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 S M ITH S O N IAN 1 ) E P( ) S IT. 
 
J 
 
 IRVING'S 
 
 CATECHISM 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 THE MOST STRIKING EVENTS 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 Earliest f mofo to % p*Mit! ®imt 
 
 SEVENTH AMERICAN EDITION, REVISED AND IMPROVED 
 
 By M. J. KERNE Y, A.M. 
 
 Author of Compendium of Ancient and Modern History, First Class 
 
 Book of History, Catechism of the History of the United 
 
 States, Columbian Arithmetic, <&c. dc. <£c. 
 
 Straptetj to tf)e ®tee of .Schools in fyz 2Emtefc State*. 
 
 - 
 
 BALTIMORE: 
 
 PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY J. MURPHY & CO, 
 
 178 MARKET STREET. 
 PITTSBURG. ..GEORGE QUIGLEY. 
 
 Sold by Booksellers generally throughout'the United States. 
 1854. 
 
 4>7<Ti 
 
3fA3X 
 
 f&5 
 
 Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by 
 
 JOHN MURPHY & CO. 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Maryland. 
 
 f 
 
 LIBRARY I 
 ONGRESS J 
 
 HINGTON 1 
 
 THE 
 
 Of CON 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The long established reputation of Irving' s Cate- 
 chisms precludes the necessity of adding any com- 
 ments on their merits. The very extensive circula- 
 tion which they have had, not only in England, but 
 also in this country, is the best proof of their utility. 
 The plan of his works is the very best that could be 
 adopted. The catechetical form of instruction is 
 now admitted, by the most experienced teachers, to 
 be the best adapted to the nature and capacity of 
 youth ; — a system by which children will acquire a 
 knowledge of a science in less time than by any 
 other. 
 
 The present number, which is devoted to the His- 
 tory of England, is peculiarly adapted to that class 
 of learners for which it is intended. It comprises, 
 in a few words, the most important events in the 
 English history, from a period prior to the invasion 
 of the Romans to the present time. The arrange- 
 ment and the style of the work is well adapted to 
 the capacity of children. The present edition has 
 been carefully revised and corrected ; every thing 
 of sectarian nature has been removed, and those 
 passages, which were found to reflect upon the 
 American character and institutions, have been 
 erased. 
 
 Baltimore, July, 1854. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 From the Invasion of Julius Ccesar, fifty five years "before 
 
 Christ, to the arrival of the Saxons, A. D. 449. 
 
 CHAP* PAGE 
 
 I. Of the Ancient Britons . 7 
 
 II. The Religion and Government of the Ancient Bri- 
 tons.. , 9 
 
 III. The Roman Invasion , 11 
 
 IV. Britain, a Roman Province 13 
 
 V. The Departure of the Romans 14 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 From the Arrival of the Saxons to the Norman Conquest, 
 A. D. 1066. 
 
 I. The Saxon Heptarchy ........,..*„..., 16 
 
 II. The Kingdom of England founded by Egbert, 827. 18 
 
 III. Alfred the Great, 871-901 19 
 
 IV. The Saxon Monarchy till the Danish Conquest, 1014. 21 
 V. The Establishment of the Danish Power in Eng- 
 land , 23 
 
 VI. The Saxon Line restored 25 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 From the Norman Conquest to the Accession of Henry IV., 
 A. D. 1399, 
 
 I. William the Conqueror, 1066-1087 27 
 
 II. William II.— Henry I.— Stephen, 1087-1155 29 
 
 III. House of Plantagenet.— Henry IL, 1155-1190. 32 
 
 IV. Richard I., 1190-1198- 34 
 
 V. John, 1199-1215 35 
 
 VI. Henry III., 1215-1272 „... 37 
 
 VII. Edward I., 1272-1307 38 
 
 VIII. Edward IL, 1307-1327 40 
 
 IX. Edward III., 1327-1377 41 
 
 X. Richard IL, 1377-1399 42 
 
 1* 5 
 
b CONTENTS. 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 From the Accession of Henry IV., to the Accession of Henry 
 VIL, A. D. 1485. 
 
 I. House of Lancaster. — Henry IV., 1369-1413, 45 
 
 II. Henry V., 1413-1422 46 
 
 III. Henry VI., 1422-1471 48 
 
 rV. House of York.— Edward IV., 1461-1483 50 
 
 V. Edward V., 1483 52 
 
 VI. Richard III., 1483-1484 53 
 
 BOOK. V. 
 
 From the Accession of Henry VIL, to the Beheading of 
 
 Charles I., A. D. 1649. 
 
 I. House of Tudor.— Henry VIL, 1485-1509 55 
 
 II. Henry VIIL, 1509-1547 57 
 
 III. Edward VI., 1547-1553 59 
 
 IV. Mary, 1553-1558 60 
 
 V. Elizabeth, 1558-1603 62 
 
 VI. House of Stuart.— James L, 1603-1625 64 
 
 VIL Charles I., 1625-1649 ,. QQ 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 From the Formation of the Commonwealth to the Accession 
 of the House of Brunswick, A. D. 1714. 
 I. The Commonwealth.— Oliver Cromwell, Pro- 
 tector, 1654-1658 , 68 
 
 II. Charles II., 1661-1685 70 
 
 III. James II., 1685-1688 71 
 
 IV. William and Mary, 1688-1702 73 
 
 V. Anne, 1702-1714 74 
 
 BOOK VIL 
 
 From the Accession of the House of Brunswick to the pre- 
 sent time. 
 
 I. House of Brunswick. — George L, 1714-1727... 76 
 
 II. George II., 1727-1760 78 
 
 III. George III 80 
 
 IV. George IV 89 
 
 V. William IV., and Queen Victoria 90 
 
 1* 
 
CATECHISM 
 
 OP THE 
 
 )irim$ af fuglautr. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 FROM THE INVASION OF JULIUS CAESAR, FIFTY 
 FIVE YEARS BEFORE CHRIST, TO THE ARRIVAL 
 OF THE SAXONS, A. D. 449. 
 
 CHAPTEK I. 
 
 Of the Ancient Britons. 
 
 Q. What was the origin of the first inhabitants 
 of England ? 
 
 A. England appears to have been settled by a 
 race of people from the opposite coasts of Gaul, 
 about 1000 years before the Christian era. 
 
 Q. What name was given to the country ? 
 
 A- The first name of this island was Albion, so 
 called from its white cliffs ; and afterward Britain, 
 from a Celtic word denoting separation. 
 
 T. Describe the persons of the ancient Britons. 
 
 P. The ancient Britons were remarkable for 
 
 7 
 
8 HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 
 
 their size and strength, and for the fairness of 
 their complexions. They stained their skins with 
 woad, which ma<Je them of a blue color, and drew 
 upon their bodies the figures of different animals. 
 
 Q. What was their general character ? 
 
 A. The ancient Britons were acute, ingenious, 
 valorous in war, and great lovers of liberty ; they 
 were fond of feasting, and hospitality was one of 
 their most shining virtues. 
 
 Q. What was their dress ? 
 
 A. The dress of the ancient Britons consisted of 
 mantles made of skins, which covered the whole 
 body, and their shoes were only a piece of the skin 
 of a horse or cow. 
 
 Q. What else do you observe of their persons ? 
 
 A. The ancient Britons prided themselves on the 
 length and beauty of their hair, which they per- 
 mitted to flow upon their backs and shoulders, 
 but they shaved all their beard, except upon the 
 upper lip. 
 
 T. Describe their habitations. 
 
 P. In the earliest times, the Britons lived in 
 <dens and caves in winter, and in summer in huts 
 made of boughs and turf; but they afterward be- 
 came more sociable, and enclosed a large circuit 
 with fallen trees, within which they built their 
 slight habitations. 
 
 Q. What were their occupations ? 
 
 A. The principal occupations of the Britons were 
 Ihunting, pasturage, agriculture, and war. 
 
 Q. What was their food ? 
 
 A. The Britons for a long time lived on the pro- 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 9 
 
 duce of the chase, acorns, and other wild fruits, 
 and their drink was only water ; but the Belgae 
 introduced the practice of agriculture from Gaul ; 
 so that at the time of the Roman invasion they 
 had corn, herds of cattle, and flocks of sheep. 
 
 T. Describe the method in which they took their 
 meals. 
 
 P. The ancient Britons had only two meals, 
 breakfast and supper, at which they sat upon the 
 ground, on hay, or on skins ; they used no knives 
 or forks, but tore the meat with their teeth, and 
 drank out of the horns of oxen or other animals. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Religion and Government of the ancient 
 Britons. • 
 
 Q. What was the religion of the ancient Britons ? 
 
 A. The ancient Britons were idolaters ; they wor- 
 shipped the sun, moon, &c, to which they sacrificed 
 not only beasts, but the blood of captives ; they 
 also believed in a Supreme Being, an evil demon, 
 and the immortality of the soul. 
 
 Q. Who were the ministers of religion among 
 the Britons ? 
 
 A. The priests of the ancient Britons were called 
 Druids ; they were chosen from the best families, 
 and enjoyed the highest honors and privileges. 
 
10 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Q. What was their mode of life ? 
 
 A. The Druids lived in woods, caves, and hollow 
 trees ; their food was acorns and berries, and their 
 drink water. They instructed youth in the prin- 
 ciples of religion, as well as in astronomy, geometry, 
 and natural philosophy. 
 
 Q. What else do you observe of the religion of 
 the Britons? 
 
 A. The Britons never worshipped their gods un- 
 der any roof, but in groves of oak, within which 
 was a circular enclosure of large stones set per- 
 pendicular in the earth. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of their sacrifices ? 
 
 A. They sacrificed human victims, which they 
 burnt in large idols formed of wicker-work, and so 
 capacious as to contain a number of persons, who 
 were consumed together. 
 
 Q. What was the form of government among the 
 Britons ? 
 
 A. The most ancient form of government was 
 the patriarchal ; but when Britain was invaded by 
 the Romans, it contained many independent states, 
 each composed of several tribes or clans. 
 
 Q. How were they governed in time of war ? 
 
 A, Upon any dangerous emergency, or in time 
 of war, a commander-in-chief was chosen by com- 
 mon consent, and to him was intrusted the care 
 of the general interest. 
 
 Note. — A patriarchal government is that in which the 
 fathers or heads of families direct and govern their children 
 and other relations ; and this appears to have been the ear- 
 liest mode of dominion, being founded on the natural au~ 
 thority of the parent. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. N 11 
 
 Q. What is remarkable of their mode of warfare? 
 
 A. The ancient Britons chiefly fought on foot, 
 with swords, battle axes, or spears, and used a 
 shield for their defence ; they also used chariots, 
 which had short scythes fastened to the end of 
 the axle-trees, with which they mowed down the 
 ranks of the enemy. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Roman Invasion. 
 
 Q. What was the cause which led to the invasion 
 of Britain by the Romans ? 
 
 A. Julius Caesar, a Roman general, having con- 
 quered the warlike nations of Gaul, became ambi- 
 tious of adding Britain also to the Roman empire ; 
 he therefore prepared to invade the island, under 
 the pretext that the Britons had given assistance 
 to his enemies in Gaul. 
 
 T. Describe this expedition. 
 
 P. Caesar set sail at midnight, and arrived in 
 the morning on the coast of Britain, near Dover ; 
 but seeing the cliffs covered with armed men, he 
 
 Note. — The Romans, so called from Rome their capital, 
 were a people in the south of Italy, who, by their discipline 
 and valor, conquered all the neighbouring nations, and finally 
 became masters of the then known world. But abandoning 
 themselves to luxury and effeminacy, they were for a long 
 time oppressed by tyrants, and their power was finally an- 
 nihilated by the inroads of northern barbarians. 
 
12r HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 sailed as far as Deal, where he landed after con- 
 siderable opposition. 
 
 Q. What circumstance is worthy of remark at 
 their landing ? 
 
 A. The ships of Caesar not being able to come 
 close to the shore, the soldiers hesitated to en- 
 counter at once the waves and the brave natives, 
 till induced by a standard-bearer, who cried aloud : 
 " Follow me, fellow soldiers, unless you will be- 
 tray the Roman eagle into the hands of the enemy ; 
 for my part, I am determined to discharge my duty 
 to Caesar and to Rome." 
 
 Q. What was the result of this expedition ? 
 
 A. The Britons, having fought several unsuccess- 
 ful battles, were obliged to sue for peace, which 
 Caesar granted them, and returned to Gaul. 
 
 Q. Did Caesar again return to Britain ? 
 
 A. The ensuing year Caesar returned with a nu- 
 merous army, and although opposed by the na- 
 tives, was successful in compelling them to pay 
 tribute, and to give hostages. 
 
 Q. To what cause is the easy progress of the Ro- 
 mans ascribed ? 
 
 A. At the time of the invasion, the Britons had 
 chosen Cassibelan for their commander-in-chief; 
 but some of the petty princes under his command, 
 from suspicion or jealousy, withdrew their troops, 
 while others submitted to Caesar; so that Cassi- 
 belan was obliged to propose terms of peace. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 13 
 
 f 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Britain a Roman Province. 
 
 Q. When did the Romans next invade Britain ? 
 
 A. The tribute imposed by Caesar was never 
 paid, and the Britons remained unmolested for 
 nearly a century; when the emperor Claudius 
 undertook and executed an expedition, but with 
 little success, A. d. 42. 
 
 Q/Who were most conspicuous in opposing the 
 Romans? 
 
