHairs, and as its fatal tendency became more apparent, speculations were rife on the probable political conduct of his successor. After a tedious sickness, which he sustained with great fortitude and resignation, George IV. died at Windsor Castle, on the 25th of June. The reasons already assigned for omitting a sketch of the character of George III. are in the present instance still more forcibly applicable ; we shall only say of him as a distinguished writer has said of Henry IV. of France, Oh ! be hit failingt covered by his tomb, ^ And guardian laureU o'er hiii oahei bloom. .'/' Que$tiona for Examination, ^ .,■''■< 1. What death occurred in the royal family ? 2. By what circumstance woa Mr. Canning placed at the head of the mi' nistry ? 3. What ifl supposed to have caused Mr. Canning's death ? ■ 't 4. What changes took place in consequence of Mr. Canning's death ? 5. In what manner did the European sovereigns endeavour to etfeot th« pacification of Greece 7 Ch What caused the battle of Navarino 7 . .^| ) 7. What were the consequences of the baUle 7 8. How did the Russian war with Turkey terminate 7 ' '^ ' ' 9. Why was Russia moderate in her donnandN 7 10. Whut remarkable circumstnnce occurred in the parliamentary session of 18«8? 1 1 . Was the British natl'm d'^iurbed by the agitation of any important questionf 12. How was the cathotii} question finally settled 7 13. Did the French government engage in any important expedition 7 14. When did George IV. die 7 CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Leo XII Poptt. A.D. 1823 Emperor of Aurtria. Francis II 1792 King of Bavaria, Louis Charles Au- King and Electorate of Bohemia. a.d. Francis II 1792 King of Denmark. Frederic VI J 808 gustus King of France. 1825 Charles X i824 So 2 King of Hanover a.d- George IV. king qf Great Britain. King of ]SapU$ and Sicily. Ferdinand IV. rest 1824 Francis Janiver Josepn io«tf •■fl" 4ta RiiTomt or tnolAKV. King iif iJk Nith*rhnd$. WiUkml 1818 Jniif ^ Fchnd. NioholM L MC Ruttia. umn<f Portugd. Donna Maria da Oloiik 1896 rNdaiKTv truama. a.d. 1797 Empwor of ioholaal.... Niohol Ruuin. .... 18U King of Sardinia. Charl««rBlii 1881 Kmg (\f Spain n.n Ferdiiictid VII... itHW King of Sweitn and Norwati. CharlMXiV..... IBltt Orand Seignior of 'I'urktv. Mahmondll..... 1808 King of Saaenjf. Anthony dem«nt. 1887 1 Fvodorie William. I< King o/* Wirtew^rg ■ i81* CHAPTER AXXVIII. WILLIAM IV. r ' If v> Boral76Bk Bhm to »>!» MBOi ]H«< Jan* 90^ 1M7. 1"' / (SECTION L , AndUnliNirtt«liMriorfiftoriiMVM.<-I>fyitii. ^ 1. Rabklv hat the accession of a new sovereign afforded iuch general satisfaction, as was manifested by all classes, when the duke of Clarence ascended the throne with the title of William IV. Unlike his predecessors, his habits were economical and his manners familiar ; he exhiUted himself to his people, conversed with them, and shared in their tastes and amusements ; within a few weeks he attained an unpre- cedented degree of popularity, and was reverenced by his subjects as a father, and loved by them as a friend. 2. No change was made in the ministry ; but as his majesty was connected by marriage with some of the leadine whiss, it was generally believ^ that the policy which rigidly excluded that party from oflke during the two preceding reigns, would not be maintained in full force. The hopes of a coali- tion between the Wellington administration and the whigs were, however, soon dispelled ; the opposition to the minis- try, which had been almost nominal during the preceding sessions, was more than usually violent in the debate on the address ,' and though the formal business of both houses was hurried through with all possible despatch, the whfgs were pledged to a virtual declaration of war against the calnnet before the prorogation of parliament. " 9. The parliament was dissolved on the 24th of July, but before it could be again convened, a revolution in a nelKh- / V .n WILLIAM IV. U9 / bouring country produced important offocta on the public mind, und in nemo degree convulttcd all Europe. Chuilos X., in defiance of the wishui and fonlings of the great majority of the French people, was eager to restore tlio royal ond so- cerdotal power to the eminence which both possottsed before the revolution. Mo found in prince Polignuc, a minister able and willing to second his projects, and he placed him ot the head of the cabinet. Pohgnac thought that, by gratifying the notional vanity of the French, and indulging their pas* •ion for military glory, he might bo able to divert their atlen* tion from domostic exploits: previously to dissolving tho chamber of deputies, ho therefore proclaimed war against tho doy of Algiers, who had committed several outrages on the subjects of Franco. But the expectotions of the prince were miserobly aisuppointed. His cabinet was assailed with a ferocity ond violence to which tho unnols of constitutional warfare furnish no parallel ; and as the actions of its mem- bers aiforded no opportunity for crimination, their opponents made amends bv attacking their presumed designs and inten- tions. When the chamber of deputies mot, on address, hos- tile to the ministry, was carried by a large majority. 4. The king instantly prorogued the chambers ; and when the reduc- tion of Algiers had, as he fondly hoped, gratified the nation, and restored his popularity, he once more hazarded the perilous experiment of a dissolution. The new chamber of deputies was still more hostile than the preceding. Polignac and his colleagues saw that they could not hope to retain their power by constitutional means, and in on evil hour they prepared three ordinances by which the French charter was virtually annihilated. Tho first dissolved tho, chambers before they assembled, the second disfranchised the great body of electors ; and the third imposed a rigid censorship on the press. /^ 6. When those ordinances first appeared on Monday, the / 28ih of July, they excited astonishment rather than indigna- tion ; a number of persons, however, connected with tho journals of Paris, assembled, and issued a manifesto, in which they declared their resolution to resist, by all the means in their power, the enforcement of tho ordinance im- posing restrictions on the press. Several of the daily jour- nals were not published on the following morning, and the {)rinters and compositors, engaged in their preparation, being eft without employment, formed a body of active rioters. They were joined by the workmen from several manufac- tr>»v 440 HIITOItV OP MNOLAND. loriof, the proprietors of which hod agreed to suspend their businoss during tho crisis, thus throwing into the streets an insurrectionary force, whoso ferocity wus nioro formidable than military discipline. Some disturbances took place at the offices of two journals, tho proprietors of which persisted in publishing appeals to tho populace , but they seemed to bo of so little importancu, that Charles went to enjoy his favourite 11 lusement of hunting, and his ministers, with similar in* fatuation, neglected to strengthun tho garrison of Paris. 6. In tho evening of Tuesday, the appearunco of the mili v to reinforce tho police, became tho signal for the commence- ment of a contest. Several lives were lost, but tho soldiers succeeded in dispersing tho riotous mobs ; and when thev re* turned to their barracks, Mur8hul Marmont, tho military commander of Paris, wroto a letter to the king, congratula* ting him on the restoration of tranquillity ; and th^; ministers prepared their last ordinance, declaring the capital to bo in a atoto of siege. y 7. Rut tho apparent triumph of the royalists was delusive ; ' scarcely wore the troops withdrawn when all tho lamps in Paris were broken, and tho citizens, protected by darkness, made energetic preparations for tho struggle of tho ensuing day ; barricades were erected, arms wore procured from tho shops, the theatres, and tho police-stations, and the arsenal and powder magazine wore seized by the populace. When the morning of Wednesday dawned, Marmont beheld with alarm the tri*coloured flag, the banner of insurrection, waiv- ing from the towers of the cathedral, and tho preparations made on all sides for an obstinate struggle. lie instantly wrote to the king, recommending conciliatory measures, but receiving no answer, ho prepared to act on his previous in- structions. Dividing his troops into four columns, he direct- ed them to movo in diffurcnt directions, and make circuits through the principal streets occupied by the insurgents. A series of sanguinary conflicts took place, in all of which the royalists were worsted ; the troops of the lino manifested tho greatest reluctance to fire upon their countrymen ; some of them disobeyed orders, and others went over to the insur- gents. When evening closed, the soldiers had been beaten ut every point, and they returned to their barracks wearied unci disappointed. No provision was made for their refresh-'' ment after the toils of the day, while all the houses in Paris were freely opened to tho insurgents, and the citizens vied^ , , WILLI All ir. i .♦ .• t 441 / 4. with each otbei^ in supplying thorn with every thing that they noedod. ^^t, y 8. The atruggte was ronowed with grant Airy on the morning of tlH3 third duy ; Marmont and i\w ministers, now convinced of thoir danger, proposed a BUdiiensiou of arms; but before anything decisive could be ctFected, two regiment! of the line uniixod thoir bayonets, and went ov r to the in- surgents in a body. The populace reinforced by thest), rushed through tlte gap thus opened, carried the Louvre by storm, and opened Irom this position a terrible fire on the column of the royal army. Under this new attack the sol- diers reeled; their assoilants saw them waver, and charging with resistless impetuosity, drove them to a precipitate re- treat. Murmont and his stalF escaped with groat diiHculty, his scattered detachments were taken or cut to pieces ; befor.) three o'clock Paris was tranquil, and the victory of the p' > pie complete. / 0. The members of the chamber of deputies, who hap- pened to be in Paris, met at the house of M Lafitte, and cfm- nized a provisional government ; and on the following Pi A\' they proclaimed the duke of Orleans licutenant-genen.i ot the kmgdom. On the 3d of August the chambers met, pur- suant to the original writs of convocation, and the national representatives raised the duke of Orleans to the throne, under the title of Louis Philippe I., king of the French. Charles X. was dismissed to exile with contemptuous hu- manity ; but the ciTorts of the new government to protect tlie obnoxious ministers almost produced a new civil war. Pour of these unfortunate men, arrested by individual zeal, were brought to trial ; an infuriated mob clamoured for their blood* but their judges had the firmness to sentr ?f^ them to per- petual imprisonment ; and soon ailer their r Mva\ to their destined place of confinement, public tranquillity wus restored. .--^ 10. The revolution of Paris was closely followed by that of Brussels. The union of Belgium with Holland by the treaty of Vienna was an arrangement which contoined no elements of stability, for the Belgians and the Dutch were aliens to each other in language, religion, and blood. The arbitrary measures of the kin^ of Holland's prime minister provoked a formidable riot in Brussels, on the night of the 25lh of August, which the indecision, cowardice, and stu- pidity of the Dutch authorities, fostered into a revolutionary war. The prince of Orange made some efforts to mediate between the contending parties, but he only exposed himaeU* HISTORY OF ENGLAND. to the suspicions of both ; and, aAer a brief struggle, Bel- gium was severed from the dominions of the house of y^ Nassau. ^ 11. Several insurrectionary movements took place in Ger- many ; the duke of Brunswick was deposed, and replaced by his brother ; the king of Saxony was forced to resign in favour of his nephew, and the elector of Hesse was compelled to grant a constitutional charter to his subjects. Poland next became the theatre of war ; its Russian governor, the archduke Constantino, was expelled, and the independence of the country proclaimed ; but after a long and sanguinary struggle, the gallant Poles were forced to yield to the gigan- tic p)ower of Russia. / 12. In England, the rural districts, especially Kent and the northern counties, exhibited alarming signs of popular discontent ; but the agitation in Ireland was of a otill more dangerous character, and seemed to threaten the dismember- ment of the empire. Great anxiety was felt for the opening of parliament, and the developement of the line of policy which the ministers would adopt at such a crisis. It was with surprise that the people learned from the premier, on the very first night of the session, that not only he was un- prepared to bring forward any measure of reform, but that he would strenuously oppose any change in parliamentary representation. 