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ENGLAND IN RHYME: 
 
 OR, 
 
 tjbtonj for tljc jjouttg 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Kings and Qjieens of England. 
 
 , 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 Car/eton, Publisher, 413 Broadway. 
 
 (LATE RUDD & CARLETON.) 
 M DCCC LXII. 
 
 
 
>*; 
 
 & 
 
 6\ 
 
 Entered aocording to Acl of Congress, in the year 1862, by 
 
 GEO. W. CAELETON, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the Districl Court of the United States for the Southern 
 I Hstrict of New York. 
 
 X I W I 
 
 R. CRAIGHEAD, 
 
 Printer, Siereoiyper, and Electrotyper, 
 
 Carton Emitting, 
 
 81, i>3, iinit VS Centre tltreet. 
 
 * * 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The earliest, and at the same time the most attractive lessons 
 taught in the nursery, are bits of biography. As instances we 
 need only mention The Oueen of Hearts, Tom the Piper's 
 Son, Mother Hubbard, Jenny Wren, and Dr. Forster — immortal 
 personages, whose names and deeds are imbedded deep in the strata 
 of memor) . With no vain wish to supersede these worthies, the 
 author, taking a hint from their fame, has endeavored to implant 
 in the mind the germs of real history ; and hence the attempt 
 has been made to connect the names of the Sovereigns of England 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 with some leading historical fact or trait of personal character. 
 These unpolished rhymes have at least one advantage over the 
 most charming fiction. When an inquisitive child pointedly 
 asks its mother if the story is true, she can without hesitation 
 answer — Yes. 
 
I. 
 
 William *♦ 
 
 Born \oi].\ [Began to reign 1066. 
 
 William the I., us the Conqueror known, 
 By the battle of Hastings ascended the throne. 
 His acts were all made in the Norman tongue, 
 And at eight every evening the curfew was rung, 
 When each English subject, by royal desire, 
 Extinguished his candle and put out his fire. 
 He bridled the kingdom with forts round the border, 
 And the Tower of London was built by his order. 
 
 HKeft 1087. 
 
II. 
 ssrtuuim **♦ 
 
 Born 1056.] [Began to reign 1087. 
 
 William styled Rufus, from having red hair, 
 
 Of virtue possessed but a moderate share. 
 
 But though he was one whom we covetous call, 
 
 He built the famed structure, Westminster Hall. 
 
 Walter Tyrrel, his favorite, whilst hunting one day, 
 
 Attempted a deer with an arrow to slay, 
 
 But missing his aim, struck the King to the heart. 
 
 His body was carried away in a cart. 
 
 iUieb 1100. 
 
III. 
 
 Ptettrs *♦ 
 
 Barn 1068.] [Began to reign 1108. 
 
 J\jNG Henry the First, for his learning much tamed, 
 Beauclerc or fine scholar, was justly surnamed; 
 His subjects revered him, and not without cause — 
 He lightened their burdens, restored their old laws, 
 Abolished the curfew, bad money put down. 
 And kindly remitted the dues of the crown. 
 But Henry was frail, and licentious beside, 
 And at last, by a surfeit of lampreys he died. 
 
 Dicb 1133. 
 
IV. 
 Stcpltcu, 
 
 Born 1085.] [Began to reign 1135. 
 
 JVing Henry's demise was no sooner made known 
 Than Stephen contrived to step up to the throne. 
 By arts and by wiles, he the clergy secured, 
 And by popular actions the people allured. 
 And though for a time, through his rival's success, 
 He felt, as a captive, the deepest distress, 
 His fortune once more placed the crown on his brow, 
 And there it continued, till death laid him low. 
 
 Dieb lloi. 
 
V. 
 fJtttnvn X& 
 
 Born 1 132.] [Began to reign 1 1 54. 
 
 iViNG Henry the II., Plantagenet called, 
 In disputes and vexations was sadly enthralled, 
 His consort was jealous, his sons took up arms, 
 Proud Becket, too, filled him with serious alarms ; 
 And when that archbishop had met with his doom, 
 The monarch was scourged by the side of the tomb ; 
 'Hun paving the streets made London look pretty, 
 And houses no longer were thatched in the city. 
 