 A. Those who made the greatest stand against 
 the Romans were Caractacus, and Boadicea, the 
 powerful queen of the Iceni ; but after opposing 
 and harassing the Romans during nine years, the 
 former was taken prisoner, and the latter entirely 
 defeated. 
 
 Q. Were the Romans ultimately successful ? 
 
 A. The Romans finally reduced that part of the 
 island called England into a province; but being 
 unable to subdue the Caledonians, Picts and Scots, 
 they built two famous walls, one, between the 
 Friths of Clyde and Forth, and the other, between 
 Tinmouth and the Sol way Frith. 
 
 Note. — The observation of Caractacus, as lie was led in 
 triumph through the streots of Rome, is very memorable. 
 u How is it possible/' cried he, " that a people possessed of 
 such magnificence at home, should envy Caractacus an hum- 
 ble cottage in Britain." Boadicea, after her defeat, dis- 
 dained to survive the liberties of her country, and put an 
 end to her life by poison. 
 
 2 
 
14 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Q. What advantages did the Britons derive from 
 being conquered ? 
 
 A. The famous Roman general Agricola took 
 great pains to introduce into Britain the Roman 
 arts, sciences, and agriculture; he taught the 
 youth the Roman language and mode of warfare, 
 and erected statues, temples, theatres, and other 
 public edifices. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Departure of the Romans. 
 
 Q. On what account did the Romans abandon 
 Britain ? 
 
 A. The Roman empire being overrun with bar- 
 barians, the troops that occupied Britain were 
 recalled, after the island had been subject to the 
 Romans upwards of 500 years. 
 
 Q. What took place after the departure of the 
 Romans ? 
 
 A. The Picts and Scots, finding the island finally 
 deserted by the Romans, demolished the walls, 
 and spread their ravages over the southern part 
 of the island. 
 
 Q. How did the Britons act in this emergency ? 
 
 A. The Britons, having in vain applied to the 
 Romans for assistance, at length agreed to call in 
 two powerful Saxon chiefs, Hengist and Horsa, to 
 defend them against the invaders. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 15 
 
 Q. Who were the Saxons ? 
 
 A. The Saxons were a warlike people inhabiting 
 the north of Germany, where they had - rendered 
 themselves formidable by their strength and valor. 
 
 Q. What was the religion of the Saxons ? 
 
 A. The Saxons, on their arrival in England and 
 before their conversion to Christianity, were gross 
 idolaters, worshipping a divinity called Odin, or 
 Father of the Slain, who was represented by a 
 great log of wood, raised perpendicularly in the 
 open air. 
 
 Q. What were the other Saxon divinities ? 
 
 A. The days of the week derived their names 
 from the principal idols of the Saxons, which were, 
 the Sun ; the Moon ; Tuisco, the sun of the earth ; 
 Wodin, or Odin, their supreme divinity already 
 mentioned; Thor, the thunderer, or ruler of the 
 air ; Frea, the wife of Odin, and goddess of love ; 
 and Seater, the god of trade and husbandry. 
 
book n. 
 
 FROM THE ARRIVAL OF THE SAXONS TO THE 
 NORMAN CONQUEST, A. D. 1066. 
 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Saxon Heptarchy. 
 
 Q. What was the success of the Saxons on their 
 arrival in Britain ? 
 
 A. The Saxons on their arrival being joined by 
 the British forces, marched against the Picts and 
 Scots ; and, after having entirely defeated them, 
 were rewarded with large possessions in the land 
 which they had delivered. 
 
 Q. What was their subsequent conduct ? 
 
 A. The Saxons, finding Britain much more fer- 
 tile and alluring than their own country, came 
 over in great numbers ; and conscious of their su- 
 perior valor, determined to conquer the country 
 for themselves. 
 
 Q. Were they finally successful ? 
 
 A. After a violent struggle of nearly 150 years, 
 the Saxons subdued the whole southern part of 
 the island, except Wales and Cornwall, and esta- 
 blished the seven kingdoms called the Saxon 
 Heptarchy. 
 16 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17 
 
 Q. What were their names ? 
 
 A. The kingdoms which composed the Saxon 
 Heptarchy were Kent, Sussex, Wessex, EastAnglia, 
 Mercia, Essex, and JSfortlmmberland. 
 
 Q. Who were the most celebrated for their op- 
 position to the Saxons ? 
 
 A. The princes who made the noblest stand 
 against the Saxons ; were Vortimer, Ambrosius, 
 and the celebrated King Arthur, who was killed 
 A.D. 546. 
 
 Q. What was the effect of this conquest on the 
 state of Britain ? 
 
 A. By the conquest of the Saxons the whole 
 southern part of the island, except Wales and 
 Cornwall, changed its inhabitants, language, and 
 customs; literature and the arts, which the Ro- 
 mans had introduced, were extirpated, and dark- 
 ness and desolation took their place. 
 
 Q. How long did the Saxon Heptarchy continue ? 
 
 A. Soon after the establishment of the Saxon 
 Heptarchy, jealousies and dissensions arose among 
 the Saxon chiefs ; and after above 200 years of 
 almost continued warfare, the seven kingdoms fell 
 under the power of Egbert, king of Wessex. 
 
 Q. When and by whom was Christianity intro- 
 duced into England ? 
 
 A. Christianity was introduced at a very early 
 period, but by whom it was first preached, is a 
 matter of uncertainty. 
 
 Q. When and. by whom was it finally established 
 in the island ? 
 
 A. About the close of the sixth century, by Saint 
 2* 
 
18 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Augustine and forty companions, who were sent 
 from Rome, by Pope Gregory the Great, to preach 
 the gospel among the Britons. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Kingdom of England founded by Egbert, 
 A. d. 827. 
 
 Q. What was the character of Egbert ? 
 
 A. Egbert was no less celebrated for his bravery, 
 virtue, and talents, than for the prudence and 
 imoderation with which he regulated his infant 
 monarchy. 
 
 Q. What are the most remarkable occurrenc 
 in his reign ? 
 
 A. In the reign of Egbert the Danes became 
 formidable to England by their frequent invasions, 
 and although routed several times with dreadful 
 slaughter, still continued their irruptions. 
 
 Q. In what manner were these expeditions con- 
 ducted ? 
 
 A. The Danes when they landed always avoided 
 coming to a general engagement, but scattering 
 themselves in small parties over the country, 
 burned or carried off to their ships every thing 
 that came in their way, such as goods, cattle, and 
 women, so that the whole kingdom was kept in 
 continual alarm. 
 
HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 19 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Egbert? 
 
 A. To Egbert succeeded his son Ethelwolf, who, 
 possessing neither, the valor nor abilities of his 
 father, was unablo to resist the renewed and more 
 formidable irruptions of the Danes. 
 
 Q. Who were the succeeding sovereigns ? 
 
 A. The successors of Ethelwolf were Ethelbald, 
 a very wicked prince, Ethelbert, and Ethelred. 
 
 Q. What progress had the Danes by this time 
 made in the kingdom ?' 
 
 A. In the reign of Ethelbald the Danes first 
 wintered in England, and in the time of Ethelred, 
 notwithstanding the bravery of his brother Alfred, 
 they gained possession of the sea coasts and the 
 finest provinces of England. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Alfred the Great, A. D. 871-901. 
 
 Q. Under what circumstances did Alfred com- 
 mence his reign ? 
 
 A. Ethelred having fallen in opposing the Danes, 
 Alfred succeeded at 22 years of age. When he 
 ascended the throne he found his subjects inactive 
 and dispirited, while the Danes had penetrated 
 into the very heart of his dominions. 
 
 Q. What was his conduct on coming to the 
 throne? 
 
20 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 A. Alfred having restored confidence among his 
 subjects, harassed the Danes with such vigor, that 
 they agreed to evacuate the kingdom ; but being 
 reinforced, the English were compelled to submit, 
 after various struggles, and Alfred was obliged to 
 conceal himself in disguise. 
 
 Q. Where did he conceal himself? 
 
 A. He retired to Somersetshire and passed his 
 time in the humble cottage of a herdsman, in the 
 capacity of a servant. 
 
 Q. How long did he remain inactive ? 
 
 A. Alfred had been hardly a twelvemonth in his 
 retreat, when he heard that the Earl of Devonshire 
 had routed a party of Danes, and taken the famous 
 reafen, or enchanted standard of the enemy. 
 
 Q. How did Alfred then act ? 
 
 A. Before Alfred assembled his subjects in arms, 
 he entered the Danish camp in the disguise of a 
 harper, and having observed their careless security, 
 he* rejoined his followers, and leading them 
 against the enemy, gained a complete victory. 
 
 Q. What use did he make of his victory ? 
 
 A. Alfred allowed the remainder of the Danes, 
 who implored his clemency, to settle in East Anglia 
 and Northumberland, on condition that Guthrun, 
 the Danish chief, and his principal officers, should 
 embrace Christianity, to which they submitted, 
 and retired peaceably to their new possessions. 
 
 Q. What were the consequences of this victory ? 
 
 A. Alfred, having restored peace to his kingdom, 
 began to repair the evils caused by the invaders. 
 
 §. What measures did he adopt for this purpose ? 
 
HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 21 
 
 A. Alfred divided the kingdom into shires, or 
 counties, established a regular militia, and guarded 
 the coasts with a powerful navy ; he established 
 schools throughout his dominions, founded the 
 University of Oxford, and established the mode 
 of trial by jury. 
 
 Q. What is related of the administration of 
 justice during his reign ? 
 
 A. He is said to have executed forty corrupt 
 judges in one year ; and so just were the people 
 that gold ornaments could be hung up in the pub- 
 lic highway, and no one would touch them. 
 
 Q. When did he die? 
 
 A. Alfred died a. d. 901, in the 30th year of 
 his reign. 
 
 Q, What character is given of this prince ? 
 
 A. Alfred may be considered as the greatest 
 warrior, legislator, and scholar, of the age in 
 which he lived : he died universally lamented, 
 bearing with him the appellation of Great, which 
 he merited as well by his talents as by his great 
 virtues. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Saocon Monarchy till the Danish Conquest. 
 A. d. 1014. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Alfred the Great ? 
 . A. Alfred was succeeded by his son Edward, who 
 inherited the military genius of his father, and 
 
22 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 suppressed the insurrections of the Danes and 
 Northumbrians ; and after a reign of 24 years, he 
 was succeeded by Athelstan, his natural son. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of Athelstan ? 
 
 A. In the early part of his reign Athelstan was 
 engaged in successful wars with the Danes and 
 Scots ; but he spent the remainder in peace, em- 
 ploying his talents in the internal improvement 
 of his kingdom. 
 
 Q. By whom was he succeeded ? 
 
 A. On the death of Athelstan, his brother Ed- 
 mund ascended the throne, and distinguished him- 
 self by his vigilance and sagacity; his reign, 
 however, was but short, being killed by Leolf^ a 
 robber, A. d. 946. 
 
 Q. What are the most remarkable occurrences 
 of the succeeding reign ? 
 
 A. Edmund was succeeded by his brother Edred, 
 who bravely crushed a rebellion of the Northum- 
 brian Danes ; but, being of a weak constitution, he 
 died after a reign of ten years. 
 
 Q. What was the character of his successor ? 
 
 A. Edwin, or Edwy, was a prince of a profligate 
 character ; he died after an unsuccessful war with 
 the Mercians, who had revolted against his autho- 
 rity, A. d. 959. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of king Edgar ? 
 
 A. Edgar was only thirteen years of age when 
 
 Note. — Athelstan gave great encouragement to commerce, 
 and enacted a law, that a merchant who had made three long 
 voyages on his own account, should be raised to the rank 
 of a thane or nobleman. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 16 
 
 he received the crown, but soon rendered himself 
 formidable by a powerful army and navy ; his 
 reign was very tranquil, and distinguished by the 
 extirpation of wolves in England. 
 
 Q. How did he effect this ? 
 
 A. By offering a reward for each head, he pro- 
 duced such diligence in the search of them, that 
 the race soon disappeared. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Edgar ? 
 
 A. Edgar was succeeded by his son Edward, 
 surnamed the Martyr, from his having been mur- 
 dered at the instigation of his step-mother Elfrida, 
 to make room for her own son, Ethelred. 
 
 Q. What is the character of Ethelred ? 
 
 A. Ethelred, from his weakness and irresolution, 
 acquired the surname of Unready. The Danes, 
 taking advantage of his incapacity, renewed their 
 depredations, and Ethelred fled to Normandy, leav- 
 ing his dominions in the hands of the invaders. 
 
 Q. Did Ethelred again return ? 
 
 A. Yes, on the death of Sweyn, the Danish king, 
 he again returned to England, and after an unfor- 
 tunate reign of 35 years, he died and left the 
 throne to his son Edmund, surnamed Ironside. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The establishment of the Danish power in 
 England. 
 
 Q. What happened shortly before the death of 
 Ethelred? 
 
24 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 A. Canute, the son of Sweyn, King of Denmark, 
 with a powerful army, invaded England. 
 
 Q. What did Edmund, the successor of Ethel- 
 red, do ? 
 
 A. Edmund distinguished himself by his forti- 
 tude, prudence, and generosity; but his abilities 
 and courage, though great, were unable to save his 
 sinking country, and he was obliged to divide the 
 kingdom with his Danish rival. 
 
 Q. What was the manner of his death ? 
 
 A. Soon after the division of the kingdom, Ed- 
 mund was treacherously murdered at Oxford, and 
 Canute was left in peaceable possession of the 
 whole kingdom. 
 
