The History of England

ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL

TABLE

OF THE

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

State of Europe as described by the Roman Writers to-
wards the Decline of the Empire; Gauls or Celts; their
original Abodes; their Irruptions into Greece, Italy,
and Asia Minor

-

Mixture and Confusion of Races in the Population of
Greece and Italy; Phoenician Colonies in the Mediter-

ranean

Formation of mixed Languages by intercourse between the
Conquerors and the conquered; Hindustanee and Anglo-
Norman striking Illustrations at opposite Extremities
of the Earth

Distinction between the Term Race, as employed by His.

torians and by Naturalists

Subdivision of the Celtic Race, Gauli, and Cimbri

Teutonic or Germanic Race; contrasted Character of the

Gauls and Germans; the Gauls somewhat civilised, but

abjectly servile and superstitious; the Germans more

rude, but of independent Spirit, that Spirit qualified

them to lay the Foundation of a better ordered Civilisa-

tion than that of the Ancient or Eastern World

The Sources of these Varieties of Character in neighbour-

ing Races are hitherto unexplained, though late En-

quiries afford some Promise of Success

CHAP. I.

BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIOD, TO 500 a. D.

-

4,5

6,9

A People of Celtic Race, probably the first Inhabitants of

Britain; Gauls probably the first Colonists

11

B.C.

Page

The Phoenicians and Massilians traded in the Tin of Corn-

wall

11

55.

Julius Cæsar lands in Britain: he retires in consequence

of an Accident to his Ships

12

54.

He renews the Invasion, and defeats Cassivelaunus, who

43.

The Tribes which peopled Britain very numerous: those
of the Interior extremely barbarous: their Government
unformed and fluctuating

-

Caligula threatens Britain; but ends by the insane Freak

of loading his Troops with Shells

13

15

Claudius seriously undertakes the Enterprise: his Ge-

nerals employ Seven Years in reducing the Country

130.

Ostorius encounters the Silures of South Wales under

Caractacus, who is defeated and sent Prisoner to Rome

Suetonius Paulinus attacks the sacred Seat of Druidism in
Mona or Anglesey: he is called off by an Insurrection:
Boadicea dreadful Slaughter of the Britons

Agricola, Governor of Britain under Vespasian: carries

the Roman Arms to Scotland: joins by fortified Posts

the Friths of Forth and Clyde: circumnavigates the

Island

-

Under Adrian, a second Wall is built from the Solway

to the Mouth of the Tyne

Under Antoninus another Wall is built farther North

Slow Progress of the Roman Arms: the general Policy of

the Empire is that of Augustus, who disapproved remote

Conquests

Nature of the Roman Government in Britain

Government of Towns: Origin of modern Civic Corpora-
tions

The Empire declines, and Troops are withdrawn from

Britain to protect the Seats of Dominion

About the Middle of the Fifth Century the Island is
abandoned

On the Loss of Roman Protection, the Britons employ
Saxons and other Mercenaries in their Defence against
the barbarous Tribes of their own Island: these gra.
dually rose to be Conquerors more formidable than those
they were called in to combat

-

But the insular Position of England rendered their Progress
very slow

24

25

25, 26

Armorica (since called Britany); Source of its early Con-
nection with Britain: through that Connection the
legendary Tales of Britain were communicated to the
Continent: King Arthur
The limited Value of our early Traditions, as compared
with the classical, arises from their Transmission
through a Medium not purely national, that of Monks

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Page

A.D.

of foreign Origin and Studies, and Minstrels who impli

Peculiar Circumstances which contribute to render Bri-

tain the natural Seat of maritime Power

The general Movement of the pastoral Tribes originated

in that of the Huns from the North of the Wall of

China to the Caspian

Successive Pulsations of this Movement through other

Tribes

Slow Progress of the Saxons in the Invasion of Britain

457-477. Establishment of the Jutes in Kent, and of the South

Saxons on the Borders of Sussex

Successes of Cerdic, at the Head of the West Saxons,

against the West Britons

Principalities of Deira and Bernicia, formed by the Angles

in the North

State of the Island during the Period called the Hep-

tarchy

St. Augustine and Forty other Missionaries sent by Pope

Gregory to convert the Saxons: they found both the

Christian Religion and the British Language extinct in

the Saxon Territory

Miracles ascribed to St. Augustine: mistaken, but honest

Enthusiasm may account for many Pretensions ascribed

to wilful Imposture

31

Ascendancy of one Saxon State over the Rest: Authority

of Bretwalda; (800) Egbert, King of Wessex, acquires

great Power under this Title

34

823.

His Authority as Bretwalda acknowledged in all the Pro-

vinces South of the Humber

35

836.

-

But at his Death, this Power is weakened by a Partition

of his Dominions

35

At this Point, just on the Approach towards regular Go-

vernment, Britain begins to be ravaged by the Barba-

rians of Scandinavia, called Normans in France, Danes

in England

Ravages of the Danes: "All the Saxons are defeated but

Alfred their King"

877-880. He bursts from his Retreat, defeats Guthrun the Danish
Chief, compels him to evacuate Wessex, and attempts
to settle and civilise his Followers, by granting him the
Country to the North and East, on Condition of his sub-
mitting to Baptism

880-895. Fifteen Years' Peace

895-899. Invasion of Hastings: in providing for Defence,

fred improves Ship-building

A.D.

Character of Alfred: extraordinary Union of Energy in

War with the Arts of Peace: his Poetry and Trans-

lations

-

901-1066. Fourteen Kings; Ten of them Descendants of Alfred,

Three Scandinavians, and One a powerful Saxon Lord:

the more prominent Events during this Period can

alone be here related

The Christian Church was the only Institution transmitted

entire from the Romans to the Barbarians; Progress of

Origin of Clerical Celibacy: Corruption engendered by it;
its Value as an Instrument of Ecclesiastical Ambition
by destroying all Ties but those of the Order
44-47
The monastic Orders called forth by a Reaction of reli-
gious Zeal, when the secular Clergy had reached a high
Pitch of Corruption: primitive Hermits: Monasteries:
Rule of St. Benedict

Edward the Elder

Athelstan Confederacy against him by the Britons, Scots,
and Danes; his Victory over them at Brunnanburgh

Edmund the Elder: Edred

48

49