 IDicb 1180. 
 
VI. 
 Hicltftrti & 
 
 Born 1157.] [Began to reign 1189. 
 
 J\.ing Richard the I. next ascended the throne, 
 Whose valour, no doubt, to the reader is known, 
 With the heart of a lion all danger he faced, 
 And the famous Crusades with his presence he graced, 
 But forced by a storm upon Italy's coast 
 This lover of fighting his liberty lost. 
 Thrice fivt tedious months in confinement he stayed, 
 And then a vast sum for his ransom was paid. 
 
 *Die5 1100. 
 
VII. 
 
 Bom 1 167.] [Began to reign 1 199 
 
 John, sumamed Lackland, 'tis said to his shame, 
 To the Pontiff of Rome a mean vassal became, 
 His barons, indignant, then marshalled their bands, 
 And famed Magna Charta obtained from his hands, 
 But charters and oaths were unable to bind 
 A monarch possessing so treacherous a mind. 
 His standard he raised, and his influence tried, 
 But fever assailed him, he sickened and died. 
 
 HDieb 1216. 
 
VIII. 
 
 Born 1207.] [Began to reign 1216. 
 
 J. hen next in succession was Henry the Third, 
 Who seldom regarded his oath or his word, 
 The sums he exacted he lavishly spent, 
 And showed his profusion wherever he went. 
 His barons at length were in battle arrayed, 
 And Henry, at Lewes, a prisoner was made. 
 But peace was restored after Leicester was slain, 
 And war waxed no more till the end of the reign. 
 
 Dicb 1272. 
 
IX. 
 
 Born 1239.] [Began to reign 1272. 
 
 X he first Edward, called Longchamp, from all that 
 Was very successful, but very severe. [we hear, 
 In Wales and in Scotland his barons he spread, 
 And the blood of their poets and warriors he shed. 
 In London alone, of the Jews, as they say, 
 Two hundred and eighty lie hanged in one day ; 
 But this as an act of stern justice was done, 
 And a Prince the Welsh found in the birth of his son. 
 
 EUcb 1307 
 
Stftmtfr HE. 
 
 Bom 1284.] [Began to reign 1307. 
 
 JXjng Edward the II., Caernarvon surnamed, 
 Was chiefly for follies and suffering famed, 
 His favorites his time and affections engrossed, 
 Till his queen proved untrue, and his sceptre was lost. 
 Depossed and despised, to the Tower he went, 
 And from prison to prison was afterwards sent, 
 There at leisure he mourned over scenes that were past, 
 And by ruffians was cruelly murdered at last. 
 
 Dieb 1327. 
 
XI. 
 
 Bom 1312.] [Began to reign 1327. 
 
 
 i^ or Edward the III., as historians relate, 
 The love and respect of his subjects were great. 
 In France and in Scotland most bravely he fought, 
 And their monarchs to England he prisoners brought. 
 He built Windsor Castle, and writers have stated, 
 The Knights of the Garter by him were created ; 
 To science and merit his name was endeared, 
 And now the reformer, John WicklifFe, appeared. 
 
 Elicb 1377. 
 
XII. 
 liicftavn m. 
 
 Horn 1367.] I Began to reign 1377. 
 
 JAJNG Richard the II., as we have been told, 
 Ascended the throne when eleven years old, 
 Wat Tyler's rebellion he soon overthrew, 
 Yet proved himself weak and impolitic too; 
 His barons took arms and resisted his power, 
 And forced him to seek a retreat in the Tower. 
 His crown he resigned, but resigned it in vain, 
 For in Pontefract Castle poor Richard was slain. 
 
 Die* r*oo. 
 
XIII. 
 liicfmvti ** 
 
 Born 1367.] [Began to reign 1399. 
 