 Q. What do you remark of the reign of Canute ? 
 
 A. Although the beginning of Canute's .reign 
 was marked with severity and oppression, he after- 
 wards acquired the confidence of the English 
 people by his piety, and the impartiality of his 
 administration : he died A. D. 1035, after a reign 
 of 18 years. 
 
 Q. What were the principal events of this reign ? 
 
 A. Canute, assisted by a body of English troops, 
 added Norway to his Danish dominions, and hav- 
 ing compelled Malcolm, King of Scotland, to do 
 him homage, became the most powerful monarch 
 of his time, and was honored with the surname 
 of Great. 
 
 Q. Who was his successor ? 
 
 A. Canute was succeeded on the English throne 
 by his son Harold, of whom nothing memorable 
 is recorded. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 25 
 
 Q. Who next filled the throne ? 
 
 A. The successor of Harold was Hardicanute, a 
 degenerate prince, who lost the affections of his 
 subjects by his cruelty, avarice, and intemperance, 
 He died A. d. 1041, and was the last of the 
 Danish kings. i 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 The Saxon line restored. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Hardicanute ? 
 
 A. Upon the death of Hardicanute, Edward, the 
 son of Ethelred, was called to the throne by the 
 universal consent of the nation. 
 
 Q. What was his character ? 
 
 A. Edward was distinguished for the mildness 
 of his disposition, and for the practice of every 
 Christian virtue. At his death his name was 
 enrolled in the catalogue of the Saints, and he 
 received the title of Confessor. 
 
 Q. When did he die ? 
 
 A. He died after a peaceful reign of 25 years, with- 
 out leaving an heir to inherit the crown, A. D. 1065. 
 
 Q. By whom was he succeeded ? 
 
 A. Edward being dead, Harold, the son of Earl 
 Goodwin, ascended the throne without opposition ) 
 the voice of the people supported his claim, and 
 he was crowned by the Archbishop of York the 
 day after Edward's death. 
 
 Note. — Earl Goodwin was a popular English noblemen of 
 Saxon descent, and nearly allied to the royal family. He 
 3 
 
26 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Q. What was the character of Harold ? 
 
 A. Harold was a valiant, virtuous, and enterprising 
 prince, who had acquired the love and confidence 
 of the English by his justice and generosity; but 
 he possessed only a short time the crown he was 
 so worthy and able to bear. 
 
 Q. By whom was he opposed ? 
 
 A. Harold's right to the crown was contested by 
 William, Duke of Normandy, who pretended that 
 the kingdom had been bequeathed to him by Ed- 
 ward the Confessor. 
 
 Q. What was the issue of their rivalry ? 
 
 A. While Harold was in the north routing the 
 Norwegians, who had made a descent, William 
 landed a powerful army of 60,000 men at Peven- 
 sey, in Sussex; Harold hastened to oppose him, 
 and in the battle of Hastings bravely fell in defence 
 of his crown. This sanguinary battle lasted from 
 daybreak till sunset, and the victory was disputed 
 with equal bravery on both sides. At length the 
 Normans, feigning a retreat, drew the English 
 into the plain, and suddenly facing about, drove 
 them back with great slaughter. They, however, 
 maintained the contest with vigor, and the issue 
 was still doubtful, when Harold was slain by an 
 arrow while fighting on foot in the foremost ranks. 
 The English, dispirited by the loss of their leader, 
 gave way in every direction, while the victorious 
 Normans retained possession of the field of battle. 
 
 was the most powerful subject in the kingdom, and, with his 
 son Harold, had the chief direction of affairs during the reign 
 of the Confessor. 
 
BOOK in. 
 
 FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST TO THE ACCESSION 
 OF HENRY IV., A. D. 1399 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 William the Conqueror, A. D. 1066-1087. 
 
 Q. Who was William the Conqueror ? 
 
 A. William, who after his accession to the Eng- 
 lish throne, was called the Conqueror, was the 
 natural son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, to 
 whose title he succeeded, and early distinguished 
 himself by his great abilities, both as a statesman 
 and a warrior. 
 
 Q. What followed his victory over Harold ? 
 
 A. Immediately after the battle, William pro- 
 ceeded by forced marches to London, and on his 
 approach, Stigand, the Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 with the chief nobility, entered his camp, and 
 made him a formal offer of the crown, upon con- 
 dition that he should govern according to the 
 customs of the country. 
 
 Q. When was he crowned ? 
 
 A. William was crowned on Christmas day, 1066, 
 in the presence of the principal nobility, and took 
 
 27 
 
28 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 the usual oath to observe the laws of the realm, 
 and to govern the people with moderation. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of his reign ? 
 
 -4. The beginning of William's reign was mild 
 and humane, but a secret conspiracy having been 
 formed in his absence for a general massacre of the 
 Normans, he treated the English with the utmost 
 rigor, divided almost all the lands among his fol- 
 lowers, and established the curfew-bell. 
 
 Q. What were the other occurrences of this reign ? 
 
 A. William introduced the feudal system, and 
 attempted to abolish the English language; he 
 also caused the New Forest to be laid out, and 
 Doomsday Book to be compiled. 
 
 Q. What was the cause of his death ? 
 
 A. William having gone over to Normandy to 
 quell an insurrection of his sons, excited by the 
 King of France, died at Mantis, from injuries he 
 received by falling from his horse, in the 63d 
 year of his age, and the 21st of his reign over 
 England. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 William the Conqueror? 
 
 A. During the reign of William I., France was 
 governed by Philip I. ; Germany by Henry IV.; 
 and Scotland by Malcolm III. and Donald VII. 
 
 Note. — The Curfew, or Couvre-few, (cover-fire,) was a bell 
 rung every night at eight o'clock, at which time the English 
 had to extinguish their fires and candles. 
 
 Doomsday Book is a register of all the lands in the king- 
 dom, their proprietors, tenure, and value. It is still preserved 
 in the Exchequer. 
 
HISTORY OF ENQLAND. 
 
 29 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 William II.— Henry I.— Stephen. 
 A. D. 1087-1155. 
 
 Q. By whom was William the Conqueror sue- 
 
 ceeded • 
 
 A. William the Conqueror was succeeded by his 
 second son William, surnamed Rufus, from his 
 red hair ; he was a brave and intrepid prince, but 
 actuated by rapacity, ambition, and avarice. 
 
 Q. What were the most remarkable events of his 
 
 reign ? . 
 
 A. William was engaged in perpetual wars with 
 his rebellious subjects; he also purchased the 
 duchy of Normandy from his elder brother 
 Robert, repelled the invasions of the Welsh, and 
 obliged Malcolm, King of Scotland, to do him 
 homage. 
 
 Q. What was the manner of his death ? 
 
 A. As William was hunting in the New Forest, 
 he was shot by an arrow discharged at a deer, 
 which glanced from a tree and struck him to the 
 heart, in the 40th year of his age, and the 13th 
 of his reign, A. D. 1100. 
 
 Q. Who next ascended the throne ? 
 
 A. William having no sons, his brother Henry, 
 who had been hunting with him at the time of his 
 death, secured the royal treasure at Winchester, 
 and hastened to London, where he was solemnly 
 crowned three days after, although his elder bro- 
 3* 
 
SO HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 ther, Robert, the rightful heir, was then returning 
 from the Holy Land. 
 
 Q. What did Henry do to render himself popular ? 
 
 A. Henry gained the affections of his people by 
 marrying Matilda, a descendant of their Saxon 
 monarchs, and by granting them a charter, in 
 which he restored many of their ancient laws and 
 privileges. 
 
 Q. What are the principal occurrences of his 
 reign ? 
 
 A. War ensued between Henry and Robert, 
 which terminated unfavorably to the latter; he 
 was defeated and taken prisoner by his brother, 
 who confined him in a castle in Wales during the 
 remainder of his life, which lasted 27 years. Henry 
 afterward engaged in a successful war with France, 
 but had the misfortune to lose his only son Wil- 
 liam, who was drowned in his passage from that 
 country. 
 
 Q. What occasioned his death ? i 
 
 A. Henry died in Normandy, from eating too 
 plentifully of lampreys, in the 67th year of his 
 age, and the 35th of his reign, having settled the 
 succession npon his daughter Matilda, and her in- 
 fant son Henry. 
 
 Q. What was the character of Henry I. ? 
 
 A. Henry, surnamed Beauclerk, or the scholar, 
 from his progress in literature, was one of the 
 greatest princes of his age, as well for his power, 
 as for his prudence, bravery, and shining talents ; 
 but his ungenerous and cruel conduct to his brother 
 Robert is an indelible stain on his character. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 31 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Henry I. ? 
 
 A. On the death of Henry, the crown was seized 
 by Stephen, Count of Blois, nephew to the late 
 king, a nobleman of great ability and ambition. 
 
 Q. By whom was he opposed ? 
 
 JL Matilda, the daughter of Henry, soon landed 
 in England, and found herself at 'the head of a 
 powerful party; she therefore raised an army, 
 which, under the command of her brother, the 
 Earl of Gloucester, defeated the troops of Stephen 
 and took him prisoner in A. D. 1141. 
 
 Q. How did Matilda conduct herself in her ele- 
 vation ? 
 
 A. Matilda, being seated on the throne, treated 
 the nobles and clergy with pride and disdain, and 
 refused to re-establish the Saxon laws; upon 
 which the standard of Stephen was erected, the 
 queen obliged to fly, and the king again set at 
 liberty. 
 
 Q. How did this contest terminate ? 
 
 A. Henry, the son of Matilda, invaded the 
 country at the head of a powerful army, but an 
 accommodation was effected, by which it was 
 agreed that Stephen should enjoy the crown during 
 his life, and that Henry should inherit the king- 
 dom at his death. 
 
 Q. How long did Stephen survive this transac- 
 tion? 
 
 A. Stephen enjoyed the erown in peace about a 
 
 Note. — Matilda or Maud was first married to Henry V., 
 Emperor of Germany, and afterwards to Geoffrey Plantaga- 
 net, Earl of Anjou, by the latter of whom she had three sons. 
 
32 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 } r ear, and died at Canterbury, a. d. 1154, after a 
 turbulent reign of 19 years. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A. The contemporary sovereigns were Louis VI. 
 and Louis VII., of France; Lothaire II., Conrad 
 III., and Frederick L, of Germany; and Edgar, 
 Alexander, and David, Kings of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 HOUSE OP PLANTAGANET. 
 
 Henry (lie Second, A. D. 1155-1190. 
 
 Q. What were the first acts of Henry's admi- 
 nistration ? 
 
 A. Henry the Second began his reign by correct- 
 ing the abuses that had crept into the government; 
 he demolished the castles of the barons, dismissed, 
 all the mercenary troops, gave charters to several 
 towns, and enacted a rigorous execution of justice. 
 
 Q. What were the dominions of this monarch ? 
 
 A. Henry II., on his accession to the throne, was 
 the most powerful sovereign in Europe ; besides 
 the kingdom of England, he was master of above 
 a third of the whole French monarchy, including 
 Normandy, Brittany, Anjou, Guienne, Poictou, 
 Maine, &c, and afterward added Ireland to his 
 dominions ? 
 
 Q. What was the cause of death ? 
 
 A. Henry is said to have died of a broken heart, 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 33 
 
 caused by the repeated rebellions of his sons. In 
 his last moments he invoked the heaviest denun- 
 ciations upon his ungrateful children. 
 
 Q. What was the character of Henry ? 
 
 A. He was one of the greatest monarchs of his 
 age, and eminently distinguished for his wisdom 
 and valor ; but his character was stained by rapa- 
 city, perfidy, and cruelty. 
 
 Q. How did he succeed in the subjugation of 
 Ireland ? 
 
 A. Taking advantage of the civil commotions of 
 the country, he invaded the island under the pre- 
 tence of reforming the morals of the people, and 
 shielding them against the oppression of their 
 rulers ; and by this refined policy he succeeded in 
 breaking all opposition to his ambitious designs. 
 He received the submission of most of the Irish 
 chieftains, and, finally, that of Roderick 0' Connor, 
 the last monarch of Ireland. 
 
 Q. What is the most remarkable event in his 
 reign ? 
 
 A. Henry, by his tyranny and encroachments on 
 the rights of the church, occasioned a controversy 
 with Saint Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 who was finally murdered before the altar in his 
 own church, by four knights of Henry's house- 
 hold. 
 
 Q. What followed? 
 
 A. Some years after this event, Henry, to appease 
 the divine wrath for his persecution of the Arch- 
 bishop, went barefooted to the shrine of St. 
 Thomas, and received a few stripes, with a knot- 
 
84 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 ted cord, upon bis shoulders, from the hands of 
 the monks. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 Henry II. ? 
 
 A. During the reign of Henry II., Frederick I. 
 was Emperor of Germany; Louis VII., and Philip 
 II., Kings of France; and David, Malcolm IV. 3 
 and William, Kings of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Richard the First, A. D. 1190-1199. 
 
 Q. Who next ascended the throne ? 
 
 A. Henry II. was succeeded by his eldest sur- 
 viving son Richard, who, immediately on his coro- 
 nation, undertook a crusade against the infidels, 
 in which he signalized himself by his valor and 
 heroism. 
 
 Q. What were the crusades ? 
 
 A. The crusades were expeditions undertaken 
 by the Christian princes of Europe, in order to 
 deliver Jerusalem and the Holy Land out of the 
 hands of the Infidels, or Saracens. 
 