13. The unpopularity which the duke of Wellington seemed almost to have courted by this declara- tion, was studiously aggravated by the arts of his opponents ; and when the king had accepted the invitation of the Lord Mayor to dine with the citi?-ens on the 9tb of November, a letter was sent to the duke of Wellington by a city magis- trate, warning him that he would be insulted, perhaps in- jured, by the mob, if he did not come protected by a military escort. The ministers in alarm resolved to put a stop to the entire proceedings, and on the 8th of November, to the great astonishment of the public, it was announced, not only that the king's visit would be postponed, but that there would be neither the usual civic procession in honour of the new Lord Mayor, nor the dinner in the Guild-hall, for which great preparations had been made, in consequence, as was alleged, of some seditious conspiracy. The first effect of the an- nouncement was a general panic ; the funds fell four per cent, in one day, and the whole country was filled with anxiety and alarm. But when it was discovered that no Mirious grounds existed for the apprehensions which had J,,.-. WILLIAM IV. 443 on a .y been excited, all who had a share in exciting it were assailed with a tempest of indignant ridicule, which even a stronger cabinet than that of the duke of Wellington could not have resisted. 14. When the ministerial measure for the arrange- ment for the civil list was introduced. Sir Henry Parnell moved a resolution which implied that the ministers no longer possessed the confidence of parliament. After a calm de- bate, marked by unusual moderation on both sides, the reso- lution was carried in a full house by a majority of twenty- nine votes ; the duke of Wellington and his colleagues instantly resigned, and earl Grey received his majesty's com- mands to form a new administration. /" 15. Earl Grey's ministry was formed of the leaders of the old whig party and the friends of the late Mr. Canning ; the most remarkable appointment was that of Mr. Brougham to the office of Lord Chancellor, as a very few days before his elevation, he had declared " no change that may take place in the administration can by any possibility affect me." His immediate acceptance of a peerage and office consequently excited surprise, and provoked harsh comments. Parliament adjourned for a short time to give the new minis- ters an opportunity for maturing their plans, which were stated by the premier to include economy and retrenchment at home, non-interference in the affairs of foreign states, and a reform in the commons' hou3e of parliament. '■^16. Great anxiety was felt about the nature of the reform which the ministers would propose. Their measure was developed to the house of commons by lord John Russell, on the 1st of March, 1831, and it was found to include a greater amount of change than had been anticipatt'i either by friends or enemies. All boroughs not containing two thousand inhabitants were totally disfranchised, those that had less than four thousand were restricted to returning one member, and the rights of representation of which these were deprived, were given to large manufacturing towns, four districts of the metropolis, and to divisions of the large counties. Similar changes were proposed in the representa- tion of Scotland and Ireland 17. A measure which involved so important a change in the constitution, was one which necessarily provoked pro- tracted discussions. The debate on its introduction lasted seven nights ; the second reading of the bill was only carried by a majority of one. The ministers were subsequently de- feated on two divisions, and were compelled either to resign ^^,. 444 HISTOa? OF ENGLAND. ^heir situations or dissolve the parliament. His majesty narried his resolution into effect to support the cabinet by iissolving the parliament in person, and an appeal was then nade to the people, on the most important constitutional question that had been raised since the accession of the house of Hanover. y" 18. The event of the elections more than answered the ■^ expectations of the most ardent reformer. "When the new parliament met, it appeared that fully two-thirds of the repre- sentatives were pledged to support the minister. The pro- gress of the Reform Bill through the house of commons though slow was certain, and on the 22d of September it was sent up to the lords. Its fate in the upper house was ^ery different ; it was rejected on a second reading by a majoiity of forty-one. This decision produced violent and even dan- gerous excitement : but the promptitude with which the he use of commons, on the motion of lord Ebrington, pledged itself to the support of the ministers and their measure, calmed ihe agitation in the metropolis and the greater part of the coun- try. Serious riots, however, took place at Derby and Not- ingham, which were not quelled until considerable mischief had been perpetrated ; Bristol suffered still more severely from the excesses of an infuriate mob, and the disturbances were not suppressed until an immense quant'ty of public and private property had been wantonly destroyeu. . 19. In the midst of this political excitement the country ^was visited by a pestilential disease, called the Asiastic cho- lera, which proved very destructive, though its ravages were not so great in England as in some parts of the •continent. This must, under Providence, be attributed to the judicious measures adopted by the government, and to the zealous ex- ertions of all the gentlemen connected with the medical pro- fession throughout the empire. In Ireland agrarian insur- rections were adued to the horrors of pestilence ; the peas- ants, driven to desperation by famine and oppression on the one hand, and stimulated by the violent harangues of itiner- ent demagogues on the other, committed several atrocious outrages, which could not be restrained by the ordinary operations of constitutional law. France and Italy were also disturbed by insurrectionary movements, which were, however, soon suppressed ; and the revolution of Belgium was completed, by its being formed into a monarchy under prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg, v/hoso chief recommenda- tion was his connection with the royal family of England, / pa Bi be WILLIAM IV. 445 / / 20. These circumstances induced the ministers to convene parliament for the third time within the year ; the Reform Bill was again introduced, and aAer the second reading had been carried by a decisive majority, the houses adjourned till the commencement of the following year. When they re- assembled, the Reform Bill was carried steadily through its remaining stages in the lower house, and once more brought into the house of peers, where its fate was regarded with great anxiety. Several of its former opponents, called wa- verers, had resolved to vote for the second reading, with the hope that the measure might be greatly modified in com- mittee, and by their aid the bill passed this important stage by a majority of nine. But the ministers had no reason to boast of this success ; more than twenty of those who had supported the second reading were pledged to resist the most important clauses, and by their aid, a motion for instruction to the committee on the bill, which virtually took all control over the measure out of the hands of its proposers, was carried by a majority of thirty-five. Lord Grey, in con- junction with his colleagues, proposed to the king a new creation of peers ; his majesty refused his assent to so ex- treme a measure, and all the members of the cabinet in- stantly resigned. The king then applied to the duke of Wellington to form a new administration, and his grace un- dertook the task under circumstances of greater difficulty than had yet been encountered by a British statesman. Op- posed by the bulk of the nation and by a large majority of the house of commons, the duke soon discovered that it would be out of his power to form a ministry ; he therefore resigned "the commission, and advised the king to recall his former advisers. Lord Grey returned to power, having se- cured the success of the Reform Bill by a compromise with its opponents. It was agreed that the ministers should not create peers, but that the leaders of the opposition should secede from the house until the Reform Bill became the law of the land. Under these circumstances the measure was passed without any impediment through its remaining stages, and on the 7th of June it received the royal assent. Q^estions for Examination. 1. How was the accession of William IV. received ? 2. What was the state of parties at the commencement of the new rgjrrn t 3. With what design did the French ministers declare war against Algiers ? 2P # 446 HISTOHY of ENGLAND. 4. What ordinances were issued by Polignac 7 5. How were they received in Pans 1 6. When did the contest between the citizens of Paris and the royal troops beein 7 7. In what condition was the royal cause after the second day's struggle in Paris 7 8. How was the contest in Paris terminated 7 9. Was any change made in the eovernmont of France 7 10. Did the French revolution produce any effect in Belgium 7 11. Were there any insurrectionary movements in other parts of the con- tinent 7 12. What remarkable declaration was made by the duke of Wellington 7 13. Why was the king's visit to the city postponed 7 14. How was the Wellington administration dissolved 7 15. On what principle was lord Grey's ministry constructed 7 16. What was the general nature of the Reform Bill 7 17. How was it received on its first introduction into the house of com- mons 7 18. What was the fate of the Reform Bill in the new parliament 7 19. In what condition were Great Britain and the comment at this crises? 20. How was the Reform Bill ultimately carried 7 --^h SECTION n. The palace aoundi with well, The courtly damei are pale, A widow o'er the purple bowi, and weepi its iplendour dim : And we who clasp the boon, A king fur fVeedom won, Do reel eternity riio up between our thanlia and him.— ./Snon. 1. (A. D. 1833 — 7.) The revolution in France, the ex- citement attending the agitation of the Reform Bill in Eng- land, the difficulty which impeded the arrangement of the affairs of Belgium, and the war in Poland, threatened con- sequences fatal to the peace of Europe ; it was only by slow degrees that the agitated waves were stilled, and appearances more than once seemed to threaten a renewal of the storm. Louis was zealously supported by the middle classes in France, but he was exposed to the plots of the Carlists and republicans, who were equally hostile to the continuance of a government so adverse to their favourite siichemes. A Car- list insurrection in the south of France, and a republican riot at the funeral of General Lamarque in Paris, threatened to involve the nation in the perils of a civil war ; but the re- publicans were unable to withstand the firmness of the na- tional guard, and the capture of the duchess of Berri put an end to the war in the south of France. 