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 EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESET ..tons I 8 
 
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 [an Con quest, A.D. 1066. 
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 SOLYROOD-ifSoSE, SOUTH " "" * " " " \1 \ 
 
 » lo 
 
 Danish Conquest, A. D. / 
 
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 FOURTH AMERICA' /25 
 
 S. III. 
 
 ~to the Accession of Henry IV, 
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 2 »3 
 IS 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 H 
 
 I 
 
 BOOK L 
 
 From the Invasion of Julius Ccesar, 55 Years before Christ, to the 
 Arrival of the Saxons, A. D. 449. 
 
 CHAP. PAGE 
 
 I. Of the Ancient Britons ------ 5 
 
 II. Religion and Government of the Ancient Britons - 8 
 
 III. The Roman Invasion - - - - - 10 
 
 IV. Britain a Roman Province - - . - - 11" 
 V. The Departure of the Romans - - - - - 13 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 From the Arrival of the Saxons to the Norman Conquest, A. D. 1066. 
 
 I. The Saxon Heptarchy ------15 
 
 II. The Kingdom of England founded by Egbert, A. D. / 
 
 827 - - - - - - - - - 17 / 
 
 III. Alfred the Great, A. D. 872 18 
 
 IV. The Saxon Monarchy till the Danish Conquest, A. D. / 
 
 1014 - - - - m 
 
 V. The Danes in England *- - - - 
 
 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 -. - - - - 28 
 
 II. William II.— Henry I.— Stephen - - - - 30 
 
 III. Henry II. - - - 83 
 
 IV. Richard I. - - - - , - - - - 35 
 V. John s*( . 
 
 VI. Henry III. 
 
 VII. Edward I. / 
 
 VIII. Edward II. - - - 
 
 IX. Edward HI. 
 
 X. Richard II. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 From the Accession of Henry IV. to the Accession of Henry VII. 
 A. D. 1485. 
 
 CHAP. PAGE 
 
 I. Hi'nrylV. 47 
 
 II. Henry V. --_.---- 49 
 
 HI. Henry VI. 51 
 
 IV. Edward IV 53 
 
 V. Edward V. 55 
 
 VI. Richard HI. - - - - - - - - 56 
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 From the Accession of Henry VII. to the Beheading of Charles I. 
 A. D. 1649. 
 
 I. Henry VII. 58 
 
 II. Henrv VIII. 60 
 
 III. Edward VI. -------- 62 
 
 IV. Mary 63 
 
 V. Elizabeth - ,- -65 
 
 VI. James I. --..-... 67 
 VII. Charles I. - 69 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 Frmn ihe Formation of the Commonwealth to the Accession of the 
 Hotter of Brunswick. A.I). 1714. 
 
 I. The Commonwealth ------ 71 
 
 II. Charles II. 73 
 
 Hi. Jame* II. 75 
 
 IV. WiJIiam III. and Mary II. - - 76 
 
 V. Anne ---------. 78 
 
 BOOK VII. 
 
 From, the Accession of the House of Brunswick to the present Time. 
 
 \ •,.!. George I. 80 
 
 II. Georsje II. - - ' - - - - - - 82 
 
 ill. George III. ',-,.; - 85' 
 
 iVl iieorgelV. -'"."- - - - - - - 95 
 
 
CATECHISM 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 BOOK I. 
 
 FROM THE INVASION OF JULIUS CJESAR, FIFTY- 
 FIVE YEARS BEFORE CHRIST, TO THE ARRI- 
 VAL OF THE SAXONS, A. D.* 449. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Of the Ancient Britons. 
 
 Q. What was the origin of the first inha- 
 bitants of England ? 
 
 A. England appears to have been peopled 
 by migrations from the opposite coasts of Gaul, 
 the earliest of which took place about 1000 
 years before the birth of our Saviour. 
 
 Q. What name was given to the country 1 
 
 A. The first name of this island was Albion, 
 from its white cliffs ; and afterward Britain, 
 from a Celtic word denoting separation. 
 
 *A. D. Anno Domim, in the year of our Lot}, 
 
 A3 J 
 
6 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 T. Describe the persons of the ancient Bri- 
 tons. 
 
 P. The ancient Britons were remarkable 
 for their size and strength, and for the fair- 
 ness of their complexions. They stained their 
 skins with woad, which made it of a blue co- 
 lour, and drew upon their bodies the figures of 
 diff rent animals. 
 
 Q. What was their general character % 
 
 A. The ancient Britons were acute, inge- 
 nious, valorous in war, and great lovers of li- 
 berty; they were fond of feasting, and hospi- 
 tality was one of their most shining virtues. 
 