 Q. -What happened to Richard on his return ? 
 
 A. On his way home Richard was shipwrecked, 
 and having assumed the disguise of a pilgrim, was 
 arrested passing through Germany, and thrown 
 into a dungeon ; from which, however, he was soon 
 ransomed by his subjects. 
 
 Q. What occasioned his death ? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 35 
 
 A. Richard received his death-wound while be- 
 sieging one of his vassals in the castle of Chalons, 
 in the 42d year of his age, and after a reign of ten 
 years. 
 
 Q. What was the character of Richard ? 
 
 A. Richard possessed the highest military talents, 
 and his intrepidity had acquired him the appella- 
 tion of Coeur de Lion, or Lion-hearted ; although 
 ambitious and haughty, he was open, generous, and 
 sincere; and gained the affections of his subjects 
 by his splendid victories. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with Richard 
 were, Henry VI. and Philip L, Emperors of Ger- 
 many ; Philip II. of France ; Sancho I. of Portu- 
 gal ; Canute V. of Denmark ; and William of 
 Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 John, A. d. 1199-1215. 
 
 Q. By whom was Richard succeeded ? 
 
 A. Richard, having left no children, was suc- 
 ceeded by his brother John, surnamed Sansterre, 
 or Lack-Land. 
 
 Q. What were the first acts of his reign ? 
 
 A. After having subjected his revolted provinces 
 in France, John murdered, with his own hand, 
 his nephew Arthur, who was the lawful heir to 
 the throne. 
 
36 HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 
 
 Q. What were the consequences of this horrid 
 deed? 
 
 A. The death of Arthur excited general horror 
 and detestation of the tyrant ; the barons refused 
 to grant him succors, and his continental dominions 
 were confiscated by the King of France. 
 
 T. Relate the other occurrences of this reign ? 
 
 P. In consequence of the tyranny of the king, 
 and his repeated encroachments on the rights of 
 the church, the Pope laid the kingdom under an 
 interdict, 
 
 Q. What was the nature of an interdict ? 
 
 A. While it remained in force, all external signs 
 of religion were removed ; the altars were despoiled 
 of their ornaments; the crosses, pictures, &c. 
 were covered; the bells were removed from the 
 churches ; the laity partook of no religious rites 
 except baptism and communion to the dying ; the 
 dead were not interred in consecrated ground, and 
 marriage was celebrated in the church-yard. 
 
 Q. What did John do ? 
 
 A. John at length yielded his obstinacy, and, 
 fearful of the invasion of the French monarch, he 
 surrendered his crown to the Pope. 
 
 Q. What subsequently took place ? 
 
 A. His barons, unable to bear his cruelty and 
 tyranny, with Lancton, the Primate, formed a 
 confederacy against him. They met at Runnemede, 
 and compelled him to sign the famous document 
 of Magna Charta, by which important privileges 
 were granted to every order of men in the king- 
 dom. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 37 
 
 Q. When did he die ? 
 
 A. John died of a fever in 1215, after an odious 
 reign of 18 years. 
 
 Q. What was the character of John ? 
 
 A. John was despised for his cowardice, and 
 hated for his cruelty ; and his character has been 
 justly held up to posterity, as a collection of almost 
 every vice that can disgrace human nature. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 John? 
 
 A. The contemporaries of John were the Popes 
 Innocent III. and Honorius III. ; the Emperors 
 Otho IV. and Frederick II., of Germany; King 
 Philip II. of France ; and William, and Alexander 
 II., of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Henri/ the Third, A. 3D. 1216-1272. 
 
 Q. Who was Henry III. ? 
 
 A. Henry III. was the son of John, and being 
 only nine years of age when he came to the thrfhe, 
 the Earl of Pembroke was chosen protector of the 
 realm. 
 
 Q. What character is given of this prince ? 
 
 A. Henry was gentle and humane, but without 
 activity or vigor ; and as he grew up, he showed 
 himself totally unfit to subdue the turbulence of 
 his nobles. 
 
 Q. What was his principal weakness ? 
 
38 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 A. The chief weakness of this monarch was his 
 attachment to foreigners, which excited the barons 
 to arms; and after having forced him to renew the 
 Great Charter, they appointed 24 commissioners 
 to superintend the administration of affairs. 
 
 Q. What was the result of these contentions ? 
 
 A. In the civil war which ensued, the king and 
 his two sons were taken prisoners ; but Edward, 
 the eldest, having made his escape, defeated the 
 rebels, and restored his father to the throne. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of the remainder of this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. During the absence of his son Edward in the 
 Holy Land, the king, worn out with age, and the 
 cares of government, expired in the 64th year of 
 his age, and the 56th of his reign. 
 
 Q. What are the remarkable events of this reign ? 
 
 A. In the reign of Henry III. the first regular 
 parliament was assembled. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A. During the reign of Henry III., Frederick II. 
 reigned over Germany; Louis VIII. , Louis IX., 
 and Philip III., governed France ; and Alexander 
 11^ and Alexander III., reigned in Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Edward the First, A. D. 1272-1307. 
 Q. What were the first acts of Edward's reign ? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 39 
 
 A. Edward I. began his reign by confirming the 
 great charter, protecting the people against the 
 oppressions of the barons, and making strict in- 
 quiries into the affairs of the state. 
 
 Q. What were the military transactions of this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. Edward conquered Wales, and gave it as a 
 principality to his eldest son ; he also invaded 
 Scotland, but, after taking possession of the whole 
 kingdom, William Wallace rescued the country 
 from the English yoke, and was appointed regent. 
 
 Q. What was the result of this war ? 
 
 A. Edward advanced with a powerful army and 
 defeated Wallace, who some years afterward was 
 betrayed into his hands, and put to death in Lon- 
 don with the most brutal ferocity. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of the remainder of this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. The Scots, having again revolted, chose 
 Robert Bruce for their king, and Edward was 
 hastening with an immense force to subdue them, 
 when he died of a sudden illness at Carlisle, in 
 the 35th year of his reign, and the 69th year of 
 his age, a. d. 1307. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
 
 A. Edward I., surnamed Longshanks, distin- 
 guished himself both as a warrior and a statesman, 
 enacting many wise statutes for the protection of 
 the lower orders of the people : he was affable in> 
 his manners, and was much beloved and respected 
 by his subjects; but his cold-blooded massacre 
 
40 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 of the bards, and other acts of cruelty, have left 
 an indelible stain upon his memory. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 Edward I. ? 
 
 A. Edward's contemporaries were Kudolph I., 
 Adolphus, and Albert, Emperors of Germany; 
 Philip III. and IV., Kings of France; and Alex- 
 ander III., John Baliol, and Robert Bruce, Kings 
 of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Edward the Second, A. D. 1307-1327. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Edward I. ? 
 
 A. Edward I. was succeeded by his son, Edward 
 II., a mild, gentle, and inoffensive prince; but 
 indolent, and much attached to favorites. 
 
 Q. What are the chief events of this reign ? 
 
 A. Edward lost the battle of Bannockburn, 
 which secured the independence of Scotland ; and 
 the remainder of his reign was a series of civil 
 commotions, catfsed by his partiality to his favor- 
 ites, Gaveston and Spencer. 
 
 Q. What was the manner of his death ? 
 
 A. Edward was seized by the rebel barons, at 
 the instigation of his queen, Isabella, and her par- 
 amour, Mortimer, and was cast into prison, where 
 lie was barbarously murdered, A. D. 1327, after a 
 turbulent reign of 20 years. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 41 
 
 Q. Who were his contemporaries ? 
 
 A. Contemporary with Edward II. were, Henry 
 VIII. and Louis IV., Emperors of Germany; 
 Philip IV., Louis X., Philip V. and Charles IV., 
 Kings of France ; and Robert Bruce, King of 
 Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Edward the Third, A. d. 1327-1377. 
 Q. What do you observe of the commencement 
 
 of this reign ? , t • * 
 
 A. When Edward III. assumed the reins ot 
 government, he caused Mortimer to be publicly 
 hanged, and Isabella to be confined in the castle of 
 Risings, during the remainder of her life, which 
 lasted 28 years. 
 
 Q. In what wars was he engaged ? 
 
 A. After having obliged the King of Scotland to 
 do him homage, Edward laid claim to the crown 
 of France, and, having invaded that country, 
 gained the memorable battles of Cressy and Poic- 
 tiers, in the latter of which the Prince of Wales 
 took the French king prisoner. 
 
 What are the other events of this reign ? 
 
 A. The King of Scotland having invaded England 
 during the absence of Edward, his queen, Philippa 
 gave the Scots battle, defeated them, and captured 
 their king; toward the end of this reign, the 
 English lost all their conquests in France, with 
 the exception of Calais and a few other places. 
 4* 
 
42 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Q. What was the cause of Edward's death ? 
 
 A. Edward is said to have died of melancholy, 
 for the loss of his eldest son, the Prince of Wales, 
 surnamed the Black Prince , who was universally 
 beloved for his bravery and virtues : he expired 
 A. D. 1377, in the 65th year of his age, and 51st 
 of his reign ; one of the longest and most glorious 
 in the annals of England. 
 
 Q. What inventions took place ? 
 
 A. In this reign also gold was first coined, gun- 
 powder and guns were invented, and the order of 
 the Garter was instituted. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with Edward 
 III. were, Louis IV. and Charles IV., of Germa- 
 ny $ Charles IV. of France ; Robert Bruce, David 
 II., Edward Baliol, and Robert II., the first of the 
 Stuarts, of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Richard the Second, A. D. 1377-1399* 
 
 *'; 
 
 Q. Who next ascended the throne? 
 A. Edward III. was succeeded by his grandson, 
 Richard II., who, being but eleven years of age 
 
 Note. — Surnamed the Black Prince from the color of his 
 armor. After the battle of Cressy, in which the King of 
 Bohemia was slain, the Prince of Wales adopted his crest, 
 which was three ostrich feathers, with his motto, Ich dien, I 
 serve ; and his successors have borne this device ever since. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 43 
 
 when he came to the throne, was placed under the 
 guardianship of his three uncles. 
 
 Q. What insurrection took place in the early 
 part of this reign ? 
 
 A. An oppressive tax having been imposed 
 upon the people, 100,000 insurgents, with Wat 
 Tyler at their head, assembled at Blackheath, 
 where they were met by the king; but Tyler, 
 making his demand in an insolent manner, was 
 killed, and order restored by the presence of mind 
 of the young king. 
 
 Q. What was the subsequent conduct of the 
 king? 
 
 A. Richard excited great discontent in the na- 
 tion by his severity and injustice ; so that at last 
 the barons took up arms, made the king prisoner, 
 and, after having tried him, he was deposed ; and 
 the Duke of Lancaster, his cousin, made king, by 
 the title of Henry IV. 
 
 Q. What was the manner of his death ? 
 
 A. Richard was starved to death in Pomfret- 
 
 Note. — During the conference, Wat Tyler occasionally 
 lifted up his sword in a menacing manner, which so irritated 
 Walworth, the Mayor of London, that he struck him to the 
 ground with his mace, where he was soon despatched by the 
 king's attendants. The multitude were preparing to revenge 
 the death of their leader, when Richard rode up to them, and 
 cried out, " What, my people, will you then kill your king ? Are 
 you concerned for the loss of your leader ? follow me, I my- 
 self will now be your general." The populace, overawed by 
 his manner, followed him into the fields, where they peace- 
 ably separated, upon his granting them a charter for the 
 redress of their grievances. 
 
44 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 
 castle, in the 34th year of his age, and 23d of his 
 reign, a. d. 1399. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
 
 A. Richard was fond of idle ostentation and lux- 
 urious pleasures, and became the dupe of worthless 
 favorites, who, taking advantage of his weakness 
 and effeminacy, urged him to acts of tyranny and 
 oppression. 
 
 Q. To what did the deposition of Richard give 
 
 rise 
 
 ? 
 
 A. The deposition of Richard, and the usurpa- 
 tion of the Duke of Lancaster, gave rise to the 
 contest between the houses of York and Lancaster, 
 which, for many years after, filled the kingdom 
 with anarchy and bloodshed. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A: The contemporaries of Richard II. were, 
 Charles IV., and Wenceslaus, Emperors of Ger- 
 many; Charles V. and Charles VI., Kings of 
 France ; Margaret, Queen of Denmark, Norway, 
 and Sweden ; Robert II. and Robert III., Kings 
 of Scotland. 
 
BOOK IV. 
 
 FROM THE ACCESSION OF HENRY IV., TO THE 
 ACCESSION OF HENRY VII., A. D. 1485. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 HOUSE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 Henry the Fourth, A. D. 1399-1413. 
 
 Q. Who was Henry IV. ? 
 
 A. Henry IV. was son of John of Gaunt, Duke 
 of Lancaster, fourth son of Edward III. 
 
 Q. What was the manner of his death ? 
 
 A. He is said to have been seized with a fit, (to 
 which he was subject in the latter part of his life,) 
 while at his devotions before the shrine of Edward 
 the Confessor, in Westminster Abbey, and expired 
 in the 46th year of his age, and 13 th of his reign, 
 A. D. 1413. 
 
 Q. What was his character ? 
 
 A. Henry IV. possessed great military talents 
 and political wisdom; but he lost the affection 
 of his subjects by his usurpation and the murder 
 of his lawful king. 
 Q. What invention took place in this reign ? 
 