2. Don Pedro had resigned the crown of Portugal when e was chosen emperor of Brazil ; but when he was deposed b;;, is oouth American subjects, he resolved to support his :#^^.. WILL'^AM IV. 447 daughter's claims to the throne of Portugal. Having so- crotly organized a considerable force of English and French adventurers, he etfected a landing near Oporto, and took possession of that city. He expected an insurrection, but none took place ; and he was closely besieged in the city by the usurper Miguel. A desultory war ensued, distinguished by no remarkable events, until Miguel's fleet was captured by Admiral Napier with a very inferior force ; aller which Lisbon was surprised by the constitutional forces, and the usurper driven into exile. Don Pedro's death, which soon followed his victory, did no injury to the constitutional cause, and his daughter. Donna Maria de Gloria, remains in undis- turbed possession of the crown of Portugal. ii. The influence of Russia was exercised in resisting the progress of liberal opinion in Germany, but was more alarm- ingly displayed in the east of Europe. Mohammed Ali, the pacha of Egypt, threw off his allegiance to the sultan, and sent his son Ib^ahim to invade Syria. The superior disci- pline of the Egyptian troops rendered their victories easy, and Ibrahim might have advanced to the suburbs of Constan- tinople, and perhaps have takun that city, had not the sultan sought protection from the Czar. A Russian armament de- livered the Ottoman empire from the impending peril, but the acceptance of such aid rendered the sultan a dependant on the court cf St. Petersburg. ^ 4. Such was the state of Europe when the British parlia- ment was dissolved, and a new election held pursuant to the provisions of the Reform Bill. In England and Scotland the ministers had very large majorities, but in Ireland a new party mustered in considerable force, consisting of members pledged to support the repeal of the union. 5. One of the earliest measures which engaged the attention of the re- formed parliament, v/as a coercion bill for suppressing the agrarian disturbances in Ireland, and checking the political agitation by which these tumults were in some measure en- couraged. The bill passed *!;c lords without difficulty ; but in the lower house it encountered so fierce ^.n opposition, that the ministers were compelled to abandon ^ome of the m6st obnoxious clauses. With the coercion bill a measure for the regulation of the Irish church was very closely connected. The Irish church stands in the unpopular predicament of possessing a wealthy national establishment, while the great majority cf the people belong not merely to a different, but to a hostile faith ; impediments ha/e consequently been of- li ■iri^: s v4<^ ,jM; \ 448 IIISTOdY OF BNOLAND. feftx! !*"> I'lo collection of its revenues, and there has scarcely been a)y popular disturbance in Ireland during the greater part of a century, which has not been more or less n-mute!y connected with tho ti^ho-question. Under thew circum- stances, the conservative party generally supported the < 'nims of the church in thoir full efficiency ; the moderate reformers proposed, that aftcz provision had beon mtle foi iill ne-jis- sary ecclesiastical uses, tho surpluii sho?ild be applied to some object of public utility, sueh as natj>>aol education ; and a third party, stronger in zeal ihan numi-ti's, regarded the pro- perty of the church as a iund that might be seized for tho purposes of the state. The ministers stoored a mkidle course bciween the extreme parties, and of course g;.ve perfect autiF fuodon to neither; they abolished ten bish<pric3, but they abundonfd tho clause for applying the. surplus to purposes not purely :cdoi?.r ^^ienl, ui order to facilitate the passage of thn bill ihroui.'h !ho house of lords. The motion was ren- devod more agiTOJibie to the Irish clergy, than it would other- wise havo becii, by the grant of a million sterling as a loan, in Hcu of tJxe arrears of tithes which they were unable to collect, 6. The renewal of the charter of the bank of England, led to some important discussions on the financial state of the couiJtry ; but much more important was the change made in the constitution of the East India Company. While that body was secured in its political rights over the vast empire which it had acquired in Hindostan, it was deprived of its exclusive privileges of commerce, and the trade with India and China was freely opened to all the subjects of the British crovvn. Equally great was the change made in the constitu- tion of the British West India colonies by the total abolition of negro slavery ; the service of the negro was changed into a compulsory apprenticeship for a limited time, and a com- pensation of twenty millions sterling was granted to the pro- prietors of the slaves. /^7. Notwithstanding the importan^s and value of these changes, the reformed parliament was far from sati'^fying the expectations which had been rather too sanguine 'y formed by the people. Soma dissatisfaction was expnv -.A at the limited amount of the reductions of taxation, th ' c cinuance of the corn laws> . d of military flogging, .' : jO impress- ment of seamer ' was also suspected th -. t ii cabinet was itself divided on more than one question of ntf 'o policy. / 8 In the United States some discussions .vo^^ in which ^rrf'*'-^^''" ■ -■•-'!- J- ■•{\au:ft-\r.^^-;'' *•"/ ,--i-' WILLIAM IV. 449 the interests of England, as a commercial country, were ma* terially involved. The tariff sanctioned by congress, im< posing heavy duties on the import of manufactured goods, was strenuously opposed by the southern states, especially the Carolinas, and an appeal to arms was threatened. With some diiKculty a compromise was effected, but the attack thus made on the permanance of the union is still felt in America. The hostility of the American president to the banking system, induced him to withdraw the public de- posites from the bunk of the United States, and a violent shock wos thus given to commercial credit, which produced injurious results on both sides of the Atlantic. 9. The agitation in Ireland for the repeal of the union was continued during the recess ; and soon afler the meeting of parliament, Mr. O'Connell introduced the subject into the house of commons. His motion was rejected by a majority of five hundred and twenty against fifty-eight, but at the same time parliament pledged itself " to remove all just cause of complaint, to promote all well-considered measures of improvement." But on the nature of these measures the cabinet was divided, and the majority having evinced a dis> position to appropriate iho surplus ecclesiastical revenues to secular purposes of general utility, the earl of Ripon, thn duke of Richmond, Mr. Stanley, and sir James Graham, re< signed their offices. Their places were soon supplied, bu. the changes were very distasteful to the house of lords, and the new Irish tithe-bill was rejected by a decisive majority. y' 10. Another Irish question led to further changes in the ministry. In the discussion on the renewal of the coercion bill, it apneared that some members had agreed to certain cun»,jrnmises with its opponents of which their colleagues were ignorant. The disclosure of these negotiations led to the resignation of lords Allhorp and Grey, the former of whom, however, returned to the office when lord Melbourne was appointed premier. These ministerial dissensions and the opposite views of the majorities in the houses of lords and ; ysniiMms, gT>,atly impeded the progress of legislation; alv.HVjt the only in^portant measure of the session was a bill .>r the reform Oi he poor-lawr which, though it effected very great changes, was n( *. much connected with party politics. ^^ 11. The anomalous position of the government gave generul dissatisfaction ; the cabinet was assailed with equal violence by the conservatives and the extreme section of ^he 2 v2 »*s '■\ 4fi0 HISTORY OP BNOLAND. reformers, ond the king soon began to show that he was by no means satisHcd with the conduct of his ministers, espe- cially the lord chancollor, who, during a tour in SccMnnd, hnd made some inconsistent and extraordinary speeches at various public meetings. On tho d(?olh of carl Spencer, lord Althorp was obliged to vocate hia oHiro of chancellor of tho oxohoquer, and the king took this opportunity of dismissing the Melbourne administrotioii. Sir Kobort IVol was oppoint- ed nrcmior, but as ho was absent on tho continent, the duke of Wellington undertook tho management of public atiairs till his return. ^ 12. Af\or sir Robert Peel's return, and the formation of his cabinet, the parliament was dissolved, and u new election brought tho strength of parties to a very severe test. In England thopartizansof sir Robert PeePs administration hud tt small majority ; but in Ireland, an unfortunate ailray at Rathcormack, arising from an attempt to enforce tho poy- ment of tithes, so exasperated the catholic population, that tho ministerial candidates were almost everywhere unsuc> cessful. When the parliament assembled, the ministers were beaten at tho very outset in the choice of a speaker ; Mr. Abercromby, the opposition candidate, having been preferred 10 the ministerial candidate, sir Charles Sutton, by a majority of ten. Several other motions were decided against tho ministers, but none that involved a necessity for resignation, until lord John Russell proposed a resolution, that any mea- sure introduced regarding Irish tithes should be founded on the principle of appropriating the surplus revenue to pi -.poses of general utility. The motion was carried by a majority of twenty-three ; sir Robert Peel and his colleagues immediately resigned, and tho Melbourne cabinet was restored, with tho remarkable exception of lord Brougham, whoso place, as chancellor, was supplied by lord Gotten ham. 13. A bill for reforming the corporations of England, founded on the report of commissioners appointed to investi- gate the condition of these bodies, was immediately intro- duced by the Melbourne administration, and passed without difficulty through the house of commons. Some important changes were made in the measure during its progress through the house of lords, but the ministers deemed it better to accept these modifications than to risk the loss of the bill. A law for regulating the marriages of dissenters was i.'so passed by both houses, but the ministerial measures for f;gu- iating the Irish church were again rejected by the hou^ie of lords. WILHIAK IV. 451 14. The state of Canada began to occupy a large sharo of public ottontinn during tho latter part of the session ; the coloniol house of asHombly op[)08cd tho mniiNuros of govern- ment, and wont to the extreme of withholding the supplies. CommisMionors were sent to arrange thoHo diffcrenceH, but the (/onadiuns of French descent mudo claims, not only in- consistent with the continuance of Uriiiwh dominion, but with tho fair claims to protection of tho British emigrnnts who hod settled in tho country, and their demands were conse- quently rejected. ""15. During tho struggle between tho nicely balanced par- ties in England, the aspect of continental afluirs was favour- able to the continuance of peace. An attempt was made on tho life of the king of the French, and various plots wore formed by enthusiastic republicans to effect a revolution, but tho friends of order rallied round the throne, and the only re- sult of these attacks was to increase tho strength of tho government, ^pain was distracted by tho horrors of a dis- puted succession. A little before the death of Ferdinand VII., the Salic law, which had been introduced by the Bour- bon dynasty, was set aside in favour of that monarch's infant daughter ; and she succeeded to tho throne ailor her father's decease (1833). Don Carlos and his partizans protowi. td against this arrangement, and they took advantage of tl.-^ unpopularity of the regent to kindle the flames of civil war. To prevent the necessity of again returning to this subject, we may mention here that this war still continues ; that the queen regent, though aided by a British auxiliary legion, has failed to establish her authority over tho northern provinces, and that so completely disorganized is the entire condition of society in the peninsula, that there is no present prospect of its being spe(«dily restored to a state of order and settled gov- ernment. Though the civil war in Portugal has not been renewed, the country continues to be distracted by cc -: • between rival parties, whose struggles are too often decided by open force ruther than constitutional means. — 16. The commencement of the parliamentary session in 1836, showed that the differences between the majority of the lords and the majority of the commons were far from beinjr ;?." nciled. They were at issue principally on the lino of p<' ; ihat ought to be pursued towards Ireland, ard on the measures for regulating the established church in Eng- land and Ireland. It was proposed that the Irish corporations should bo reformed according to the plan which, in the pre- n " • A ■ •Tip" r ■ ''fT "'^y: 402 IIISTOUY OF ENGLAND. \ ceding year, had been adopted for similar bodies in England, and a bill embodying this principle received the sanctiun of the lower house ; the lords, however, insisted that the state of society in Ireland , ^ .