LECTURE FIRST COMPRISING FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE DEATH OF KING JOHN. Introductory Remarks. - The Britons in the Earliest Times. Where did the Britons come from? - Manners and Customs of the Ancient Britons. Their Agriculture and Religion. — Roman Invasion.- The Effects of the Roman Invasion.-Arrival of the Saxons.-Where did the Saxons come from? - Ethelbert, King of Kent.-Invasion of the Danes.-Reign of King Alfred.—The Danish Kings.-The English People and Language spring mainly from the Anglo-Saxon Race. -Division of England into Shires, Parishes, Hundreds, &c. -Edward the Confessor.-WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR - Domesday Book. WILLIAM Rurus. The Crusades.- HENRY THE FIRST. STEPHEN. -HENRY THE SECOND.- RICHARD THE FIRST.- Massacre of the Jews. Richard as a Crusader.- King JOHN. MY FRIENDS, Introductory Remarks. ductory I am told that you wish to hear Lectures on IntroHistory, and above all on English History. I shall, Remarks. therefore, do my best to relate to you the History of England, from the earliest times till now, in such a way as will interest as well as instruct you. I shall try to avoid loading your minds with events of little importance, but I shall also try not to omit any which you ought to know. To tell everything would be impossible, but I hope to give you such a knowledge of the great events which have happened in England, as will help you to understand what was done by your forefathers. When you know how your forefathers lived, you will, I believe, be Introductory Remarks. more contented with your present lot. I do not wish that you should rest idly contented, without trying or wishing to better yourselves. That is the last thing I should wish, and you will see that your forefathers did not thus act. But when you learn that the comforts we now all of us enjoy every day, were quite unknown even to kings and nobles in old times, you will feel you have much to be thankful for. When you learn that the liberty we now possess was not won without many a fierce struggle, you will be proud of those noble men who gained for us the victory. You will learn, too, that it is only by slow degrees that we have improved; and, therefore, while still struggling for improvement, you will not be impatient because there is no magician's wand to realise in one moment all that you desire. It is a glorious subject that I have in hand- The History of England, the history of our own country. Who among you will not feel his heart glow in listening to such a theme? Who among you is not proud of being an Englishman? Who among you does not wish to know the history of his forefathers?—the history of those men who have built up an empire on which, it is truly said, the sun never sets? an empire greater and more glorious than any which ever existed; than any which now exists; and which, if we only, each one and every one, strive mightily for that which is right, will (we may fairly hope) last as great and as glorious, or become even greater and more glorious, through ages yet to come. The Britons in the Earliest Times. I intend to begin with the earliest times, for I believe the history will be clearer to you if I start from |