 45 
 
46 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 A. Cards were invented about this time for the 
 amusement of Charles VI., King of France, who, 
 being subject to frequent fits of insanity, used 
 them during his intervals of reason. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 Henry IV. ? 
 
 A. The contemporary sovereigns were Wences- 
 laus, Eobert le Pet, and Sigismund, of Germany; 
 Charles VI., of France ; Margaret, and Eric XIII., 
 of Denmark and Sweden; and Robert III., of 
 Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Henry the Fifth, A. D. 1413-1422. 
 
 Q. What was the conduct of Henry V. before 
 he became king ? 
 
 A. Henry V., when Prince of Wales, was noto- 
 rious for all kinds of debauchery, and often, when 
 heated with wine, aided his profligate companions 
 in robbing the passengers on the highway. 
 
 Note. — One of his companions having been brought to 
 trial before Sir William Grascoigne, the chief-justice, Prince 
 Henry appeared with him in court, and finding that he was 
 condemned, notwithstanding his interference, he was so en- 
 raged, that he struck the justice upon the bench; but Gas- 
 coigne, mindful of the dignity of his office, ordered the prince 
 to be committed to prison. When his father, Henry IV.. 
 heard of this transaction, he exclaimed : "Happy is the king 
 who 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." 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 47 
 
 Q. What were the first acts of his reign ? 
 
 A The first measures of Henry after he came 
 to the throne were to dismiss his former dissolute 
 companions, and to receive the wise ministers of 
 his father who had checked his riots. 
 
 Q. What were the principal events of his reign ? 
 
 A. Henry invaded France, where he gained 
 the celebrated battle of Agincourt : and having 
 conquered the whole kingdom, was appointed 
 regent and heir to the French monarchy. 
 
 Q. Of what did he die ? 
 
 A. Henry had nearly reached the summit of 
 glory, when he was seized with a fistula, which 
 terminated his days in the 34th year of his age, 
 and the 10th of his reign, a. D. 1422. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this king ? 
 
 A Henry V. far excelled the other princes of 
 his age in the art of war and government, endear- 
 ing his friends by his engaging manners, and 
 overcoming his enemies by his address and 
 clemency. 
 
 Q. Who were HenryV contemporaries? 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with Henry 
 V. were, Sigismund, Emperor of Germany; Charles 
 VI., King of France; Eric XIII. of Denmark 
 and Sweden; and Robert III. of Scotland. 
 
48 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Henry the Sixth, A. D. 1422-1471. 
 
 Q. By whom was Henry V succeeded ? 
 
 A. Henry V. was succeeded by his only son, 
 Henry VI. who being not yet a year old, the 
 government, both of England and France, was 
 intrusted to his uncles, the Dukes of Bedford 
 and Gloucester. 
 
 Q. What took place at the commencement of 
 this reign ? 
 
 A. Henry VI. soon after his accession, was 
 crowned king of France at Paris, but by degrees 
 the English lost ground in that kingdom, and 
 were finally dispossessed of all their conquests, 
 through the enthusiasm raised by the famous 
 Joan d'Arc, called the Maid of Orleans. 
 
 Q. What were the other events of this reign ? 
 
 A. Henry was very unfortunate in his choice 
 of ministers, which was the cause of an alarming 
 insurrection headed by John Cade ; and shortly 
 after its suppression, Richard, Duke of York, laid 
 
 Note. — Joan d'Arc was a country girl, who conceived her- 
 self destined by Heaven to rescue France out of the hands 
 of the English. Receiving encouragement from the court, 
 she succeeded in raising the siege of Orleans, and led the 
 French army from victory to victory, till she caused the king 
 to be crowned at Rheims ; she was, however, finally taken 
 prisoner by the English, tried for sorcery and magic, and 
 condemned to be burned to death as a sorceress : this cruel 
 sentence was carried into execution in the public square at 
 Rouen. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ^ 49 
 
 claim to the crown, and raised an army to second 
 his pretensions. 
 
 Q. What name was given to this contest ? 
 
 A. The civil wars which followed were called 
 the quarrel between the two roses, from the 
 symbols of the contending parties, that of Lan- 
 caster being a red rose, and that of York a white 
 one. 
 
 Q. What was the result of these wars ? 
 
 A. After being for a long time successful, the 
 Duke of York was killed at the battle of Wake- 
 field, but his son Edward, assisted by the Earl of 
 Warwick, continued the claim, and having routed 
 the king's army, was proclaimed king. 
 
 Q. What was the fate of King Henry ? 
 
 A. Henry, after having been detained in prison 
 nine years, was once more placed on the throne 
 by the Earl of Warwick j but his party being 
 again overthown in the battle of Barnet, he was 
 confined in the Tower, where he was murdered, 
 A. D. 1471. ' 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
 A. Henry discovered from his youth marks of 
 weakness and incapacity, and at times was subject 
 to fits of insanity ; but his general disposition 
 was pious and humane, and he liberally rewarded 
 learning and merit. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 A. The contemporaries of Henry VI. were, 
 
 Note.— The Earl of Warwick, called the King Maker, was 
 the most powerful nobleman in England, and was distin- 
 guished by his bravery, hospitality, and magnificence. 
 5 
 
50 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Sigismund, Albert II. and Frederick III., Emperors 
 of Germany; Charles VII. and Louis XI., Kings 
 of France; Eric XIV. of Denmark and Sweden; 
 and Robert III., James I., James II., and James 
 III. ; sovereigns of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HOUSE OF YORK. 
 Edward the Fourth, A. D. 1471-1483. 
 
 Q. Who was Edward IV. ? 
 
 A. Edward IV. was the son of Richard, Duke 
 of York, who, being descended from Lionel, third 
 son of Edward III. had a claim to the throne 
 prior to that of the house of Lancaster, who were 
 descended from a younger son of the same 
 monarch. 
 
 Q. What difficulties had he to contend with ? 
 
 A. When Edward was elected king by the 
 army and by the people of London, the greatest 
 part of the kingdom still acknowledged subjection 
 to Henry VI. ; but after gaining the sanguinary 
 victories of Tourton and Hexham, his title was 
 recognised by parliament, and quietly submitted 
 to by the people ? 
 
 Q. From what quarter was he again opposed f 
 
 A. Edward having given cause of offence to 
 the Earl of Warwick, that nobleman became his 
 most inveterate enemy, and espousing the cause 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 51 
 
 of the captive Henry, replaced him on the throne, 
 and obliged Edward to fly to Holland. 
 
 Q. Did Edward regain possession of the crown ? 
 
 A. Edward returned to England with a few 
 troops, and being joined by his partisans, defeated 
 and slew his great opponent in the battle of Bar- 
 net; and soon after triumphed over Queen Marga- 
 ret at Tewkesbury, where that spirited, princess 
 Was made prisoner, together with her son, Prince 
 Edward. 
 
 Q. How did he then conduct himself? 
 
 A. Edward exercised horrible cruelties upon 
 his enemies, and even put his brother, the Duke 
 of Clarence, to death : at the same time aban- 
 doning himself to riot and debauchery, which 
 brought him to an untimely end, in the 42d year 
 of his age, and the 23d of his reign, A. D. 1483. 
 
 Q. How many children had he ? 
 
 A. Edward IV. left two sons, Edward, Prince 
 of Wales, then in his 13th year, and Richard, 
 Duke of York, in his ninth j besides five daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 #. What useful discovery was introduced into 
 England during this reign f 
 
 Note. — The young prince being brought before Edward 
 after the battle, and being asked by the king how he dared 
 to invade his dominions, boldly replied, that he came thither 
 to avenge his father's injuries and to redress his own ; upon 
 which the barbarous monarch struck him upon the mouth 
 with his gauntlet, and his brothers, hurrying him into an 
 adjoining apartment, basely despatched him with their 
 daggers. Richard is said also to have murdered King 
 Henry VI. a few days after in prison. 
 
52 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 A. While the country was distracted by civil 
 commotions, the art of printing was introduced 
 at London, by William Caxton, a merchant, in 
 1471, and from that period the English made 
 rapid progress in literature. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A. Frederick II., of Germany ; Mohammed II., 
 first Emperor of the Turks; Louis IX., of France; 
 Christian L, of Denmark and Sweden; and James 
 III., of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Edward the Fifth, A. D. 1483. 
 
 Q. In whom was the government of the king- 
 dom vested during the king's minority ? 
 
 A. Edward V. being but thirteen years of age 
 at his accession, was put under the charge of the 
 Duke of Rivers ; and his uncle Richard, Duke of 
 Gloucester, was declared protector. 
 
 Q. How did he conduct himself in that office? 
 
 A. Gloucester was no sooner invested with the 
 protectorate than he put to death Lord Hastings 
 and other distinguished noblemen, and seized 
 upon the crown, under the pretence that his 
 nephews were illegitimate. 
 
 Q. What followed his usurpation ? 
 
 A. In order to secure his ill-gotten power, 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 53 
 
 Richard ordered the two princes to be assassinated; 
 and they were accordingly suffocated with the 
 bolster and pillows as they lay asleep in the 
 Tower, only a few months after their father's 
 death, a. d. 1483. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Richard the Third, A. D. 1483-1484. 
 
 Q. What were the first acts of Richard's 
 administration ? . • 
 
 A. Richard sought to establish his authority 
 by bestowing rewards on those who had assisted 
 him in his usurpation ; but the Duke of Bucking- 
 ham, disgusted at some neglect, determined to 
 depose him, and to advance Henry, Earl of Rich- 
 mond, in his place. 
 
 Q. Was he successful in his attempt ? 
 
 A. Buckingham's intentions being prematurely 
 discovered, and his army abandoning him, he was 
 betrayed into the hands of the king by his own 
 servant, and beheaded at Salisbury, without even 
 the form of a trial. 
 
 Q. Did Richmond still prosecute his design ? 
 
 A. Richmond landed at Milford-haven, in Wales, 
 with only 2000 men, but being joined by 
 a considerable number of the English, he advanced 
 to give Richard battle. 
 
 5* 
 
54 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Q. What was the issue of the contest ? 
 
 A. The two armies met at Bosworth-field, in 
 Leicestershire, and Richard performed prodigies 
 of valor, but Lord Stanley having deserted him 
 with 7000 men, he was defeated and slain ; and 
 Richmond was proclaimed king and crowned 
 upon the field of battle, under the title of Henry 
 VII. 
 
 Q. What was the character of Richard III. ? 
 
 A. Richard was possessed of great abilities, 
 personal courage, and military talents, but was 
 subtle, cruel, and vindictive. 
 
BOOK V. 
 
 FROM THE ACCESSION OF HENRY VII., TO THE 
 BEHEADING OF CHARLES I., A. D. 1649. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 HOUSE OF TUDOR. 
 
 Henry the Seventh, A. D. 1485-1509. 
 
 Q. Who was Henry VII. ? 
 
 A. Henry VII. was descended by his mother's 
 side from the house of Lancaster ; and soon after 
 his accession, by espousing Elizabeth, daughter of 
 Edward IV., he united the right of the house of 
 York to his own. 
 
 Q. Was his claim quietly acceded to ? 
 
 A. Henry's tranquillity was for several years 
 disturbed by two impostors, Lambert Simnel, 
 who personated the Earl of Warwick, and Perkin 
 Warbeck, who pretended to be the Duke of York, 
 who had been murdered in the Tower with his 
 brother, Edward V. 
 
 Q. What do you remark of his subsequent 
 government ? 
 
 A. After frustrating the designs of his ene- 
 mies, and restoring tranquillity, Henry humbled 
 the power of the barons, and enacted many use- 
 
 55 
 
56 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 ful laws for the encouragement of trade and navi- 
 gation, and for securing the happiness of his 
 people. 
 
 Q. How long did he reign ? 
 
 A, Henry VII. reigned 23 years, and died of 
 the gout in 1509, in 52d year of his age. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
 
 A. Henry VII. was a wise prince but jealous 
 of his authority ; his principal weakness was his 
 too great love of money, to gratify which his mi- 
 nisters were often guilty of arbitrary measures. 
 
 Q. What important discovery was made in this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, 
 in the service of Spain, first discovered America, 
 and landed on one of the Bahama Islands, Oct. 
 12, 1492, to which he gave the name of San 
 Salvador — but Sebastian Cabot, a native of Bris- 
 tol, first discovered the continent of North 
 America, in 1498. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 Q. The sovereigns contemporary with Henry 
 were, Frederick III., and Maximilian I., Emperors 
 of Germany ; Bajazet II., Emperor of the Turks ; 
 Ferdinand and Isabella, Sovereigns of Spain ; 
 Charles VIII., and Louis XII., Kings of France ) 
 John, King of Denmark and Sweden : and James 
 III. and James IV., of Scotland. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 57 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 Henry the Eighth, A. D. 1509-1547. 
 
 Q. Under what circumstances did Henry ascend 
 the throne ? 
 
 A. He ascended the throne under the most 
 favorable circumstances. The nation was at 
 peace, the country prosperous and happy, and the 
 treasury well filled. In person he was tall and 
 handsome, and possessed of a good education. 
 But he afterwards became a most cruel and rapa- 
 cious tyrant. 
 
 Q. What were some of the most memorable 
 transactions of his reign ? 
 
 A. They were his matrimonial alliances, and the 
 consequences that followed from them. 
 
 Q. How many wives had he ? 
 
 A. Henry had six wives ; the first was Catha- 
 rine of Arragon, whom he divorced; the second, 
 Anne Boleyne, who was beheaded; the third, 
 Jane Seymour, mother of Edward VI. ; the fourth, 
 Anne of Cleves, whom he divorced; the fifth, 
 Catharine Howard, whom he beheaded ; and the 
 sixth was Catharine Parr, who survived him. 
 