>"'h that municipal institutions were not adapted t tnui ccutry, and resolved that the cor- porations should t.>e allo^eliier abolished : to this amendment the commons rclnsed to agree, and the bill was consequently lost. A similar fate uwuited the Irish tithe-bill ; the lords rejected the appropriation clause, and the commons would not accept the measure without it. T-'-s, however, were passed for the commutation o{ ut»ies m KuglaiiJ, for the re- gistration of births, deaths, and marriages, and for regula- ting episcopal sees, the opposing parties having each yielded a little (o ensure unanimity. 17. n Upper Canada the refractory house of assembly war dissolved, and at the new election a majority of members favourable to the British government was returned. But in Lower Canada the demands of the French party were not only renewed but increased, and the governor, after a vain otfort to conciliate the house of assembly, put an end to the session. 18. In America the progress of the contest between P; ji- dent Jackson and the Bank of the United States, greatly em- bairassed all commercial transactions. In spite of all legis- lative prohibitions, the country was inundated by an over issue of paper money, and the gove»- ment, to check the evil, decreed that specie alone should be received in payment for public lands. The small notes were immediately depre- ciated; several banks (ailed, and many of the leading mer- chants and tradei'^ v/ere '.nable t< dischari^e their engage- ments. The crisis was sensibly i It in England, where it greatly checked the speculation in rail-roads, which were beginning to be carricu to a perilous extent : the manufac- turing districts suffered most severely from the temporary pressure ; but the crisis was soon ever, and traue ag-iin ^flowed in its accustomed chann Is. 19. The parliamentary sf. m of 1837 produced few measures of importance; c- ifisl measures the houses maintained their opposite opiiuons, iind of course nothing •vas done; in matters of ecclesiastical policy the result was precisely the same ; the only matter in which there was any appearance of unanimity, was in the adoption of resolutions for administering the government of Lower Canada in oppo- siiiun lO it - me reiraciory nousa Kji asseuibiy. * gioom Wits f4 VICJTOJ ^...^ W' 463 f thrown over these and other discussions by the increasing I illness of the king, whose disease at an early period prog- / nosticated its fatal termination. His majesty died on the I morning of the 20th of Juno, sincerely regretted by every | I class of his subjects. During his reign of nearly seven years, the nation enjoyed tranquillity both at home and abroad ; it was the only reign in the annals of England during which there was no execution for treason and no foreign war. Questions for Examination. "* 1. What was the condition of France after tho Revolution f 2. Did any -civil war arise in Portugal 7 3. How was Turkey forced into dependence on Ruraia T 4. What was the state of parties in the first reformed parUament 7 5. To u'iiat measure of doniuF'ic policy was the attention of parliament directed ? 6. What change was made in the East and West India colonies 7 7. Did the reformed parliament satisfy ex[)ectations 7 8. To wnat dangers was the American union exposed 7 9. On what questions was lord Grey's cabinet divided 7 ' 10. What circuiuBtaiices led to further changes in the ministry] 11. On what occasion was the Melbourne cabinet dissolved? ., 12. How was sir Robert Peel compelled to resign 7 'I . '■ 13. Wiih V hat measures did the Melbourne ministry succeed? " * 14. In > hut condition was Canada 7 i - vt 15. Can you state the circumstances of the civil war in Spain 7 16. On what subjects were the majorities of the lords and commons at variance? - 17. What was the progress of Canadian discontent? 18. What commercial crisis occurred in America 7 19. W V was the session of 1837 unproductive of important events? CHAPTER XXXIX. VICTORIA. Born IP 19. Began to reign 1837. TJx'y declied her i urtly halli— 'I hoy reined her hundred steedi; — The" gnnuted at her palnce gate, A noble queen succeeda. — Jlnon. Victoria, the only daugher of Edward, duke of Kent, succeeded her late uncle, and her accession to the throne was hailed with more than ordinary enthusiasm. All parties vied with each other in testifying their affectionate allegiance to their youthful sovereign, called at the earlv age of eiffh- M 454 .X / J HIITORY OF KNOLAHD. lNt.4^ tcea to rulo over tho destinies of o mighty empire. Tha formal business of parliament was completed with all possi- bio despatch, ond at tho closo of tho session tho parliament wos dissolved. Although there was a keen trial of strength between the rival political parties, tho elections wero un- usually tranquil; and at their closo it oppeared that the triumphs of tho opposing parties were very nearly balanced. Public attention was next directed to tho preparations made for entertaining her majesty ot a civic banquet on the 0th of November. They were on a scale of unrivalled magnifi- cence, and her majesty's procession to the Guild-hr^U was one of tho most pleasing pageants ever displayed in Kngtand. No change was mudo in tho cabinet; ond when parliument assembled towards the close of tho year, it appeared that tho ministers retained their majority in the house of common!^, and that the opposition to them in the house of lords hud become more moderate. The state of Lower Canada was one of the most pressing subjects for the consideration of tho legislature ; the opponents of the government had taken up arms, and raised the standard of rebellion. But it soon ap- peared that their measures were ill-concerted ; ofter a brief 8t>'iiggle, most of tho leaders abandoned their followers and sought shelter in tho United States. Immediately aAer the reassembling of parliament in January, 1838, measures wero introduced for the temporary government of Canada, its constitution having been suspended by the revolt ; and tho earl of Durham was appointed governor of all tho British colonies in North America, with power, as lord commissioner, to arrange the differences between her majesty's government and her discontented subjects. At present everything seems to promise a long and prosperous reign. The desultory war in Spain does not seem likely to disturb the general tranquil- lity of Europe, and the increasing facilities of national in- tercourse, together with the growing diffusion of intelligence, have led the rulers and the people on the continent to set a higher value on the blessings of peace. At home, the rancour of party violence has sensibly abated ; the internal improve- ments of the country, especially its rail-roads, are making rapid progress ; manufactories are springing up, which would astonish our ancestors, could they return to the places which were once their homes ; and our ships in constantly increas- ing numbers visit every region, spreading civilization wher- ever they go, and making us more and more acquainted with ptuuuuia ui uui ~i « piuiici. PionncM or litcbatvrk, ioibnck, vtc. CHAPTER XL. V>5 fXBTClI OF THE I'ROUKEBH OF LITURATURK, BCIENCEf AND TIM | AIITH, DUKINU THE I'KKHKNT CENTUHY. I'altnly thny pIiow ua muiikind victoriuua < * „^^'*>' ■*" "'"' ■ oiiiiliiM, liliiui, mill biiiA ; Tlioir prumtiics Im* iimdu uur natiirM Klurioui, Unvuilini uur iiiglil'a illuiiiiiiuil fucu. — SterUng. 1. In the middlo oflho Inst century, science and literature in England were fuHt losing all truces oi' originality ; inven- tion wus discouraged, research unvalued, and the examina- tion of nature proscribed ; it seemed to bo generally estab- lished, that the treasures accumulated in the preceding age, were quite sufficient for all national |)urposes, and that the only duty which authors had to perform, was to reproduce what had been thus accumulated, in a moru ciogant shape, adorned with all the graces of polished stylo. Tumencss and monotony naturally result from a slavish adherence to es- tablished rules, and every branch of literature felt this blight- ing influence : history, perhaps, was in some degree an ex- ception ; for Hume, Robertson, but more especially Gibbon, exhibited a spirit of original investigation which fou.\d no para^llel amongst their contemporaries. 2. The American war first broke the chains that had thus fettered the public mind ; passions were excited, party zcul kindled, and in the keen encounters of rival statesmen, an example was set of bidding defiance to all arbitrary rules. Parliamentary elo- quence was the first result of the change, and the principal cause of its further extension. While Burke, Fox, Sheridan, and at a later period, Pitt, spoke as their peculiar habits of thought prompted them, not as the rhetoric of schools taught, Cowper and Burns made vigorous efforts for the emancipa- tion of poetry, and substituted the suggestions of nature for the dictates of art. Their success, however, would scarcely have been decisive, had not the American war been followed by a still more terrible convulsion. 3. The French revolu^ tion shook everything that had been morally as well as poli- tically established in Europe, to the very foundation. There wos no principle, however sacred — no institution, however sanctioned by long experience — no rule of conduct, however tried and proved — that was not rudely questioned and fiercely assailed. Hopes were entertained by some, that a new era of social happiness was about to dawn upon the world ; iety was about to be rent i.i sunder, and oth laVfAO l*^U««'\4 VllUb OWA\rf 'U 456 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. c/ery sign of civilization destroyed. It is not our purpose to say anything of the political effects produced by the French revolution ; its literary consequences, as has been the case with every period of great excitement, were de- cidedly beneficial. A total change was wrought in every branch of literature, a change which demanded from every writer vigorous thought instead of elegant expression. 4. Crabbe, the poet of rustic life in England, derived his im- pulse from the American war ; but it is to the struggle with France that we owe Coleridge, Wordsworth, and Southey — men alike in their devotion to nature, but different in their modes of testifying that homage, because each has followed the bent of his own mode of thought. The enthusiasm with which these eminent poets hailed the dawn of freedom in France, embittered their disappointment, when they saw the evil uses to which the name of liberty was perverted ; they Ijecame vehement opponents of the political developement of the French revolution, but they clung fondly to its intellec- tual principles, and maintained the right of genius to explore untravelled paths, though its course might not be that pointed out by critics. Their example was followed by Montgomery, Byrojp, Scott, and Campbell ; and by a host of other writers whose works have enriched modern literature. The female mind also felt the influence of this mighty revolution, and some of the noblest productions in modern poetry have been written by ladies. We may mention the names of Miss Joanna Bailie, and Mrs. Hemans. 