 Q. What was their dress 1 
 
 A. The dress of the ancient Britons con- 
 sisted 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 per- 
 sons % 
 
 A. The ancient Britons prided themselves 
 on the length and beauty of their hair, which 
 they permitted to flow upon their backs and 
 shoulders, but they shaved all their beard, ex- 
 cept 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 
 became more sociable, and enclosed a large 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 7 
 
 circuit with felled trees, within which they built 
 their slight habitations. 
 
 Q. What were their occupations ? 
 
 A. The principal occupations of the Bri- 
 tons were hunting, pasturage, agriculture, and 
 war. 
 
 Q. What was their food 1 
 
 A. The Britons for a long time lived on the 
 produce 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, with hay, or the skin of some ani- 
 mal, under them ; they used no knives or forks, 
 but tore the meat with their teeth, and drank 
 out of the horns of oxen or other animals. 
 
 
8 CATECHISM OF TH& 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Religion and Government of the ancient 
 Britons. 
 
 Q,. What was the religion of the ancient 
 Britons 1 
 
 A. The ancient Britons were idolaters, 
 worshipping 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 demoiv ^d ^ ne immortality of 
 the soul. 
 
 Q. Who were the ministers of religion 
 among the Britons ? 
 
 A. The prbsts of the ancient Britons were 
 called Druids ; they were chosen from the 
 best families, and enjoyed the highest honours 
 and privileges. 
 
 Q. What was their mode of life 1 
 
 A. The Druids lived in woods, caves, and 
 hollow trees ; their food was acorns and ber- 
 ries, and their drink water. They instructed 
 youth in the principles of religion, as well as 
 in astronomy, geometry, and natural philo- 
 sophy. 
 
 Q. What else do you observe of the religion 
 of the Britons'? 
 
 A. The Britons never worshipped their gods 
 under any roof, but in groves of oak, within 
 which was a circular enclosure of large stones 
 set perpendicular in the earth. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 9 
 
 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 in- 
 dependent 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 common consent, and to him was intrusted 
 the care of the general interest. 
 
 Q. What is remarkable of their mode of 
 warfar ? 
 
 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. 
 
 * A Patriarchal government is that in which the fathers 
 or heads of famiiie-s direct and govern their children and other 
 relations ; and this appears to have been the earliest mode of 
 dominion, being founded on the natural authority of the parent. 
 
10 CATECHISM OP THE 
 
 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 
 conquered the warlike nations of Gaul, became 
 ambitious of adding Britain also to the Ro- 
 man empire ; he therefore prepared to invade 
 it, assuming^ as a pretext, the assistance which 
 the Britons had given 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 Do- 
 ver ; but seeing the cliffs covered with armed 
 men, he sailed as far as Deal, where he landed 
 with very little opposition. 
 
 Q. What circumstance is worthy of remark 
 at their landing 1 
 
 A. The ships of Caesar not being able to 
 come close to the shore, the soldiers hesitated 
 to encounter at once the waves and the brave 
 natives, till induced by a standard bearer, who 
 cried aloud, " Follow me, fellow soldiers, 
 
 * The Romans, so called from Rome their capital, were a 
 people in the south of Italy, who by their discipline and valour 
 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 annihilated by the in- 
 roads of northern barbarians. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 11 
 
 Unless you will betray the Roman eagle into 
 the hands of the enemy ; for my part, I am 
 determined to discharge my duty to Caesar and 
 the commonwealth." 
 
 Q. What was the result of this expedition ] 
 
 A. The Britons having fought several un- 
 successful battles, were obliged to sue for 
 peace, which Caesar granted them, and re- 
 turned to Gaul. 
 
 Q. Did Caesar again return to Britain ? 
 
 A. The ensuing year Caesar returned with a 
 numerous army, and although opposed by the 
 natives, was successful in compelling them to 
 pay tribute, and to give hostages. 
 
 Q. To what cause is the easy progress of 
 the Romans ascribed ? 
 
 A. At the time of the invasion, the Bri- 
 tons had chosen Cassibelaunus for their com- 
 mander-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 Cassibelaunus was obliged 
 to propose terms of peace. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Britain a Roman Province, 
 Q. When did the Romans next invade Bri- 
 tain ? 
 A. The tribute imposed by Caesar was never 
 
12 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 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 pri- 
 soner, and the latter entirely defeated.* 
 
 Q. Were the Romans ultimately success- 
 ful? 
 
 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. 
 
 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 
 
 * The observation of Caractacus, as he was led in triumph 
 through the streets of Home, is vtry memorable. " How is it 
 poasi'ble," cried he, "that a people possessed of such magnifi- 
 cence at home, should envy Caractacus an humble cottage in 
 Britain."— Boadicea, after her defeat, disdained to survive the 
 liberties of her country, and put an end to her life by poison. 
 
HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 13 
 
 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 aban- 
 don Britain ? 
 
 A. The Roman empire being overrun with 
 barbarians, 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, passed the 
 walls with little difficulty, and filled the country 
 with slaughter and desolation. 
 