 Q. What caused his misunderstanding with the 
 Pope? 
 
 A. Henry becoming dissatisfied with his first 
 wife, Catharine of Arragon, applied to the Pope 
 for a divorce ; but the pontiff, not believing the 
 grounds for the divorce sufficiently valid, re- 
 fused to grant it. At this the king became 
 
58 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 furious ; lie threw off the authority of the Pope, 
 and assumed the title of Supreme Head of the 
 English Church; he abolished the monasteries, 
 and seized upon their revenues, which he convert- 
 ed to the use of the crown. 
 
 Q. What events took place during his reign ? 
 
 J.. During his reign, Martin Luther commenced 
 the Reformation in Germany; Henry wrote a 
 book against Luther, on which account he received 
 the title of " Defender of the Faith," a title still 
 retained by the British Sovereigns to the present 
 time. 
 
 Q. What were the military transactions of this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. Henry invaded France, but did not follow 
 up his successes; at his return the Scots were 
 defeated at Flodden-field, with the loss of their 
 king, and the flower of the nobility. 
 
 Q. How long did this king reign ? 
 
 Jl. Henry VIII. died in the 38 th year of his 
 reign, and the 56th of his age, A. d. 1547. 
 
 Q. What eminent men lived in his reign ? 
 
 A* The most eminent characters were, Cardinal 
 Wolsey, for a long time the king's favorite, but 
 who finally lost his favor, and Sir Thomas More, 
 Lord Chancellor, and Bishop Fisher, who were 
 beheaded for refusing to acknowledge the king's 
 supremacy. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A. Contemporary with Henry VIII. , were Charles 
 V., Emperor of Germany and King of Spain; 
 Louis XII., and Francis I., Kings of France; 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 59 
 
 Gustavus Vasa, Liberator and King of Sweden ; 
 and. James IV., and James V., and Mary, sove- 
 reigns of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Edward the Sixth, a.d. 1547-1553. 
 
 Q. Who was Edward VI. ? 
 
 A. Edward VI. was the only son of Henry III., 
 by Jane Seymour, his third wife. Being but nine 
 years cf age when his father died, the Duke of 
 Somerset, his maternal uncle, was chosen pro- 
 tector. 
 
 Q. What were the chief events of this reign ? 
 
 A. The principal events of Edward's reign were 
 the completion of the Reformation, and the de- 
 feat of the Scots near Musselburgh, in which 
 10,000 of them were killed. 
 
 Q. What change did he make in the succes- 
 sion? 
 
 A. Edward being in a declining state of health, 
 was persuaded by the intrigues of the new pro- 
 tector, the Duke of Northumberland, to appoint 
 as his successor Lady Jane Grey, thus excluding 
 his sisters Mary and Elizabeth, together with 
 Mary, Queen of Scotland. 
 
 Q. What was the consequence of this act ? 
 
 A. On the death of Edward, Northumberland 
 
60 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 caused Lady Jane to be proclaimed queen ; but 
 the nation acknowledged the title of Mary, and 
 Lady Jane was confined in the Tower, after en- 
 joying the sovereign*' power only ten days. 
 
 Q. How long did Edward reign, and what was 
 his character? 
 
 A. Edward died in the 16th year of his age, 
 and the seventh of his reign. Pie was mild and 
 amiable in his disposition, and his loss was much 
 lamented by the nation. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 Edward VI.? 
 
 A. Edward's contemporaries were, Charles V., 
 Emperor of Germany and King of Spain ; Henry 
 II., King of France ; and Mary, Queen of Scot- 
 land 
 
 m CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Mary, A. D. 1553-1558. 
 
 Q. Who was Queen Mary ? 
 
 A. Mary was the daughter of Henry VIII., by 
 his first wife, Catharine of Arragon. 
 
 Q. What were the first acts of her reign ? 
 
 A. Mary, being a Catholic, endeavored, in the 
 early part of her reign, to re-establish the Catho- 
 lic religion. 
 
 Q. Whom did she marry ? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 61 
 
 A. She married Philip the Second of Spain. 
 
 Q. What insurrection took place ? 
 
 A. An insurrection broke out, headed by the 
 Duke of Suffolk and his brother; it was, however, 
 easily suppressed, and the leaders brought to the 
 scaffold. Among others who suffered on this 
 occasion, was the much lamented Lady Jane 
 Grey, whose life had been spared, on a former oc- 
 casion, as a pledge for the loyality of the house 
 of Suffolk. 
 
 Q. When did Mary die ? 
 
 A. She died in the 43d hear of her age, and in 
 6th of her reign, a. d. 1558. Her death is said 
 to have been hastened by her grief for the loss 
 of Calais. 
 
 Q. What was her character ? 
 
 A. Mary has been much blamed for the perse- 
 cution of Reformers, which prevailed during her 
 reign. In other respects she was distinguished 
 for her sincerity, piety, clemency, and compassion 
 for the poor. 
 
 Note. — Calais had been in the possession of the English 
 upwards of 200 years, and was all that remained to them of 
 their extensive possessions and conquests. It was taken by 
 the French in eight days, although it had cost Edward III. 
 a siege of 11 months. 
 
62 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Elizabeth, a. r>. 1558-1603. 
 
 Q. Who was Queen Elizabeth ? 
 
 A. Elizabeth was daughter of Henry VIII., by 
 Anne Boleyne, his second wife. On the death 
 of Mary, she ascended the throne, being in the 
 25th year of her age. 
 
 Q. How did she begin her reign ? 
 
 A. Elizabeth, upon coming to the throne, imme- 
 diately restored the Protestant religion, and exer- 
 cised the utmost severity against the professors of 
 the Catholic faith. 
 
 T. Describe the chief event of her reign. 
 
 P. In this reign, the Spaniards prepared to in- 
 vade England with a powerful fleet, which they 
 styled " the Invincible Armada." But on its 
 approach to the English shores, it was met by the 
 English fleet, commanded by Lord Admiral 
 Howard, Drake, and others, and completely de- 
 feated. 
 
 Q. What severities tarnished the reign of Eliza- 
 beth ? 
 
 A. One of the greatest stains upon the character 
 of Elizabeth is her cruel persecution of her cou- 
 sin, the unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots whom 
 she put to death after an imprisonment of nearly 
 twenty years. 
 
 Q. What was the cause of Elizabeth's death ? 
 
 A. Elizabeth died soon after the execution of 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 63 
 
 her favorite, the Earl of Essex, which she had 
 ordered in a moment of resentment. 
 
 Q. How long did she reign ? 
 
 A. Elizabeth died in the 70th year of her age, 
 and the 45th of her reign, A. d. 1603. 
 
 Q. What was the character of Elizabeth ? 
 
 A. Elizabeth possessed eminent abilities as a 
 sovereign, and was distinguished for her talents 
 in directing public affairs. But in principles she 
 was despotic, jealous, cruel and revengeful ; her 
 conversation was often grossly profane, and in her 
 private life she was even less to be admired. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of her reign ? 
 
 A. During the time of Elizabeth, the English 
 nation made astonishing progress in arts, com- 
 merce, and literature ; it became industrious, polite, 
 and powerful, secure at home, and formidable 
 abroad. 
 
 Q. What eminent men lived at this period? 
 
 A. In the reign of Elizabeth lived the immor- 
 tal Shakspeare; Edmund Spenser, a celebrated 
 poet; admiral Howard; and Cecil and Bur- 
 leigh, two eminent statesmen. 
 
 Q. What else is worthy of notice ? 
 
 A. In 1589, coaches were first introduced into 
 England, and soon after watches were brought 
 over from Germany ; in this reign also, Sir Fran- 
 cis Drake was the first Englishman that Sailed 
 round the world. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 Elizabeth ? 
 
 A. During the reign of Elizabeth, Germany 
 
64 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 was governed by the Emperors Ferdinand L, 
 Maximilian II. and Rodolphus II. ; France by 
 Henry II., Francis II., Charles IX., Henry III. 
 and Henry IV. ; Spain and Portugal by Philip 
 II., and Philip III.; and Scotland by Mary, and 
 James IV. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HOUSE OF STUART. 
 
 James the First, A. d. 1603-1625. 
 
 Q. Who was James I. ? 
 
 A. James I. was the son of the unfortunate 
 Mary, Queen of Scots, and succeeded to the crown 
 in consequence of the will of the late queen, 
 joined to his claim of hereditary right, as next 
 in descent from Henry VII. 
 
 Q. What remarkable event happened in this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. The commencement of the reign of James I. 
 was distinguished by the discovery and defeat of 
 the Gunpowder Plot. 
 
 Q. What was the Gunpowder Plot ? 
 
 A. « The Gunpowder Plot was a scheme of a few 
 desperate men, to blow up the king and the two 
 houses of parliament ; but it was happily disco- 
 vered by the sagacity of the monarch, and the 
 conspirators put to death. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 65 
 
 Q. What do you remark of the conduct of 
 James I. ? 
 
 A. James I. is much blamed for his partiality to 
 favorites. His leading passion seems to have 
 been a love of arbitrary power. The divine right 
 of kings to govern without control, was with him 
 a favorite theme. 
 
 ^ Q. How long did he reign ? 
 
 A. James I. died in 1625, in the 59th year of 
 his age, and the 22d of his reign over England : 
 his reign over Scotland was almost of equal dura- 
 tion with his life, having been crowned when 
 only a year old. 
 
 Q. What eminent men lived during this reign ? 
 
 A. Sir Walter Kaleigh, an illustrious navigator 
 and historian, flourished during the reign of 
 James ; also, Camden, the historian ; Lord Chan- 
 cellor Bacon, called the father of experimental 
 philosophy ; and Ben Johnson, a celebrated dra- 
 matic writer. 
 
 Q. What discoveries were made in this reign ? 
 
 A. In 1619, Dr. Harvey discovered the circula- 
 tion of the blood ; and about the same time died 
 Baron Napier, of Scotland, who invented logarithms : 
 in this reign also the present Protestant version 
 of the Bible was published by royal authority. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary severeigns ? 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with James I. 
 were, Rodolphus II., Matthias L, and Ferdinand 
 II., Emperors of Germany ; Henry IV., and 
 Louis XII., Kings of France; Philip III., and 
 Philip IV., Sovereigns of Spain and Portugal.. 
 6* 
 

 66 HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Charles the First, a. D. 1625-1649. 
 
 Q. What are the principal features of this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. The reign of Charles I. is remarkable for 
 the civil war which took place between him and 
 the parliament. 
 
 Q. What was the cause of this war ? 
 
 A. The civil war was chiefly caused by the at- 
 tempts of the king, inheriting his father's notions 
 of the royal prerogative, to raise taxes and levy 
 money upon the people, without the authority of 
 parliament. 
 
 T. Name those who distinguished themselves 
 at this period. 
 
 P. Among the chief instigators and conductors 
 of the civil war, were Hampden, John Pym, 
 Oeneral Fairfax, Ifeton, Monk, and Oliver Crom- 
 well. 
 
 Q. What was the result of this contest ? 
 
 A. After the war had continued for some time, 
 with various success, Charles was totally defeated, 
 and having given himself up to the Scottish 
 army, he was delivered over to the parliament, 
 by whose authority he was put to death, on the 
 30th of January, 1649, in the 49th year of his 
 age, and the. 24th of his reign. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
 
 A. Charles I. had many virtues and accomplish- 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 67 
 
 ments, but he permitted himself to be guided by 
 ministers, who advised those arbitrary measures 
 which finally brought him to the block. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 Charles L? 
 
 A. The contemporaries of Charles I. were, Fer- 
 dinand II., and Ferdinand III., Emperors of 
 Germany; Louis XIII., and Louis XIV., Kings 
 of France ; Philip IV. of Spain ; and John IV. 
 of Portugal. 
 
BOOK VI. 
 
 FROM THE FORMATION OF THE COMMONWEALTH 
 TO THE ACCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF BRUNS- 
 WICK, A. D. 1714. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE COMMONWEALTH. 
 
 Oliver Cromwell, Protector, A. D. 1654-1658. 
 
 Q. What form of government was established 
 after the king's death ? 
 
 A. Upon the death of Charles, the house of 
 commons abolished the regal power, and declared 
 the house of lords useless : a commonwealth was 
 proclaimed, and the king's name changed to that 
 of the Keeper of the Liberties of England. 
 
 Q. Did the parliament maintain with energy 
 the superiority of England ? 
 
 A. The troops of the commonwealth, under 
 Oliver Cromwell, reduced Scotland and Ireland, 
 while Admiral Blake subdued the settlements in 
 America, and spread the terror of the English 
 name by sea to every quarter of the globe. 
 68 
 
HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 69 
 
 Q. What change took place in the government? 
 
 A, Cromwell, having encouraged a dispute be- 
 tween the army and the house of commons, dis- 
 solved that assembly with an armed force, and 
 caused himself to be declared Lord Protector of 
 the commonwealth of England. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of Cromwell's admi- 
 nistration ? 
 
 A, Cromwell humbled the power of Holland 
 and Spain, and maintained the national honor in 
 foreign countries ; while England was improving 
 both in riches and in power. 
 
 Q. When did he die ? 
 
 A. For some time before his death, Cromwell 
 was subject to a perpetual disquietude; at length 
 he was seized with a fever, which terminated his 
 life in the 60th year of his age, and the 5th of 
 his protectorship, A. D. 1658. 
 