5. There was, h'. /ever, one species of poetry, the drama, which had little or no share in the success which we have described ; in fact, it was almost destroyed by that very means. It is at the moment when a nation is wakening intc intellectual life, that the drama most flourishes ; men are then eager to receive instruction, and the theatre affords it in the most pleasing as well as the most forcible form. But as civilization advances, other and more efficient means of in- struction are provided ; the drama loses its influence over the improved generation, just as the picture-books of childhood cease to be valued in youth ; it sinks into a mere means of entertainment, and its strength is lost with its high purpose. The periodical press now holds the position that the stage did in the time of queen Elizabeth : that the drama might ad- vance, it would be necessary for civilization to retrograde, and that would be far too high a price to pay eve. .or ano- ther Shakspeure. PR00RE8S OF LITERATURE, 8CXBMCE, ETC. 457 6. The great extension and excellence of our periodica} prei4s, both literary and political, is one of the most striking chavacleristics of the age. Not merely the Reviews and Magazines, but even the common newspapers, display literary' merits of a very high order. Men of the most eminent abilities and exalted stations, contribute to our journals; and they consequently hold a high rank in the literature of the age. Reviews, especially, have risen into unexampled emi- nence, and have maintained their stations by a succession of articles that tend at once to improve the taste and enlarge the understanding. Some of the periodicals have a circulation which, in a past age, would not have been credited ; this is owincf to the more general diffusion of education among all classes. 7. The importance of affording useful instruction to every class of the community, is now universally acknowledged ; and the progress of education has become so rapid, that there is every prospect that its blessings will soon become univer- sal. And not only is the quantity of instruction incrieased, but its quality is greatly improved, as might easily be shown by a comparison of our present school-books with those of the last century. It is no exaggeration to state, that the ele- ments of a really useful education, may be more easily at- tained by the poor of the present day, than by the richest of past generations. 8. History, which used to be a mere repetition of what had been previously narrated by others, has called criticism to its aid. Instead of a slavish adherence to authority, we now see writers carefully examine facts, compare evidence, and investigate the motives which might have led original authors to conceal or disguise the truth. Lingard, Hallam, Turner, Southey, and Sir James Mackintosh, have been especially conspicuous for their critical sagacity, in eliciting the truth from conflicting statements ; but, notwithstanding their exer- tions, the English school of historical criticism may still be regarded as in its infancy. 9. Perhaps we may ascribe this deficiency in our histories to the unexampled progress and popularity of romantic litera- ture, owing chiefly to the labours of Sir Walter Scott, who was among the first to unite, in works of fiction, the. highest flights of imagination with the realities of life. Novels and romances have ceased to be dangerous and absurd, though they were both, in a period not very remote. Historical ro- mances are to this .age, what the historical plays of Shaks- . i^KitriifitiMT&r. - >l< 458 BItrORY OF KNOLAITD. peare were to a former period-^vivid pictures of our ances- tors; representing them, if not exactly as they thought and acted, yet so nearly what they might have been, that they become to us a kind of acquaintances, and seem brought within the sphere of our personal knowledge. 10. Periodical criticism supplies the place of what used to be termed general literature : hence formal works on mental and moral philosophy and the belles lettres are rare. Blair and lord Kames were the guides of our fathers in matters of taste ; we have rejected their authority, and defer more to tho principles maintained by the leading Reviews. These princi- ples, however, are scattered in different essays over a multi- tude of volumes, and no one has yet appeared of suffieienv authority to be entrusted with the task of collecting thenv into a new code. 11. Reid, Stewart, and Brown, were the last great writers on metaphysics ; their fame will probably long remain uneclipsed, for the science of mind seems to hava lost its hold on public attention, as indeed have almost all merely speculative studies. What is chiefly desired in the present day, is something practical and immediately useful. 12. Political economy and statistics have occupied the po- sition which was once held by metaphysics. Adam Smith was in some measure the founder of the former science, from his investigating the nature and causes of a nation's wealth. Since his day, the subject has engaged the atten- tion of several eminent writers, especially Ricardo, Malthus, and Macculloch. The cultivation of statistics must be the source of all future improvement in the science of political economy, because it is to the table of the statistician that the economist must look for his facts; and all speculations not founded upon facts, though they may be admired and ap- plauded when first propounded, will, in the end, assuredly be forgotten. 13. The abstract sciences have made great progress in England during the last few years ; principally owing to the great exertions of Airy, Ivory, Peacock, and Hamilton, who have greatly extended the domain of mathematical calcula- tion. In the mixed and applied sciences, also, much has been done, though no very conspicuous discovery can bo mentioned. 14. Astronomy owes much to the great im- pulse it has received from the discovery of a new planet by Sir William Herschell, and it has not been less benefitted by the labours of his son and successor. Sir John Herschell, whose investigations into the nature of the displacements PROORBCiS OV LITEBATUBBi SCIBNOE, ETC. 469 observed among the fixed staro, have led to many, and will lead to more important results. The science of optics has become almost wholly new, from the improvemonts effected by Sir David Brewster and Dr. Young. But ab(Ae all, dy- namics have been enriched by a series of discoveries, amount- ing to a complete revolution in our knowledge of motive powers ; it will be sufficient to mention one of these, the ap- plication of steam to machinery. 16. Chemistry, electricity, and electro-magnetism, may be almost regarded as new sciences, in consequence of the numerous discoveries of Davy, Dalton, and Farraday. It would be impossible to enumerate all the practical advan- tages that have resulted from the improvements in chemical science ; but we may mention the use of gas to light our cities and public buildings, and the invention of the safety- lamp, by which the dangers to be dreaded from the explosion, of the fire-damp in mines have been in a great degree averted. 16. The progress of maritime and inland discovery was very great during the early part of the reign of George III. ; it has since made less advance, because the first navigators left little for their successors to explore. The interior of Africa has, however, at length been penetrated by the Lan- <ders, and Burnes has found a practicable route from the Bri- tish possessions in Northern India to central Asia. The ■value of these researches has been fully proved by the fact Ihat many of the places discovered i:i the reign of George JIL by Cooke, Wallis, Carteret, Vancouver, &c., have al- ready become colonies, or valuable depAts of British com- nierce. 17. Only one speculative science, it seems, has enjoyed y)pularity — we mean geology ; perliaps part of its success is owing to its correction with the practical science of min- eralogy. Gjology makes us acquainted with so many sin- gular facts tending to prove that the world was once tenanted by a race of beings different from those now found in it, that we cannot be surprised at the delight with which it is studied. Indeed a much less agreeable subject might become popular, if recommended by men of such ability aa Cony- beare. Smith, Buckland, Sedgwick, Mantell, and Lyell. 18. Physiology, anatomy, and natural history, have re- ceived very remarkable improvements. Hunter's example has stimulated many to exert themselves in the same field of science ; and the result has been a perceptible increase of 460 niBTORV OP llfOLAlfD. the average duration of human life. The investigation of the nervous system by Sir Charles Bell, is among the most recent and brilliant of the additions that have been made to the medico! science. 19. Statistical science may almost be regarded as the crcaMon of this age. The word statistics was invented in the middle of the lost century by a German professor, to ex- press a summary view of the physical, moral, and sociol condition of states ; he justly remarked, that a numerical statement of the extent, density of population, imports, ex- ports, revenues, dec, of a country, more perfectly explained its social condition than general statements, however graphic or however accurate. When such statements began to bo collected, nnd exhibited in a popular form, it was soon dis- covered that the politicol and economical sinunces were likely to gain the position of physical sciences ; that is to soy, thr.y were about to obtain records of obsorvotion, which would test the accurocy of recognized principles, and lead to the discovery of new modes of action. But the great object of this new science is to lead to the knowledge of human na- ture; that is, to ascertain the general course of operation of man^s mental and moral faculties, and to furnish us with a correct standard of judgment, by enabling us to determine the average amount of the past as a guide to the average probabilities of the future. This science is yet in its infancy, but has already produced the most beneficial effects. Tho accuracy of the tables of lite have rendered ths calculations of rates of insurance a matter of much greater certainty than they were heretofore; the system of keeping the public accounts hof been simplified and improved; and finally, the experimental sciences of medicine and political economy, have been fixed on a firmer foundation than could be antici- pated in the last century. Even in private life this science is likely to prove of immense advantage, by directing atten- tion to the collection and registration of facts, and thus pre- venting the formation of hasty judgments and erroneous 'con- clusions. 20, Political economy, though an older science than sta- tistics, must be regarded as intimately connected with that branch of knowledge. Its object is to ascertain the laws which regulate the distribution of wealth, and the relation of demand and supply in the production and consumption of both natural and artificial commodities. Such a science is consequently of the highest importance to a commercial and PR00BE88 OF LIT£RATUr.J«, 8CIBNGB, BTO. 461 manufacturing commumity ; and the increased attention paid to it oi* late years has led to a removal of many severe re« strictions, which, under a false notion of protection, were imposed on British trade. At first political economy was regarded with great suspicion, being looked upon as one of those idle speculations which, under the false designation of social sciences, were broached in Franco during the frenzy of the revolution, at the closo of the last century. But its importance is now so fully recognized, that professorships of the new science have been established in the principal uni- versities. 21. Even in this slight sketch it would be unpardonable not to mention the great, the almost miraculous increase of machinery in our manufactories; an increase consequent upon the cultivation of the sciences and their practical application. The use of steamboats, of locomotive engines, and of count- less machines for superseding manual labour, has placed Bri- tain far in advance of all other manufacturing countries, and proportionably increased the comforts of every class of the community. 