 W hen Richard the II. to prison was driven, 
 To Lancaster's Duke the dominion was given ; 
 But scarcely had Henry been solemnly crowned, 
 When plots and rebellions began to abound; 
 But by vigour and promptitude these were suppressed, 
 And many abuses were partly redressed. 
 In this reign the first blood ot the Lollards was spilt, 
 Famed Whittingham lived and Guildhall was rebuilt. 
 
 Die* 1413. 
 
XIV. 
 Pietirfi ©. 
 
 Bom 1388.] [ Began to reign 1413. 
 
 )l amed Henry the V. next ascended the throne, 
 And soon to the French was his bravery known, 
 Though sick and fatigued, and in numbers but few, 
 His troops were enabled the foe to subdue, 
 On Agincourt's field, which will long live in story, 
 For there British soldiers were covered with glory. 
 Fresh conquests succeeded, but Henry's career 
 Was cut short by grim death in his thirty-fourth year. 
 
XV. 
 
 Bom 1421.] [Began to reign 1422. 
 
 Uf splendour unconscious, to govern unable. 
 King Henry the VI. was a babe in his cradle ; 
 In London and Paris they crowned this poor child. 
 Who, when he grew up, proved weak, merciful, mild ; 
 But weak were his measures and feeble his sway, 
 France was lost, and the English refused to obey; 
 Civil war soon blazed out, plots on plots were disclosed, 
 York triumphed in arms and the king was deposed. 
 
 fllieb m\. 
 
XVI. 
 
 Born 1443.] [Began to reign 1461 
 
 In Edward the IV. a stern king we behold, 
 Of whom many terrible tales have been told ; 
 In the field he was brave, but tyrannic at best, 
 And cruelty held its dire reign in his breast. 
 His legalized murders in history look black, 
 His brother he drowned in a butt ot sweet sack ; 
 For an innocent jest he would chop off a head, 
 And terror prevailed till the tyrant was dead. 
 
XVII. 
 
 Barn 1470.] \_Bcgan to reign 1483. 
 
 I oung Edward the V. was a king but in name, 
 His uncle, regardless of sin and of shame, 
 Both him and his brother deprived of their sight, 
 And caused the poor boys to be smothered at night. 
 In a chest at the foot of the staircase they lay, 
 Till a hundred and ninety-one years rolled away, 
 Then to Westminster Abbey their dust was remove (1, 
 
 As the lines on their monument clearly have proved. 
 
 meb 1483. 
 
XVIII. 
 
 Bom 1450.] [Began to reign 1483. 
 
 1 he monarch called Crookback, or Richard the III., 
 Of whom many tragical stories you've heard, 
 Was sullen, reserved, cruel, treacherous, and base, 
 To England a scourge, and a stain to his race ; 
 Detested he lived, and detested he died, 
 For though brave, he possessed not a virtue beside. 
 At Richmond, near Bosworth, the tyrant was slain, 
 In his thirty-fourth year and the third of his reign. 
 
 Pieb 1183. 
 
XIX. 
 
 Born 1457.] [Began to reign 1485. 
 
 In Henry the VII. and his consort we find 
 The houses of York and Lancaster combined, 
 And though two pretenders laid claim to the crown, 
 Both Simnel and Warbeck were shortly put down. 
 Though Henry loved money, he reared to his fame 
 The beautiful chapel which still bears his name. 
 In his reign the West Indies were likewise found out, 
 And at Richmond, in Surrey, he died of the gout. 
 
 EHeft 1500. 
 
XX. 
 
 Born 1492.] [Began to reign 1509. 
 
 J\ ow comes the Eighth Henry in royal array, 
 The Blue-Beard of England, historians say ; 
 Who by passion incited, or jealousy led, 
 Thought nothing of shortening his wives by a head. 
 Divorces and murders astonished the nation, 
 The monks lost their cash in the new reformation; 
 Great Cardinal Wolsey was left in the lurch, [church. 
 And the King lived and died supreme head of the 
 
XXI. 
 
 Bom 1537.] [Began to reign 1547. 
 