 Q. What character is given of Cromwell ? 
 
 A. Oliver Cromwell was a man of considerable 
 genius, capacity, and great military talents ; but 
 pre-eminently distinguished for his ambition, cru- 
 elty, and hypocrisy. 
 
 Q. By whom was he succeeded ? 
 
 A. On the death of Oliver Cromwell, his son 
 Richard peaceably assumed the protectorship ; 
 but as he wanted ambition, and did not possess 
 the confidence of the army, he resigned his power 
 at the end of three months. 
 
 Q. What measures were now taken by the army? 
 
 A. Richard having abdicated the protectorship, 
 General Monk assembled a free parliament, and 
 
70 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 proposed the restoration of the royal family, 
 which meeting with the approbation of the people, 
 Charles II. was recalled, after an exile of twelve 
 years. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Charles the Second, A. D. 1661-1685. 
 
 Q. What was the first act of Charles's reign? 
 
 A. Charles II. made his public entry into Lon- 
 don on the 29th May, 1660, amid the acclamations 
 of the people ; and one of his first measures was to 
 pass an act of general indemnity for all that had 
 taken place, except to those immediately concerned 
 in the late king's death. 
 
 Q. What were the principal occurrences of this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. Charles exiled his virtuous minister, the Earl 
 of Clarendon, and having chosen men who did not 
 enjoy the confidence of the people, several real or 
 imaginary plots were formed, which cost Lord Rus- 
 sell, Algernon Sidney, and others, their lives. 
 
 Q. What other events do you notice ? 
 
 A. In 1665 a plague raged throughout England, 
 and the year after the great fire of London con- 
 sumed 13,000 houses; the Dutch also sailed up 
 the Medway and destroyed several ships of war at 
 Chatham. 
 
 Q. When did he die ? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 71 
 
 A. Charles died on the 6th of February, 1685, 
 in the 55th year of his age ; he left no children by 
 his wife Catharine, Infanta of Portugal, and was 
 succeeded by his brother James. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
 
 A. Charles II. possessed an agreeable person and 
 manners; but he was indolent, fond of pleasure ; 
 and little attached to the glory of England. 
 
 Q. What eminent men lived at this time ? 
 
 A. In the reign of Charles II. lived the poets 
 Milton and Butler; the Earl of Clarendon and Al- 
 gernon Sidney, eminent politicians; and Thomas 
 Otway, a writer of tragedies. 
 
 Q. What else is worthy of notice ? 
 
 A. Charles II. established the Royal Society, and 
 acceded to the Habeas Corpus Act; in his reign, 
 also, tea was first used in England. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A. The reigning sovereigns contemporary with 
 Charles II. were, Leopold, Emperor of Germany ; 
 Louis XIV., King of France; Philip IV., and 
 Charles II., of Spain; and Charles XL, of Sweden. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 James the Second, A. D. 1685-1688. 
 
 Q. Who next ascended the throne ? 
 
 A. James, Duke of York, brother to the late king ? 
 
72 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 now ascended the throne, and being a Catholic, his 
 first efforts were directed toward restoring the 
 Catholic religion. 
 
 Q. What took place in the early part of his reign? 
 
 A. The Duke of Monmouth excited a rebellion, 
 under pretext of preserving the Protestant reli- 
 gion ; but being defeated, he was beheaded, with 
 many of his followers. 
 
 Q. What were the other events of this reign ? 
 
 A. Some of the measures of James being un- 
 popular, a rebellion was excited against him ; the 
 people applied for aid to William, Prince of Orange, 
 who landed at Torbay on the 5th of November, 
 1688, with about 13,000 men. 
 
 Q. How was he received by the English ? 
 
 A. The whole country soon flocked to the stand- 
 ard of William ; and James, finding himself de- 
 serted by his friends, and even his children, re- 
 tired to France^ where he died A. D. 1701. 
 
 Q. On whom was the succession of the crown 
 settled? 
 
 A. James having deserted the kingdom, the Prince 
 and Princess of Orange were declared by parlia- 
 ment joint sovereigns, by the names of William 
 and Mary. 
 
 Q. What name is given to this event, and what 
 were its consequences ? 
 
 A. This event is called the Revolution ; by it all 
 disputed points between the king and people were 
 determined ; the power of the king was diminished, 
 and many valuable privileges were obtained for the 
 people. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 73 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 William and Mary, A. D. 1688-1702. 
 
 Q. Who was William III. ? 
 
 A. William III., son of William, Prince of 
 Orange, and of Henrietta, daughter of Charles L, 
 was born in Holland, and was married to Mary, 
 daughter of James II. 
 
 Q. What were the principal events of his reign ? 
 
 A. James having returned from France, and 
 raised an army in Ireland, William defeated him 
 in the memorable battle of the Boyne. 
 
 Q. What minor occurrences do you notice in this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. In the reign of William III. the Bank of Eng- 
 land was established, and the first public lottery 
 was drawn. 
 
 Q. What was the cause of William's death ? 
 
 A. William died in consequence of a fall from 
 his horse, March 8, 1702, in the 52d year of his 
 age, and the 14th of his reign : Queen Mary had 
 died before him, of the small-pox, without children. 
 
 Q. What was the character of William ? 
 
 A. William was possessed of talents and personal 
 bravery, but his manners were cold and forbidding; 
 the great object of his ambition during his life 
 was to humble the power of Louis XIV., of France. 
 
 Q. What eminent men flourished during this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. The reign of William III. was distinguished 
 7 
 
74 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 by the names of Dryden, Tillotson, Locke, and 
 Sir Isaac Newton. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 William III? 
 
 A. During the reign of William III., Leopold 
 ruled in Germany; Louis XIV., in France; 
 Charles II., and Philip V., in Spain and Portu- 
 gal; Charles XII., in Sweden; and Peter the 
 Great, in Russia. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Anne,. A. d. 1702-1714. 
 
 Q. Who was Queen Anne ? 
 
 A. Queen Anne was the second daughter of 
 James II., and was married to Prince George, of 
 Denmark. 
 
 Q. What were the most memorable events of her 
 reign ? 
 
 A. During the reign of Anne, the honor of the 
 British arms was carried to a great height by the 
 Duke of Marlborough, who humbled the power of 
 France in the glorious battles of Blenheim, 
 Ramilies, &c. 
 
 Q. What other transactions deserve notice ? 
 
 A. In this reign, also, Gibraltar was taken by 
 Sir George Rooke, and in 1706 the union between 
 England and Scotland was effected. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 75 
 
 Q. To what cause is the queen's death attributed ? 
 
 A. Toward the end of Queen Anne's reign the 
 disputes between the Whig and Tory parties had 
 such an effect upon her spirits and constitution, 
 that she sunk into a lethargy, of which she died in 
 the 50th year of her age, and the 13th of her reign, 
 A. d. 1714. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this princess ? 
 
 A. Queen Anne possessed many excellent quali- 
 ties ; and the people dignified her with the title of 
 the Good Queen Anne, on account of her piety 
 and extensive charities. 
 
 Q. Who were the most eminent personages of 
 her reign ? 
 
 A. The reign of Queen Anne is remarkable for 
 the number of literary men produced : among 
 the most celebrated were Addison, Pope, Steele, 
 Swift, Gay, Congreve, Rowe, Prior, and Boling- 
 broke. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporaries of Anne ? 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with Anne 
 were, Leopold, Joseph I., and Charles VI., Em- 
 perors of Germany; Louis XIV., King of France; 
 Philip I., of Spain; Charles XII., Sweden; and 
 Frederick, the first king of Prussia. 
 
BOOK VII. 
 
 FROM THE ACCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF BRUNS-, 
 WICK TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 HOUSE OF BRUNSWICK. 
 George the First, A. D. 1714-1727. 
 
 ,Q. Who was George I. ? 
 
 A. George I. was Duke of Brunswick and Elec- 
 tor of Hanover ; he succeeded as the next Protest- 
 ant heir, his mother Sophia having been grand- 
 daughter of James I. 
 
 Q. What rebellion took place in this reign ? 
 
 A. About a year after the king's accession, the 
 Pretender, son of James II., raised a rebellion in 
 Scotland and England, which, though easily sup- 
 pressed, proved fatal to many noblemen who had 
 espoused his cause. 
 
 Q. What were the consequences of this rebel- 
 lion? 
 
 A. In consequence of the disturbed state of the 
 nation after this rebellion, the parliament, which be- 
 fore was renewed every three years, voted a continu- 
 ance of their duration from three to seven years. 
 
 T6 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 77 
 
 Q. What event distinguished the year 1720 ? 
 
 A. The year 1720 was rendered remarkable by 
 the fraud practised on the nation by the directors 
 of the South Sea Company, which involved many 
 thousands of families in ruin. 
 
 Q. What distinguished trials took place in this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. In 1722, Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, 
 was deprived of his see and banished for high- 
 treason : the Earl of Macclesfield, Lord Chancellor, 
 was also tried and severely fined for fraudulent 
 practices. 
 
 Q. Where did the king's death take place ? 
 
 A. King George, having crossed the sea to visit 
 Hanover, died suddenly at Osnaburg, on the 11th 
 of June, 1727, in the 68th year of his age, and 
 the 13th of his reign. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
 
 A. George I. was distinguished for firmness and 
 political sagacity, but inclined to party spirit, and 
 was much attached to his continental possession. 
 
 Q. What celebrated men died in this reign ? 
 
 A. In the reign of George I., died Sir Christo- 
 pher Wren, an eminent architect, and Sir Godfrey 
 Kneller, a great painter. 
 
 Q. What important discovery was then made ? 
 
 A, In 1727, inoculation for the small-pox was 
 first tried with success on two criminals, who in 
 consequence received their pardon. 
 
 7* 
 
78 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 George the Second, A. D. 1727-1760. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded George I. ? 
 
 A. George I. was succeeded by his son, George 
 II., who was proclaimed King of Great Britain 
 on the 15th of June, 1727. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of the commencement 
 of this reign ? 
 
 A. The beginning of this reign was distinguished 
 by the debates in parliament on several measures 
 of Sir S. Walpole, prime-minister, and Frederick, 
 Prince of Wales, who placed himself at the head 
 of the opposition, and Walpole retired from 
 power. 
 
 Q, What naval enterprises took place about this 
 time? 
 
 A. In a war with Spain, Admiral Vernon took 
 and destroyed Porto Bello, and Lord Anson, in 
 his voyage round the world, captured a large 
 Spanish galleon loaded with treasure. 
 
 T. Describe the rebellion of 1745. 
 
 P. The young Pretender, grandson of James 
 II., raised a rebellion in Scotland, and having de- 
 feated the king's troops at Preston Pans, he ad- 
 vanced as far as Derby, but was soon after totally 
 routed at Culloden by the Duke of Cumberland. 
 
 Note. — Frederick, Prince of Wales, was father of George 
 III., and died in 1751, universally lamented by the nation. 
 He lived for many years at variance with his father, but 
 was afterward reconciled to him. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 79 
 
 Q. What was the success of the war against 
 France ? 
 
 A. During the war with France, which began 
 in 1755, the British power was established in the 
 East Indies, and several West India islands were 
 taken ; but Admiral Byng, having failed in reliev- 
 ing Majorca, on his return was shot at Ports- 
 mouth. 
 
 Q. What were their other conquests ? 
 
 A. During the year 1758, the English subjected 
 all Canada and the other French possessions in 
 North America ; but they lost the gallant General 
 Wolfe, who gloriously fell at the moment of victory. 
 
 Q. What was the success of the British arms 
 in Europe ? 
 
 A. The French, having invaded the British 
 possessions in Germany, were defeated in the 
 memorable battle of Minden ) while two of their 
 fleets were destroyed by Admirals Boscawen and 
 Hawke. 
 
 Q. What do you remark of the king's death ? 
 
 A. While the British arms were prosperous in 
 every quarter of the globe, George II. was seized 
 with a sudden illness, of which he died, October 
 25, 1760, in the 33d year of his reign, and the 
 77th of his age. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
 
 A. George II. was not possessed of shining 
 abilities, and is said to have been violent in his 
 temper ; but, on the other hand, was brave, gene- 
 rous, and sincere. 
 
 Q. What eminent men flourished in this reign ? 
 
80 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 A. In the reign of George II., lived Young, 
 Grey, Sterne, Hume, Sir R. Walpole, and the 
 celebrated statesman, William Pitt, Earl of Chat- 
 ham. 
 
 Q. What incidents are worthy of mention ? 
 
 A. The winter of 1740 was so severe, that the 
 river Thames was frozen, and a fair held on the 
 ice ; in 1756 the nabob of Bengal confined 146 
 Englishmen in the Black Hole, at Calcutta, of 
 whom 123 were found dead in the morning. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A. The contemporaries of George II., were 
 Charles VII., and Francis I., Emperors of Ger- 
 many; Louis XV., King of France; Philip V., 
 Ferdinand VI., and Charles III., of Spain ; and 
 Frederick II., and Frederick III., of Prussia. 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 George the Third. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded George II ? 
 
 A. George II. was succeeded by his grandson, 
 George III., eldest son of Frederick, late prince 
 of Wales. 
 
 T. Describe the occurrences of the new reign. 
 
 P. The contest with France was still carried on 
 with success, and in the war with Spain, which 
 followed soon after, Havana, the capital of Cuba, 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 81 
 
 was taken, and a register ship, worth a million 
 sterling, was captured by two frigates. 
 
