ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL

TABLE

OF THE

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

VOL. I.

INTRODUCTION.

Page

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

1, 2

Mixture and Confusion of Races in the Population of

Greece and Italy; Phænician Colonies in the Mediter-

ranean

2

3

Formation of mixed Languages by intercourse between the

Conguerors 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

4

Subdivision of the Celtic Race, Gauli, and Cimbri 4,5

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

6,9

The Sources of these Varieties of Character in neighbour-

ing Races are hitherto unexplained, though late En-

quiries afford some Promise of Success

10

CHAP. I.
BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIOD, To 500 A. D.

A People of Celtic Race, probably the first Inhabitants of

Britain; Gauls probably the first Colonists

11

B.C.

Page

11

55.

12

54.

12

A. D.

S6.

13

15

43.

15

50.

16

59.

17

71.

The Phænicians and Massilians traded in the Tin of Corn.

wall

Julius Cæsar lands in Britain : he retires in consequence

of an Accident to his Ships

He renews the Invasion, and defeats Cassivelaunus, who

becomes tributary

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

Claudius seriously undertakes the Enterprise : his Ge-

nerals employ Seven Years in reducing the Country

South of the Thames

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

19

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

A.D.

Page

of foreign Origin and Studies, and Minstrels who impli.

citly followed them

27

CHAP. II.

ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD.

Peculiar Circumstances which contribute to render Bri.

tain the natural Seat of maritime Power

29

The general Movement of the pastoral Tribes originated

in that of the Huns from the North of the Wall of
China to the Caspian

99
Successive Pulsations of this Movement through other
Tribes

SO

Slow Progress of the Saxons in the Invasion of Britain 30

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

Saxons on the Borders of Sussex

31

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

against the West Britons

31

547. Principalities of Deira and Bernicia, formed by the Angles

in the North

31

585. State of the Island during the Period called the Hep-

tarchy

31

596. 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

32

Miracles ascribed to St. Augustine: mistaken, but honest

Enthusiasm may account for many Pretensions ascribed
to wilful Imposture

SS

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

35

871. Alfred, his early Life

36, 37

876. Ravages of the Danes : “ All the Saxons are defeated but

Alfred their King”

38

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

39

880_895. Fifteen Years' Peace

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

fred improves Ship-building

39

-

A.D.

Page

Character of Alfred : extraordinary Union of Energy in

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

lations

41

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

42

The Christian Church was the only Institution transmitted

entire from the Romans to the Barbarians ; Progress of

Ecclesiastical Power

43

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_17

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

48

901, Edward the Elder

49

925. Athelstan: Confederacy against him by the Britons, Scots,

and Danes; his Victory over them at Brunnanburgh 50

941. Edmund the Elder: Edred

50

955. The Monks begin to signalise themselves as an ambitious

Body

50

Dunstan, his Attempts to enforce clerical Celibacy, and

reduce Monasteries to the Rule of St. Benedict

His violent Conduct respecting an uncanonical Marriage

of Edwin : his Exile

53

959. Edgar obliges his Brother Edwin to divide his Dominions

with him : (960) on Edwin's Death he reigns over the

whole

53

Dunstan recalled and made Archbishop of Canterbury 54

977, 978. Synods of Calne and Winchester : miraculous Preten-

sions of Dunstan not necessarily fraudulent, though

unfounded

55

970. Marriage of Edgar with Elfrida; tragical Circumstances

attending it

56

975. Death of Edgar: Succession disputed between Edward

his eldest Son, and Ethelred, Son of Elfrida : Edward

elected

979. Treacherous Murder of Edward by Elfrida : Ethelred

51, 52

56

57