 IS^iNG Edward the VI., when but nine years of age, 
 Ascended the throne with the mind of a sage ; 
 The Latin and French he could fluently speak, 
 And understood Spanish, Italian, and Greek ; [ed, 
 He founded Christ's Hospital, crowns were first coin- 
 And half crowns beside, as in history we find, 
 He favoured the cause of the great reformation, 
 But died at sixteen, to the grief of the nation. 
 
 5Dte5 1553. 
 
XXII. 
 JWavK 
 
 Bom 1516.] [Began to reign 1553. 
 
 In Mary, the consort of Philip, was seen 
 A furious bigot, a merciless queen. 
 The Duke of Northumberland, Lady Jane Gray 
 And her lord, to the scaffold were all led away; 
 And Ridley, and Cranmer, and Latimer died 
 As martyrs, with hundreds of subjects beside ; 
 But Heaven interposed bleeding England to save, 
 And Mary, detested, sank into her grave. 
 
 EDicb 1558. 
 
XXIII. 
 £lifjttetft« 
 
 Born 1533.] [Began to reign 1558. 
 
 XLlizabeth next had a glorious reign, 
 She aided the Protestants, humbled proud Spain; 
 The boasted Armada her warriors o'erthrew, 
 And its spoils in the Tower our readers may view. 
 But Scotia^ unfortunate queen claims a sigh, 
 And Essex, the favorite, was sentenced to die. 
 The Royal Exchange was now built, it is said, 
 And gunpowder, first, by the English was made. 
 
XXIV. 
 $amm & 
 
 Bom 1556.] [Began to reign 1603. 
 
 I ames the L, who in learning and hunting delighted, 
 The crowns of old England and Scotland united ; 
 And though in the air he was doomed to be blown, 
 He found out the plot, and remained on the throne. 
 In this reign a translation of Scriptures was made, 
 His foes the great Raleigh to ruin betrayed. 
 The New River to town from Hertford was brought, 
 And whales on the coast of Greenland were caught. 
 
 H3ieb 1625. 
 
XXV. 
 
 Born 1600.] \Bcgan to reign 1625. 
 
 vjharles the I. to prerogative strongly inclined, 
 Involved in a civil commotion we find. 
 He fought and he struggled, but all proved in vain, 
 His son was made prisoner, his forces were slain. 
 The Parliament triumphed, the King was deposed, 
 And a scaffold the scene of his sufferings closed. 
 Though Littleton says, who his history penned, 
 He excelled as a husband, a father, a friend. 
 
XXVI. 
 ©Ittirr CromtucU. 
 
 Born 1599.] [Made Protector 1653. 
 
 Insidious and crafty, though brave without doubt, 
 Was Cromwell, who turned the Long Parliament out, 
 Who the government into a commonwealth framed, 
 And Protector of England was solemnly named. 
 But though his ambition was crowned with success, 
 His life was embittered by anxious distress. 
 And when he expired such a hurricane blew, 
 As never was witnessed by me or by you. 
 
 mcb 1658. 
 
XXVII. 
 
 Born 1630.] [Began to reign 1660, 
 
 W iiile Cromwell was styled Protector at home, 
 Charles the II. was doomed as an exile to roam. 
 But when Oliver died, by consent of the nation, 
 General Monk soon effected the King's restoration. 
 In this reign the Great Fire of London occurred, 
 And Blood stole the crown from the Tower I've heard. 
 The Thames was so frozen that coaches plied there, 
 And booths were erected, resembling a fair. 
 
XXVIIL 
 3umt* M. 
 
 Bom 1633.] [Began to reign 1685. 
 
 I ames the II. had scarcely ascended the throne, 
 When his folly and bigotry both were made known, 
 The Protestant faith he resolved to o'erthrow, 
 And did by degrees, all a tyrant can do. 
 The brave Duke of Monmouth attempted in vain, 
 The nation to rouse, and their rights to regain ; 
 But William of Orange more fortunate proved, 
 And the bigoted Prince from the kingdom removed. 
 
 ^bMcaieb 1688. 
 