 Q. What changes took place in the administra- 
 tion? 
 A. Soon after the king's accession, Mr. Pitt, after- 
 ward Earl of Chatham, resigned his office of prime 
 minister, and was succeeded by the Duke of New- 
 castle, who, in 1762, made way for the Earl of 
 Bute, the king's tutor, under whom a peace was 
 concluded with France in 1763. 
 
 Q. What circumstances agitated the nation at the 
 commencement of this reign ? 
 
 A. Mr. Wilkes., a member of parliament, in- 
 volved himself in a contest with the court, which 
 excited a flame throughout the kingdom. 
 
 Q. What measures gave rise to the American 
 Revolution ? 
 
 A. Lord Bute having resigned, Mr. Grenville was 
 appointed prime minister, and advised the king to 
 impose taxes on the British colonies in North 
 America. 
 
 Q. What consequences ensued ? 
 
 A. The colonies resisted, and after a seven years 
 War, were acknowledged free and independent 
 States. 
 
 Q. What changes of ministry took place in con- 
 sequence ? 
 
 A. Lord North, who had conducted the American 
 war, was succeeded by the Marquis of Rocking- 
 ham, Lord Shelbourne, and Mr. Fox ; but the 
 latter soon made way for Mr. Pitt, son of the late 
 Earl of Chatham. 
 
$2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Q. What other important events occurred about 
 1 this time ? 
 
 A. In 1780 great riots happened in London, in 
 consequence of some indulgences granted to the 
 Roman Catholics; and in 1782, Admiral Rodney 
 obtained a signal victory over the French fleet. 
 
 Q. What events distinguished the year 1788 ? 
 
 A. In 1788 his majesty was seized with a mental 
 disorder, which rendered him unfit for the exercise 
 of his high functions ; but he recovered before a 
 bill of regency was completed : the celebrated trial 
 of Warren Hastings, also took place before the 
 House of Peers. 
 
 Q. What memorable event happened about the 
 same period upon the continent ? 
 
 A. In 1789 began the memorable Revolution in 
 France, which deluged that kingdom with blood, 
 changed the form of government into a republic, 
 •and finally brought Louis XVI. to the scaffold. 
 
 Q. What were the consequences of this event? 
 
 A. In 1793, the French Convention commenced 
 war against England, which lasted till 1802, during 
 which several victories were obtained over the 
 French and their allies, -by Admirals Howe, St. 
 Vincent, Duncan, and Nelson. 
 
 Q. What expeditions were undertaken to check 
 the progress of the French ? 
 
 A. In 1799, the Duke of York conducted an ex- 
 pedition against Holland : and the French were 
 expelled from Egypt, which they had conquered, 
 ]by General Abercrombie, who fell in the battle of 
 j^lexandria. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 83 
 
 Q. What events do you notice connected with 
 Ireland ? 
 
 A. A dreadful insurrection took place in Ireland, 
 in 1798, which was not quelled until much blood 
 was shed; and in 1801, the kingdom was united 
 to Great Britain. 
 
 Q. How long did the peace continue ? 
 
 A. The peace of 1802 lasted only a year, owing 
 to the restless spirit of Napoleon Bonaparte, who 
 soon became First Consul, and shortly after, Em- 
 peror of Finance . 
 
 Q. What important victory was obtained in the 
 early part of this war? 
 
 A. On the 21st of October, 1805, Lord Nelson 
 obtained a memorable victory over the combined 
 fleets of France and Spain, off Cape Trafalgar; but 
 the gallant admiral was killed in the action, to the 
 inexpressible grief of the whole nation. 
 
 Q. What other events are worthy of notice ? 
 
 A. In 1806 the Cape of Good Hope was taken ; 
 and, in the succeeding year Copenhagen was bom- 
 barded, and the whole of the Danish navy sur- 
 rendered to the English : the slave trade was also 
 finally abolished. 
 
 * Q. In what contests did England engage to check 
 the progress of the French ? 
 
 A. The French having taken military occupation 
 of the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, the in- 
 habitants solicited the protection of the English, 
 who sent over a large body of men under Sir 
 Arthur Wellesley, late Duke of Wellington. 
 Q. What was the success of this war? 
 
84 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 A. In 1810 the French army evacuated Portugal, 
 and in its retreat through Spain was defeated at 
 Talavera, Salamanca, and Vittoria ; in 1812 it was 
 finally pursued into France, and again defeated 
 before Toulouse. 
 
 T. Describe the military occurrences in the other 
 parts of the world. 
 
 P. In 1809 the English sent out a considerable 
 expedition to Walcheren, which ended very dis- 
 astrously; but they were successful in other 
 parts of the globe, and in the next year the 
 French were deprived of their last possessions in 
 the East and West Indies. 
 
 Q. What events happened in England worthy 
 of record? 
 
 A. The Prince of Wales was appointed regent, 
 in consequence of the king's incapacity; and Mr. 
 Perceval, the prime minister, was shot, at the en- 
 trance of the House of Commons. 
 
 T. Relate the circumstances that led to the peace 
 of 1814. 
 
 P. Bonaparte invaded Russia with an army of 
 500,000 men, and reached Moscow; but being 
 obliged to retreat, the severity of the climate, 
 and the attacks of the Russians almost annihi- 
 lated his army. 
 
 Q. What were the consequences of this disas- 
 trous expedition ? 
 
 A. Great Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia 
 concluded an alliance, engaging to bring into the 
 field a military force sufficient to crush the danger- 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 85 
 
 cms power of France, and to restore the indepen- 
 dence of the European States. 
 
 Q. "What was the success of this confederation ? 
 
 A. After defeating the French at Leipsic, and 
 in other well-contested battles, the combined 
 troops entered France, and occupied Paris, on the 
 31st of March, 1814. 
 
 Q. How did the French people now act ? 
 
 A. The French Senate appointed a provisional 
 government, and, after obliging Bonaparte to abdi- 
 cate the throne, invited over their legitimate 
 monarch, Louis XVIII. , who was then residing 
 in England. 
 
 Q. What steps were taken with regard to Bona- 
 parte ? 
 
 A. Bonaparte was sent to the island of Elba, 
 of which he was to retain the sovereignty, and to 
 receive a pension of £20,000. 
 
 Q. What circumstances attended the return of 
 peace ? 
 
 A. The return of peace was celebrated with 
 illuminations and rejoicings in every part of the 
 kingdom, and the Emperor of Russia, the King 
 of Prussia, with the veteran generals Blucher 
 and Platoff, took that opportunity of visiting 
 England. 
 
 Q. In what contest was England still engaged ? 
 
 A. The English had been engaged in a war 
 with the United States of America since June, 
 1812, which was carried on with vigor by both 
 parties, by sea and land, until December, 1814. 
 
 Q. What again disturbed the peace of Europe ? 
 
00 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 A. Bonaparte returned from Elba, in May, 1815, 
 and, landing in France, recovered the imperial 
 dignity. 
 
 Q. What measures did the other powers adopt ? 
 
 A. The allies immediately determined to expel the 
 usurper, and having marched their forces to Bel- 
 gium, they were soon opposed by Bonaparte in 
 person. 
 
 Q. What battle took place ? 
 
 A. Bonaparte attacked the British and allied troops 
 at Waterloo, and after a long and bloody conflict, 
 he suffered a memorable defeat, June 18th, 1815. 
 
 Q. What was the consequence of this success ? 
 
 A The allies once more entered France and re- 
 stored Louis XVIII. Bonaparte delivered him- 
 self up to the English, but it was determined by 
 the allied powers that he should be sent to St. 
 Helena, where he remained a prisoner until his 
 death, May 5th, 1821. . 
 
 Q. What events distinguished the year 1816 ? 
 
 A. On the 2d of May of this year, Prince Leo- 
 pold, of Saxe Cobourg, was married to the Prin- 
 cess Charlotte, of Wales ; and in August, Lord 
 Exmouth was sent out with a large fleet against 
 the Algerines, whom he obliged to liberate their 
 European captives, and to abolish forever Chris- 
 tian slavery. 
 
 Q. What was the state of England about this time ? 
 
 A. By the sudden change from war to peace, 
 English commerce, manufactures, and agriculture 
 were seriously affected, and threw multitudes out 
 pf employ. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 87 
 
 Q. Whafc were the consequences of this dis- 
 tress ? 
 
 A. The continued distress of the lower orders 
 produced meetings and combinations in London 
 and other large towns, which finally broke out 
 into seditious outrages. 
 
 Q. What step was taken to stop these disor- 
 ders? 
 
 A. Parliament passed a bill for the suspension 
 of the Habeas Corpus Act, and some of the most 
 active leaders were taken and executed, while 
 others, after having been imprisoned for a con- 
 siderable time, were released on the repeal of the 
 Suspension Bill. 
 
 Q. What calamitous event happened in 1817 ? 
 
 A. On the 6th of November, the Princess Char- 
 lotte, of Wales, died in the 22d year of her 
 age. 
 
 Q. What was the public feeling on this occa- 
 sion? 
 
 A. Her piety, her abilities, her love for her 
 country, and her benevolent and virtuous cha- 
 racter, were the topics of general praise ; her un- 
 timely fate was bewailed as a public calamity; 
 and the day of her funeral was observed in every 
 part of the empire as one of general grief and 
 humiliation. 
 
 Q. What marriages took place ? 
 
 A. The Dukes of Clarence, Kent, and Cam- 
 bridge were united to German princesses; and 
 the Princess Elizabeth was married to the Prince 
 of Hesse Hombourg. 
 
m HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Q. What were the domestic occurrences of the 
 year 1818 ? 
 
 A. The year 1818 was distinguished by a gene- 
 ral election, and the death of Queen Charlotte, 
 who died at Kew, on the 17th of November, in 
 the 75th year of her age. 
 
 Q. What were the political events of this year ? 
 
 A. A meeting of the allied sovereigns was held 
 at Aix-la-Chapelle, and it was agreed that in con- 
 sequence of the tranquil state of the French na- 
 tion, the troops that had been left in France 
 should be recalled; accounts were also received 
 from India that the war there had been brought 
 to a successful issue. 
 
 T. Describe the most remarkable events of 1819. 
 
 JP. On the 16th of August, the inhabitants of 
 Manchester and its neighborhood, assembled to 
 the number of 60,000 persons, headed by Mr. 
 Hunt, a notorious orator at other assemblies ; but 
 the proceedings were hardly commenced when the 
 leaders were arrested, and the yeomanry cavalry 
 being ordered to disperse the people, several lives 
 were lost and many persons were severely wounded. 
 
 Q. What measures were taken to prevent the 
 recurrence of similar tumults? 
 
 A. Several acts of parliament were passed, to 
 prevent tumultuous meetings; Mr. Hunt and 
 others were tried and sentenced to imprisonment; 
 and Sir F. Burdett having written a letter to the 
 inhabitants of Westminster, reflecting in severe 
 terms on the conduct of ministers, was also tried, 
 and the letter declared to be a libel. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 89 
 
 Q. What important events distinguished the 
 commencement of 1820 ? 
 
 A. About the middle of January, his royal 
 highness Edward, Duke of Kent, died of a violent 
 cold ; and on the 29 th of the same month, died 
 George III., in the 82d year of his age, and the 
 60th of his reign, the longest and most glorious 
 in the annals of Britain. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 George the Fourth. 
 
 Q. When was George IV. proclaimed ? 
 
 A. George, Prince of Wales, Regent of the 
 United Kingdom, was proclaimed king on Mon- 
 day, the 31st of January, 1821. 
 
 Q. What event distinguished the commence- 
 ment of this reign ? 
 
 A. On the 23d of February, a conspiracy was 
 formed, by a number of obscure and wretched 
 individuals, for the purpose of assassinating his 
 majesty's ministers ; but being discovered, they 
 were tried and found guilty of high-treason, and 
 Thistle wood with four others suffered death. 
 
 Q. What are the circumstances connected with 
 the trial of the queen ? 
 
 A. The queen, while Princess of Wales, had 
 separated from her husband, and had retired to 
 the continent, where reports were circulated dero- 
 
90 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 gatory to her honor; so that, on her return to 
 England, ministers thought it expedient to insti- 
 tute proceedings, tending to degrade and divorce 
 her majesty. 
 
 Q. What was the result of the trial ? 
 
 A. A Bill of Pains and Penalties was brought 
 into the House of Lords, which, after the evidence 
 had been heard on both sides, was, on the smallness of 
 the majority, on a third reading, finally withdrawn. 
 
 Q. What were the other most remarkable events 
 of his reign ? 
 
 A. During his reign the British carried on a 
 successful war with India ; they also aided the 
 Greeks in their struggle for independence. It 
 was at this time the Catholic Relief Bill passed, 
 by which the disabilities of the Roman Catholics 
 of Great Britain and Ireland were removed. 
 
 Q. When did George IV. die ? 
 
 A. He died at Windsor, on the 26th of June, 
 1830, in the 68th year of his age and the 10th 
 of his.reign. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 William IV and Queen Victoria. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded George IV. ? 
 A. He was succeeded by the Duke of Clarence, 
 his brother, under the title of William IV. 
 Q. What is said of his reign ? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 91 
 
 A. His reign is not distinguished by any action 
 of importance. He died after a short reign of 
 6 years, A. d. 1886. 
 
 Q. By whom was he succeeded ? 
 
 A. WiMiam was succeeded by her present maj esty, 
 Queen Victoria. 
 
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