22. Great as the progress of British industry, arts, and sciences was. under the three preceding reigns, it has recently received a new impulse by the formation of the British Asso- ciation for the promotion of science, which promises to pro- duce the most beneficial results. The meetings of this society are held annually at some one or other of the great towns of the empire : its objects are, to give a stronger impulse and more systematic direction to scientific enquiry ; to promote the intercourse of those who cultivate science in the different parts of the British empire, with each other, and with foreign philosophers ; to obtain a more general attention to the objects of science, and a removal of any disadvantages of a public kind which might impede its progress. The Association has had a meeting in each of the following pieces : York, Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Dublin, Bristol, and Liver- pool. It is divided into seven sections : 1, Mathematics end Physics ; 2, Chemistry and Mineralogy ; 3, Zoology and Botany ; 4, Anatomy and Physiology ; 5, Geology ; 6, Sta- tistics ; and 7, Mechanical Science. In all these departments, but especially the two last, the greatest benefits have resulted from bringing practical men into immediate contact with the theoretical cultivators of science. Magnetical oi)servatories have been established in consequence in various ^mrts of ihe emoire. and several series of observations have been m.ade, 2ci2 463 IIIITORY OV KNOLAlfD. to determine the direction and intensity of the magnetic force. The attention of the Ansociation has also b«en directed to ox|)eriment8 tending to illustrate the nature of the connexion between electricity and magnetism ; and since iti formation meteorology has been so extended as to become a now science. The attention of the stotistical section has been recently directed to the stoto of public education, and to the condition of the working classes, both in the manufacturing and agri- cultural districts. It is to be hoped that these investigations will point out the evils which require to bo remedied, and the means by which the constitution of society in Groat Britain may bo elevated and improved. 23. Turninff from the useful to the elegant arts, we must first remark the great revival of architectural taste during the lest two reigns, especially as displayed in the maity im- provements of the metropolis. Inconvenient and narrow oassages have been removed to make room for Regent Street, one of the finest lines of communication in Europe; the Regent's Park and the new squares in Pimlico, occupy spaces which were recently unsightly wastes ; and tho Strand, from being an inconvenient thoroughfare, has been widened into a street which for its beauty, combined with its adaptation to business, has few, if any rivals. The erection of those two magnificent structures, Waterloo and London bridges, haa led to the opening of new lines of communication, which promise to be equally ornamental and useful. Recent cala- mities havo also given an impulse to architectural fikill ; the destruction of both houses of Parliament and the Royal Ex- change by fire, have rendered the erection of now edifices necessary ; and judging from the excellence of the designs which have been tendered for the erection of new houses for the legislature, there is every reason to believe that the new building will be worthy of an enlightened age and nation. 24. Though painting and sculpture have not been unpa- tronizedi it must bo confessed that they have not advanced with the same rapidity and steadiness as the other arts, though England possesses professors of both who deserve to bo ranked among the ornaments of their country. Many causes may be assigned for this inferiority, but the principjil is the dis- continuance of the use of pictures and statues for religious pur- poses since the time of the Reformation. Notwithstanding this disadvantage, however, the English school of art has recently made such great advances, *hat it bids fair at no distant day to rank ns the first in Europe. The National Gallery, which ^.ll.i.il^*mln^i^,J ' ' "^ "(P, v^ftUB r? "T" FgOORIII Of LITBBATURB) •OIBNOB, ITC. 408 has been recently completed in Trafalgar Square, will pro- bably be found ono of the boat aids to the oncouragomeht of excclieiico in statuary ond painting, and to the formation of' the public tasto for opprcciatiiig tiw beauties of art. SA. The great odaitions made to the British Museum, and the freedom with which its treasures are opened to the public, must tend greatly to inspire a tasto for contemplating the wonders of nature and art. The department of Natural History must bo taken in connexion with the Zoological Gardens, which havo been recently established, not only in the metropolis, but in the various parts of tho ompiro : thus viewed, it is unrivalled in tho world. The Elgin marbles contain specimens of Athenian sculpture, belonging to an age when that art had attained tho summit of its glory, and though unfortunately mutilated, thoy furnish modols to tho young aspirants, which cannot bo studied without tho most advanta- ceouc results. In tho gnllcry of Egyptiaki anliquitios, the historical student has an opportunity of seeing tho advances nade in civilization by a powerful nation threo thousand years ajfo, and for consulting the strongest evidences of the truth of Biblical History. 26. In this rapid view of literature, science, and the arts, 8pa';o has only allowed tho mention of a few leading features ; but there is ono circumstance more, too important to be omitkid : tho growing and marked connexion between reli- gion and every department in which humnff intelligence is oxerciiod. The discoveries of the traveller are combined with t^e labours of tho missionary ; tho studies of the natu- ralist ate directed to elucidate tho wonders of creative power; our boHtpoots have dedicated no small portion of their works to celebrating the praises of their God ; and in other depart- ments of literature few traces can be found of the levity, the profnnpness, and the sneors at things sacred, which so often sullied the writings of the past generation. It is now deeply felt %nd strongly enforced, that all researches, whether mental or naterial, directly tend to give now proofs of the power, the viadom, and the beneficence of that Almighty Being who las colled into existence, and so wonderfully adapted to each other, the universe of matter and the universe of mind. 27. But it is not in reference to England alone that this beneficial changp in the character of our national literature, demands our thaikfulness and admiration. The language of England girdles khe globe ; it is spoken in every climate and 464 HXrrORY OF EMOLAMD. every quarter of the earth ; her colonies arc laying the foun- dations of future states ; the descendants of her colonies have already beconne one of the foremost nations in rank and influence. England has thus obtained great influence in the future progress of civilization, and on her is thrown the responsibility of moulding the character of countless gene- rations. While we thus perceive that she has been called by the dispensation of Pir . idenoe to fulfil a hi^h destiny, we should at the same time feel how important is the trust, and earnestly desire that its performance should be such as to promote the honour of God and the welfare of mankind, establishing everywhere the principles announced at the ad- vent of our blessed Redeemer, " Peace on earth, good will towards men." I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. Que«(ton« fw Examination. In what state was British literature about the middle of the last century f By what political event was a change efiected t What consequences resulted from the French revolution f Were these eiTects exhibited in our poetical literature ? How did the drama fail to share in the general improvement f What circumstances connected with the periodical press are peeu- liarly characteristic of the present age ? Has much been effected for the cause of national education T Are histories written in the present day remarkable for anything^ that was rare in the last century f What branch If literature has flourished to the probable injury of history 1 Why are works on general literature rare ? Have metaphysics received much attention f What advantages may result from the cultivation of political economy and statistics ? Have any advances been made in the mathematical science* ? What improvements have been effected in the physical sciences ? Have any sciences been so much improved that they may almost be regard.ed as new ? What advantages have resulted from the progress of ivaritime and inland discovery ? Why has geology become p )pu'iar ? Did the medicalsciences share in the general improvement ? What are the nature and objects of Statistical Science t In what condition is the new science of Political Economy ? What great inventions have been made in the useful arts? What is the design of the British Association ? Have any improvements been made in architecture t What are the present state and future prospects of painting an<^. sculpture 7 What benefits result firom the British Museum 7 Is there any circumstance pecuUarly gratifying iff the view of mod- ern literature 7 What is there peculiarly important in the pcesent condition of England I mf >.^^. , 't .:*t:^: THB BBITI8H CONSTITUTlOlf. 465 CHAPTER XLI. THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. 1. Evert government is instituted to secure the general happiness of the community, and especially to protect the person and property of every individual. Constitutions are established to ensure the good administration of the govern- ment, by giving the people some direct or indirect control over their rulers, and also a share in the formation of the laws. 2. The British constitution differs from most others in its formation ; it was formed very gradually, checks again t the abuses of power were ""Ot devised until the evils were ..ctually felt, and consequently its details, though some- times cumbrous, and perhaps inconsistent, are the results of long experience, and have been rendered by old habits ex- actly suited to the peculiar circumstances of the nation. 3. The government established in England by the Nor- man conqueror was a feudal despotism ; the land was divi- ded into fiefs, which were for the most part given to the Nor- man lords or barons, who were invested with absolute power over the lives and fortunes of their vassals. There were no written limitations to the power of the king over the barons ; but, Henry I., eager to secure partisans in his usurpation of the crown from hir brother Robert, ' anted a charter of pri- vileges to his nolility, which contain i also a few stipula- tions in favour of the great body of the people. 4. The conditions of this charter were flagrantly violated, until at length, in the reign of John, the barons, with a powerful body of their adherents, appeared in arms against the king, and forced him to sign Magna Chirta, the great foundation of English liberty. Though this charter was principally de- signed to protect the nobles from the encroachments of royal power, it contained some important provisions in favour of general liberty ; a clear proof of the growing power of the commons. 5. When the importance of commerce began to be under- stood, it was found necessary to secure the trading towns and communities from the exactions of their powerful neighbours, for in the middle ages piracy and highv/ay robbery were deemed honourable profession' ' / most of the feudal nobles in Europe. To protect trade, '. ' \er3 of incorporations were .^p' -!■■. ? 460 HISTORY OF ENOLAIfD. granted lo several cities and towns, by which they were re- leased from depc V euoe on a feudal lord, and permitted to enjoy a government of their own chooying. A ?.' vadual change took place through the country in consequence of the adventurous and reckless spirits of the Norman barons ; 8om^ sold their fiefs to raise money for joining the crusades*, others wasted them by piecemeal to support their riot and dissipation, and thus from various causes a body of small landholders began to be formed, independent of the great barons, and looking to the crown for protection against them. 6. When the earl of Leicester took up arms to re- strain the capriciop.s tyranny of Henry III., he summoned a parliament to sanction his designs, and that the voice of the nation might be more clearly expressed, he invited the coun- ties to elect knights of the shire, and the cities and towns to send deputies, to aid in these consultations. This appears to have been the first attempt to form a house of commons ; but the origin and early progress of that branch of the legis- lature is involved in great, not to say hopeless obscurity. 