XXIX. 
 William XKX. 
 
 Bom 1650.] [Began to reign 1689. 
 
 vJTreat William, judicious, sagacious, and brave, 
 Came forward Great Britain to succor and save ; 
 And Britons by feelings of gratitude led. 
 Placed the crown on the great deliverer's head. 
 With Mary his consort he happily reigned, 
 And in battle fresh laurels he constantly gained. 
 The famed Bank of England now first claimed atren- 
 And historians now the first bayonets mention, [tion, 
 
 mch 1702. 
 
XXX. 
 <Stuccu &nue« 
 
 Born 1664.] \Begcin to reign 1702. 
 
 VJreat Anne, who commanders of merit employed. 
 A series of glorious successes enjoyed, 
 And spite of all fears and all factions beside, 
 Truly honored she lived, and lamented she died. 
 In this reign the fine mansion of Blenheim was raised 
 For Marlborough's Duke, so deservedly praised. 
 And now flourished Swift, Arbuthnot, and Rowe, 
 With Bolingbroke, Pope, and more than you know. 
 
 Dab MW 
 
XXXI. 
 
 Born 1660.] [Began to reign 1714. 
 
 vJeorge the I., as Elector of Hanover known, 
 Succeeded illustrious Anne on the throne ; 
 And acted so prudently in his new station, 
 As to gain the respect and esteem of the nation. 
 Now Parliament men were for seven years elected, 
 The South Sea delusion was formed and detected. 
 To prevent small-pox a new method was tried, 
 And the King on a journey at Osnaburgh died. 
 
 Dieb 1727. 
 
XXXII. 
 
 Born 1683.] [Began to reign 1727. 
 
 VJEORGEthe II., though plain in his mode of address, 
 Swayed the sceptre of Britain with brilliant success ; 
 His virtues more useful than splendid appeared, 
 But his justice was spotless, his name was revered. 
 .Rebellion was crushed, and good order maintained, 
 Whilst by sea and by land many victories he gained. 
 The British Museum now opened to view, [new. 
 And the Old Style was changed, in this reign, for the 
 
 IDieb 17o0. 
 
XXXIII. 
 (Scorfit EKE 
 
 Born 1738.] [Began to reign 1760. 
 
 VJeorge the III. of his people the father and friend, 
 Acted well through his reign from beginning to end. 
 When the French revolution astonished the world, 
 And kings from their thrones were rapidly hurled, 
 Unappalled by the storm, every danger he braved, 
 And by firmness his kingdom from anarchy saved. 
 His reign was extended, let Heaven have the praise, 
 To fifty-nine years, three months, and four days. 
 
 Witt 1820. 
 
XXXIV. 
 (SJtovflt EfflT. 
 
 Born 1762.] [Began to reign 1820. 
 
 vTeorge the IV., when his patriot father was gone, 
 By right of succession ascended the throne ; 
 To Hanover, Ireland, and Scotland he went, 
 Where his time and his money he cheerfully spent ; 
 Famed Windsor's old castle, this monarch repaired, 
 And near Buckingham Gate a new palace he reared. 
 
 EHefc 1830. 
 
XXXV. 
 WiUinm m. 
 
 Born 1765.] [Began to reign 1830. 
 
 X hen William the IV. took his seat on the throne, 
 With his excellent queen, for he ruled not alone ; 
 When round him arose the political storm, 
 He braved the rude billows and granted reform. 
 His reign was but short, but the heart in his breast, 
 Gathered round him the bravest, and wisest, and best. 
 And on Britain's broad banner his name is unfurled, 
 As a King of old England, and friend of the world. 
 
 EHcb 1837. 
 
XXXVI. 
 Victoria* 
 
 Born 1819.] [Began to reign 1837. 
 
 1 he Princess Victoria, when only eighteen, 
 Took her seat on the throne of old England as Queen. 
 Ye Britons ! with virtue and valour attend, 
 Be prompt to uphold her and strong to defend. 
 May justice and mercy, and goodness and truth, 
 Like a sunbeam adorn the bright brow of her youth. 
 May oppression beneath her mild sceptre bow down, 
 And her heart find delight in her country's renown. 
 

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