7. The commons were generally courted by the king as a counterbalance to the power of the nobility ; until the civil wars between the rival houses of York and Lancaster, hav- ing thinned Cm) ranks of the barons, extinguished many noble houK. % buI almost annihilated the influence of the rest, the xyrynl power became supreme, and so continued during the reigns of the four sovereigns of the house of Tudor. 8. But the commons during this period had been silently collecting their strength, and on the accession of James I. they insisted on their privileges with a perti^acy, which led to a long struggle between the king and the parlia- ment. In this contest the majority of the house of lords, which had been reinforced by the elevation to the peerage of some of the heads of the old English families, espoused the cause of the commons. At length Charles 1. was coerced into granting the petition of riglii, which secured many valu- able constitutional privileges to the people. But passions had been excited in the struggle which brought on a civil war, that ended in the overthrow of the monarchy. 9. During the reign of Charles IL the celebrated habeas corpus was passed, by which personal liberty is secured to the subject ; but the perfection of the British constitution was completed in 1688, when James IL was hurled from the throne for his arbitrary principles, the right of parliament to regulate the succession to the crown established, and the L,Ji.iP.l.<|JUPI THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. 407 lI;l is pla -od in the par- ing, (or queen), -V, Lit parliament Afler the abdi- was limited to liberties of the people secured by the Bill of Rights, and the Act of Settlement. 10. Since that period no important change was made in the constitution until the passing of the recent Reform Bill, by which the decayed and deserted boroughs have lost their right of sending members to parlia- ment, and the privilege has been transferred to the larger counties and more important towns. 11. The legislative power of F jgl liament, which consists of three pa. the lords, and the commons. 12. The crown of England is h has a right to alter the line of suce jii;^ cation of James II., the right of succ protestants, and on the impending failure ot' protestant heirs to Charles I., the settlement was extended to the protestant line of James I., viz. to the princess Sophia of Hanover, and the heirs of her body being protestants. The present reign- ing family is descended from the princess Sophia, and holds the throne in right of her parliamentary title. IS. The duties of the sovereign are described in the coro- nation oath ; they are, first, to govern according to law ; secondly, to execute judgment in mercy ; and thirdly, to maintain the established religion. 14. The prerogatives of the king, by which is meant those privileges which belong to him in consequence of his high station and dignity, are either direct or incidental. The chief of his direct prerogatives are, the power of making war and peace ; of sending and receiving ambassadors ; of pardoning offences ; of conferring honours and titles of dignity ; of appointing judges and sub- ordinate magistrates ; of giving or revoking commissions in the army or navy ; and of rejecting bills proffered to him by the other branches of the legislature. He is the head of the national church, and nominates to vacant bishoprics and other ecclesiastical preferments. 15. But the king can only exercise his prerogatives through ministers, who are responsible to the nation for every act emanating from royal authority. Hence arises the aphorism that " the king can do no wrong," his ministers being alone answerable. 16. The incidental prerogatives of the king are various ; a few alone need be mentioned : no costs can be recovered against him ; his debt shall be preferred before that of a subject; no suit or action can be brought against, but any t '4 y ^, ■,a»- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V i/.. ^A*' Sf ^.^ ^AT 'af %£s 4^ 1.0 1.1 ^12,8 Hi m 2.2 m lis IL25 i 1.4 12.0 11^ 0> '/ Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 872-4503 .^o- i «i4Bl^ BI8T0BY OF BNOLAIID. person having a claim in point of property on the king must petition him in chancery. 17. There are certain privileges also conceded to the royal fkmily : the queen retains her title and dignity even afler the death of her husband : sho has authority to buy and sell in her own name, and to remove anywsuit in which she is con- cerned to whatever court she pleases, without any of the usual legal formalities. The king's eldest son is by his birth prince of Wales, and by creation, duke of Cornwall and earl of Chester. All the king's children receive the title of royal highness. 18. The house of lords is sometimes called the upper house of parliament ; its members are either temporal peers, whose dignities are hereditary, or spiritual peers, who sit only for life. The Scottish representative peers sit only for one parliament, the Irish representative peers sit for life. A peer may vote by prox.y , but each peer can only hold the proxy for one absent })eer. The house of lords can alone originate any bills that aflect the rights or privileges of the peerage, and the commons are not permitt'>d to make any al- terations in them. Peers can only be tried by the house of lords, and this house constitutes the court iu which officers of state are tried on impeachment by the house of commons ; it is also the last court of appeal from inferior jurisdictions. Each peer may enter his protest on the journals when a vote passes contrary to his sentiments^ and assign the reasons of his dissent in writing. When sitting in judgment his verdict is given " on his honour;" the same form is observed in his answers on bills in chancery, but in civil and criminal cases he must be sworn. 19. The house of lords (A. D. 1836) consists of— Princes of the blood royal, (all Peers of Scotland 16 dukes) 4 Peers of Ireland 28 Other dukes* 21 English bishops ...... 26 Marquesses 19 Irish bishops 4 Earls 110 — Viscounts 18 Making in all . .426 Barons 180 * 7%e origin and jther particulars relative to the different ela$ae$ of the nobility. — Duke.- -This title was unknown in England till- the reig;? of Edward III., who, in 1335, created his son, Edward the Black prince, duke of Cornwall, (as before mentioned). Makquis. — Richard II., in 1835, conferred the title of marquis on Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford, bv making him marquis of DubUn. This IS supposed to be the origin of the title in England. Earl.— This is a very ancient title, having been in uA amonj^ on? Saxon ancestors. In those times it was «n official dignity, having n 'm^ THB B&iTISH COJTSTITOTXON. 489 16 28 26 4 20. The house of commons consists of members chosen by counties, cities, boroughs, and universities. The mem- bers for counties, commonly called knights of the shire, must possess a real estate of 6002. a year, and members for citiea or boroughs of SOOZ. a year. The sons of peers and mem- bers for the universities are not required to produce these qualifications. 21. Aliens, clergymen, judges, returning ofllicers in their respective jurisdictions, officers of the excise, &c., those who hold pensions of limited duration, contractors with gov- ernment, and some others exposed to external influence, are uneligible to parliament. 22. The right of voting for members of parliament is given by the late reform act to leaseholders in counties seised of lands or tenements worth ten pounds a year, to tenants at will, farming lands at a rent of fiAy pounds a year, and to holders in fee-simple of lands or tenements of the yearly value of forty shillings. In cities and boroughs the right of voting is given to resident householders whose tenements are worth an annual rent of 10{., but the rights of freemen in the old constituency are preserved for the term of their natural lives. •••-''^'' -r-: '■^'^m''-i^'-^\]'-p-''i^ 23. The house of commons contains— *- • :-^ English county members . 143^ Irish county members Universities 4 >'471 324J Universities Cities and boroui nbers . 64-% s . . . 2M05 ighs . . 39J Making in all 6S8 pities and boroughs . Welsh county members . 15 ? 09 cities and boroughs 143 Scotch county members . 3^1 53 Cities and boroughs . . 23 3 24. In order to understand the manner in which the public business is transacted in parliament, we insert a brief ac- count of the usual forms, and an explanation of the terms generally used. Discussions generally arise on a motion jurisdiction over the place from which the title took its name. Soon after the Norman conquest, we find that William created several earls, allot- ting to each the third penny arisins from the pleas in their respective dis- tricts. That grant has, however, long since ceased, and in lieu of it the earls now receive a small annuity from the exchequer. Viscount. — The title of viscount is of much more recent date ; the first we read of being John Beaumont, who was created viscount Beau- mont by Henry VI. m the year 1439. Barok.— In Eficlish history we often find the word baron used to de- nominate the whole collective body of the noBility. When, after the Norman conquest, the Saxon title of Thane was disused, that of bar.>n succeeded ; and being the lowest title among the nobles, was very gene- rally applied as the term lord is now ; with which, indeed, it appears to be syaooymoua. 2r 470 BUTOBT or WHQJJJUD, being made by a member, .jseconded by another, and then put from the chair in the shape of a question ; on each of those, every member is entitled to be heard once, but he may rise again to explain, and the member who originates a mo- tion is allowed to reply. 25. Committees are, first, those of the whole House, which may be to consider of certain resolutions, in respect to the nature of which considerable latitude prevails ,* or the house resolves itself into such committee to consider the de- tails of a bill, the principle of which is never discussed unless on its several readings ; jot there may be committees for financial purposes, as t^ose of ** supply," or *' ways and means." Secondly, there are select committees, chosen by ballot or otherwise, for some specific purpose— the numbers composing such bodies seldom exceed twenty or thirty mem- bers : occasionally these are declared committees of secrecy. Thirdly, election committees, which are strictly judicial tri- bunals, and whose duty it is to try the merits of controverted elections — ^these are always chosen by ballot. Fourthly, committees on private bills. 26. When the whole house is in committee, the speaker vacates the chair, some other member is called on to preside, and he sits in the seat of the senior clerk. The mace is then placed under the table. For committee^ of supply and ways and means, there is a chairman, who receives a salary. 27. The prorogation of parliament is an a ' the crown ; but either house may adjourn its sittings to , aext or any future day, as of course it may adjourn any debate. Mo- tions of adjournment may be made at any time, and repeated at the pleasure of any member. 28. When a motion has been made upon which the HoUise happens to be unwilling to come to a vote, there are formal modes of avoiding a decision, among which are passing " to the other orders," or moving " the previous question." The former means, that the house should— casting aside and taking no further notice of the matter then before it — ^pro- ceed to the other business appointed for that day ; the latter, that a vote be previously taken as to the expediency of their coming to any decision on the question raised. If " the pre- vious question" be decided in the negative, the motion on which it bears is only gotten rid of for the time, whereas a direct negative to the motion itself would be a proscription of it for the remainder of the session, as well as a denial of its principle. M V>«.j. ■*Ti).- ^«-i ''^ :, 'f i'BB BBinSB OOlrii'XTUTtOlf. 29. With respect to a bill, moving that it <* be read this day six months," is a mode of throwing it out without coming to an express declaration against the principle of the measurj?. 80. An acceptance of " the Chiltern hundreds**' is a form which has now no other meaning than tha| the member ac- cepting resigns his seat. By an express act of parliament, no office having emolument attached, can be conferred by the crown on a member of the house of commons without his thereby vacating his seat, and it is only thus that a mem- ber can rid himself of the duties which any body of consti- tuents may impose even withouf his consent; the crown, therefore, as an accommodation to the house at lar^, is always ready to confer on any member *' the stewardship of his majesty's Chiltern hundreds,** which office, when it has served his purpose, he immediately resigns. 31. The king, we have already said, is the fountain of executive justice. Law, whether criminal or civil, however, is administered by the judges, who, with the exception of the lord chancellor, hold their places during good behaviour. No man can be tried for any offence until the grand jurors of his country have decided that there is reasonable ground for the accusation ; he is then given in charge to a jury of his equals, aLi.d their verdict is final. No man can be tried twice for the same oflence, and when a person is convicted by a jury, there is no appeial but to the mercy of the king. 32. The administration of civil law could not be dMcribed within our narrow limits ; it must suffice therefore to state, that the civil and common law courts are open to every suitor, and that justice is freely administered to all, whatever may be their rank or station. , , QtiMfioiu/or £!sEamtiurfJMi. 1. What ti the use of a constitution t 2. Whence arieee the peculiar excellence of- the Britiah oonathution t 3. Bv whom was the first charter granted to the Englishpoople t 4. What eircumatancea led to the concession of Magna Charta t 9. Why were corporations established f 6. What was the origin of the house of commons t 7. Did the kings favour the house of commons f 8. When did the authority of the king come into collision with the au- thority of parliament f 9. What led to the revolution of 1688 f 10. What change was made by the Reform Bill f 11. Into what branches is the Brnish legislature divided! 12. How is the inheritance of the crown regulated t 13. Where are the king's duties preacribed f ■«li ■ 472 ^^ BI8T0BT OF ■NOLAITD. i^ 14. What are the king's direct prerogatives f 15. How are these prerogatives exercised f 16. What are the king's incidental prerogatives? 17. Are any privileges conceded to the royal family f - 18. Can you describe the privileges of the peerage t * 19. How are the members of the house of lords classed f 20. What are the (^laUfications for a member of parliament t 21. Are any persons excluded from the lower house of parliament t 22. How is the right of voting for members of parliament regulated t 23. How are tue members olthe house of commons classed I 24. In what manner do discussions arise f ^^^ 25. Can you describe the committees of the house of commons f 26. What form is used on going into committee f 27. How does prorogation of parliament differ from adjournment t ** 28. How does the house avoid coming to a decision ? 29. How may a bill be rejected without prejudice to the principle it in< volves t 30. What is meant by accepting the Chiltern hundreds? 31. How is the criminal law administered ? 32. Has due provision been made for the administration of oommon and dvillMf? ^ *' ,/,^ / ./ ■' 4^-e^~--^£^Yi-..: ^t^L.^ ■■;■■■;■ ,^ , .r .-^ .) /■-i-*— *-t>i^ A. • ■^ .••'•-''•'*^. . > » ■•v*,, ■ '-"^^-^Vf.^. <^<;-* '»>i(»^.««r^ / a(^v***i'" -«<i^'«; fX -=fC.;f«-t^-^ 'Vi' S3> /,.-,«", ar'tissi*^^!.;^:-'n *^ '''•L>S I. f .?»>•: r«w :./^ ^ '* iiiiii'rmi^TiDiuM f'i f^--0 • 3K«P-«l;-iSit,''Cfr-A''^ ''«';■• '■■«ii .;;>•.. \ ■••I '*' /* V( <>.^^ •:'^' ^"*/ «'*,■",' APPENDIX. ^ ^f*f iritf /ollowiii^ ToUet are attracted from a very ingenioiu and valutih Engraving, entitled " HISTORY MADE EASY, or a Gbnialooicai. Chart of the Kings t>F England," fty E. Rktnard : to wikteft «oe leg to refer ike reader for further u$eful information. MONAUCHS BEFORE THE CONQUEST. No. s 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 90 Si MONAROHa Egbert* Elhelwoir. Bthelbald Ethelbert Ethelredl.t Alflredt Edward the Elder. . . Atbeletan Edmund I.§ Bdred Edwy ••. Edgar Edward ir Bthelredir.y Edmun4 Ironiide II < Sweyn Canute Harold I..... Uardieanute Edward III. or the ConfeMor Harold II., aon of Glodwin, earl of Kent. Began to Reign. Reigned Yesra. A. D. 837 10 836 SO 8S7 3 800 6 868 5 873 98 001 03S « 940 8 046 9 955 4 959 16 975 3 978 37 1016 1 1014 3 ion 19 1036 3 1030 S 1041 ss 1066 1 * Egbert descended from Cerdic, the first Icing of WetMwx, a Saxon general, who, in the year A. D. 495, arrived in Britain. It ia aaid in tlie Baxon annale, that ho was dpscended (Vom Woden, the root of the Saxon familiet ; and by his eonqoMt which he made in Britain, he may bo considered as one of the flrst founders of tha English monarchy : the kings of England descend Arom him in the male line to Edward the Confessor, and in the female line to the illustrious princess who now ■ita upon the throne. t Killed in battle against the Danes, in 871. X Introduced trial by Jury, divided England intoabires and hundreds, and fbonded the University of Oxford. § Was killed by Leolf, a notorious robber. II In 1014, Sweyn, king of Denmark, made himself master of England, and waa crowned king: and Ethelred fled into Norntandy. On the death of Sweyn, whkh happened in 1015, the crown was contested by Edmund Ironside, (the lawfiil aue- cessor of Ethelred), and Canute, the descendant of Sweyn, who at length agreed to divide the kingdom among ii<em; Imt Edmund being murdered shortly after this treaty was entered into, Canute, (surnamed the Great) waa declared UBf of •II England in 1017. . 2b2 ^"^ -/Xf' / 474 !i ) MONARCHS SINCE THE CO rV- William I.*. WilliualL . ■tenryl. ... 4 SUiohent . i ?! — , . ,4k — • I iWi » Hmiylti. MONARCHY Baftn to R«ifn. Henry II. t.^. Richard I.... John Henry III.'. Edward L . Bdward n. Bdwaid III, Skbanril. ••••••••# *■■■ ' . V™'.^^' lwaNIV.f III. «.. I. •• • III. »»»»•»•• Edward VI. Mary I eiiubetli... •*•••••#• JaniM L** ChariM I. Gbarlea II. Jame» II. Will. in. h, Mary II Ann« ....y...... 0«oi!fei1.tt .•••••^ €}eor|e.II -.•• OuorgeJII OeorgelV William IV IVictoria 1066 1087 1100 iff 1188 1190 Matilda of Flandera . a fever married) atilda of Scotland. 1S16 1S78 1307 iaS7 1377 1300 1413 14S8 1461 1483 To whom married. When mar. ried. Matilda of Bolofne Eleanor of Ouienne Berennialla omavarre. . . Earl Montagoe'a daughter Aviaa of Olouceater laabella of Angouleme. • • Eleanor of Provence Eleanor of Caatile Mary of France laabella of France Philippa of Hainault .... Ann of Lttzemburgh laabella of France ....... 10S3 earal R( Teai Mary Bohiin Joanna of Navarre . Catharine of France Margaret of AnjoQ . Elisabeth Woodville (Never married) .... Ann Nevill 1509 1J(46 1S93 1661 168S 1689 m 17W 1760 1810 1830 1837 ••••••#•■•••■•• Elizabeth of York Catharine of Arragon • • A. Boleyn 31, J. S^jrmour Ann of Clevee, C. Hiward Olthariue Parr (Died young) Philip, king of Spain . . . (Never married) Ann of Denmark .....,». Henrietta of France Catharine of Portugal .... A. Hyde 1660, Mary Mod Mary, daugh. of Jamea II. Geo. prince of Denmark Sophia of Zell Wllhelmina of Anapacb . . . Charlotte of Meek. Strel. Caroline of Brunawick. . . . Adelaide of Saze Mein . Albert of Saxe Ootha. . . UOO 1138 1181 1101 1185 1189 1900 1S36 1353 1990 1308 1388 1389 1396 l^ 1403 1490 1444 1468 1471 1486 1500 1536 1540 1543 1854 1880 1635 1669 1673 1683 1683 1681 1705 1761 1705 1818 1840 91 13 38 34 10 17 56 35 10 50 39 13 10 38 33 3 33 37 6 5 44 94 34 4 13 13 13 33 60 10 7 '^ 't ..9- Robert, duke of Normafady tSon 1 jdela and count of RIoia : hence the Houae of Bloia. Son of Matilda and Geoftey Plantagenet : hence the Plantagenet race. ,, Son of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaater : hence the Houie of Latteaater. Bon of Richard, duke of York, lineallv deacended flrom Lionel, duk* of CH%' renee. the aeeond aon cf Bdward the Third: hence the Houae of York. ,T Waa the aon of Harg'^vt <u>d Edward Tudor. Margajwt wm • HftMd'4»> BMBdant Aom John of Oaoni, duke of Lancaiter : Edmund Tudor w«i the 0«««n Tudor, who married the widow of Henry V. : hence the Houae of •* Son of Mary, queen of Soota, and Henry Stuart, lord Damkj i xaitoTEtiiarta. ^ ^ ,,^ ... ;v^ % tt BiMtor of Hanovor : ^:yi^' ■ 'v -^' ^§ ::-^i . V .$tf'\ t ■ RDIl.^ 475 ii» •ts * jje^. , '"-'... DIVISION OF ENGLAND At the (tfiM oftkt Raman iiiMMJefi. England, including Wales, was, at the iuTaaicB of the dividM into the following Mventeen itatea: CdUd &y the Samane Contieting tf 1. Tbk Dammonix. . . .Cornwall and Devon. 3. DoRoniois Dorietahire. 3. BELOiB Someraetahire, Wilta, and part oiHSiuiti. 4 AmsBATU Berkshire. 5. Kran Surrey, Sunwz, and remaining fart of Hanli. 6. Cantu Kent V 7. DoBONi Gloucester and Oxfordshire. 8. Cattikuohlani . . .Bucks, Bedford, and Herts. 9. TRiNOBAims Essex and Middlesex. 10. loBNi Suffolk, Norfolk, Huntingdon, and Gambridg*. 11. CoBiTAMi Northampton, Leicester, Rutland, LinaotB, Nol> tingham and Derby. * 13. CoRNAVi Warwick, Worcester, Staibid, CSMiltt, and Shropshire. 13. TmeSiLoau .....Radnor, BrecoD, Glamorgan, Moninoalhi an^ « Hereford. 14. DiMETJt Pembroke, Cardigan, and Caermarthtn. 15. Ordovicxs Montgomery, Merioneth, Caemary<MB,FUnt»«ii| Denbigh. ■■4\.tf 16. Thb Brioantis. . .York, Durham, Lancashire, W.>v.'.i<)relan(^^yb4 t r '■ Cumberland. 17. Ottadini JNTorthumberland to the Tweed. IND, \ , . , KINGS OF ENGLAwi^, . ^4,; JFrom the xniaanim of Juliue Casar to the departure ^ the Semane, y^i AMMO, A c. 1. CsMivelaunua 83 8. Tbeomantiui .SO 3. Cymbeline 34 A. D. 4. Guiderius 45 5. Arviragus 73 A. D. 6. Mtrlui ISS 7. CoiluR I7D 8. Lucitti SN7 9. Severus (em.) • . . . Sll 10. Bauiantts 818 11. Carauiius S39 13. Aleetoa.. .Oi 13. Awlepiodoriu*....3il 14. Coiluall 9M 15. CoitfUntiuafo < ^. 310 IS. Coutaatine' ..yWt From the departure of ^e Romans till the introduction of the Saxone ftf Vortigem. A.B.| A.II.I OetsTins 383 Ckatian 431 Constantios Muioniuianus 391 ICkmstantiae 1 4401 Yortiiem... A.B. ts •■■■■••WIIIM n IKDIX. INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY. According to Bede, and other authentic historianB, the kingdom! of the Hepiarcny embraced chriBtianity in about the following order : A. o. Wmaez 636 Mercia 6(0 South Saxoni 681 '.■:l.- ?■ ti i*^ A.D. ' K«nt 2Q3 Eait Saxnni 604 Northumberland 638 Eaat Angila 636 Began. Endtd. Capital. The kingdom of Kent 457 833 Canterbury. Eaat Sazont, or Ebmz S37 746 London. Northumberland 547 793 York. ..;; Eaat Anglia 575 783 Dunwich. Weat Baxona, or Woaaez 519 10U6 Wincheater.v. •t Mercia 583 847 Leicester. BouthSazona 400 60^ Chichoater. I /f THE BRITISH MINISTRY. . ,ff ' * T.- ^^ Septemhir, 1841. Salary. Sir RoBiaT PiaL, Bart First Lord of the Treasury jCS.OOO Lord LvNDBuatfr Lord High Chancellor 14,000 Lord Wbarncuppb Lord President of the Council 2,000 Duke of BnccLcnoH Lord Privy Seal 2,00V fi|r jAMaa R. O. GaAHAK SecretiA-y of State— ^ome Dtp 5,000 Earl of Abirdbkn Secretary of State— ^rnj'n Dep 5,000 Lord. Stanlbt Secretary of State— Ck>/on<a/ Dep 5,000 St. Hon. Hbnrt Goulbodrn Chancellor of the Exchequer 5,U00 Earl of Hadoinoton First Lord of the Admiralty 4,500 Bir Edward Knatohbull Paymaster-General 3,500 Earl of RiPON President of Board of Control 2,000 Rt. Hon. W. £. 6L4DSTONI President of the Board of Trade Pir Thoiias Frbbmantlb Secretary at War 2,580 mike of Wbllinoton '' iiander of the Forces .,THE ARCHBISHOPS. WiLUAM HowLBT, D. D., Ptimttte . .Canterbury . Edward Harcocrt, D. C. L York Income. X129,946 223,290 ,i REVENUE. Tiie total inopnif of the year ending January 5, 1844, was £50,071,943 /I I J^?^: I \ / t ^ I / 1 . ""m }^ f "l I;::: rt. ■' %^ :^-r ^"amfx BA 92. 651P C. 1 % / V [)' <: < '-. •^. 1 ••s-^ X*' '■Vk. 4 \ ♦ ■^.- A 1^ STORAGE A :^! sw/\ < 'A' NM" k .^1 1^^ :j^-l)»»«rrF>\<ai«i, .:1S«*f,-SM«»»R!t»*.' ,-uc-,;: -.lpS-JM3.>.IS»*^-«"