 Q. How did the Britons act in this emer- 
 gency ? 
 
 A. The Britons having in vain applied to 
 the Romans for assistance, at length agreed to 
 call in two powerful Saxon chiefs, HengUt 
 and Horsa, to defend them against the inva- 
 ders. 
 
 Q. Who were the Saxons *? 
 
 A. The Saxons were a warlike people in- 
 habiting the north of Germany, where they 
 B 
 
14 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 had rendered themselves formidable by their 
 strength and valour, 
 
 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 unfashioned 
 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 thun- 
 derer, or ruler of the air ; Frea, the wife of 
 Odin, and goddess of love ; and Seater, the 
 god of trade and husbandry. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 15 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 FROM THE ARRIVAL OF THE SAXONS TO THE 
 NORMAN CONQUEST. A D. 1066, 
 
 CHAPTETR 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 de- 
 feated them, were rewarded with large pos- 
 sessions in the land which they had delivered. 
 
 Q. What was their subsequent conduct *? 
 
 A. The Saxons, finding Britain much 
 more fertile and alluring than their own re- 
 sidence, came over in great numbers ; and, 
 conscious of their superior valour, thought 
 of conquering the country for themselves. 
 
 Q. Were they finally successful ] 
 
 A. After a violent struggle of nearly 150 
 yearsj the Saxons subdued the whole of South 
 Britain, except Wales and Cornwall, and es- 
 tablished the seven kingdoms called the Saxoa 
 Heptarchy. 
 
16 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 Q. What were their names ? 
 
 A. The kingdoms which composed the 
 Saxon Heptarchy were Kent, Sussex, Wes- 
 sex, East Anglia, Mercia, Essex, and North- 
 umberland. 
 
 Q. Who were the most celebrated for their 
 opposition to the Saxons 1 
 
 A. The princes who made the noblest 
 stand against the Saxons were Vortimer, Am- 
 brosius, and the celebrated King Arthur, who 
 was killed A. D. 546. 
 
 Q. What was the effect of this conquest on 
 the state of Britain 1 
 
 A. By the conquest of the Saxons the 
 whole southern part of the island, except 
 Wales and Cornwall, changed its inhabitants, 
 language, and customs; Christianity, litera- 
 ture, and the arts, which the Romans had 
 introduced, were extirpated, and idolatry, 
 darkness, 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 powe; of 
 Egbert, king of Wessex. 
 
HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 17 
 
 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 pru- 
 dence and moderation with which he regulated 
 his infant monarchy. 
 
 Q. What are the most remarkable occur- 
 rences in his reign ? 
 
 A. In the reign of Egbert the Danes be- 
 came 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 
 conducted? 
 
 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, 
 goods, cattle, and women, so that the whole 
 kingdom was kept in continual alarm. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Egbert ] 
 
 A. To Egbert succeeded his son Ethel- 
 wolf, who, possessing neither the valour nor 
 B2 
 
18 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 abilities of his father, was unable to resist the 
 renewed and more formidable irruptions of 
 the Danes. 
 
 Q. Who were the succeding sovereigns'? 
 
 A. The successors of Ethel wolf were Ethel- 
 bald, a very wicked prince, Ethelbert, and 
 Etbelred. 
 
 Q. What progress had the Danes by this 
 time made in the kingdom 1 
 
 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 Eng- 
 land. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Alfred the Great, a. d. 871—901. 
 
 Q. Under what circumstances did Alfred 
 commence his reign 1 
 
 A. Ethelred having fallen in opposing the 
 Danes, Alfred succeeded at 22 years of age, 
 and 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 ? 
 
 A. Alfred having restored confidence among 
 his subjects, harrassed the Danes with such 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 19 
 
 vigour, that they agreed to evacuate the 
 kingdom ; but being reinforced, the English 
 submitted, after various struggles, and Al- 
 fred was obliged to conceal himself in dis- 
 guise.* 
 
 Q. How long did he remain inactive ? 
 
 A. Alfred had been hardly a twelvemonth in 
 his retreat, when he heard that the Earl of De- 
 vonshire 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 dis- 
 guise of a harper, and having observed their 
 careless security, he rejoined his followers, and 
 leading them against the enemy 5 gained a com- 
 plete 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 con- 
 dition that they should embrace Christianity, 
 to which they submitted, and retired peaceably 
 to their new possessions. 
 
 Q. What were the consequences of this vic- 
 tory ? 
 
 * The place of Alfred's retreat was in the island of Athelney, 
 at the confluence of the rivers Parret and Thone, in Somerset- 
 shire. 
 
20 CATECHISM OP THE 
 
 A. England being now at peace, Alfred set 
 about rebuilding the ruined cities, and bringing 
 the minds of men back to industry, religion, 
 and justice. 
 
 Q. What measures did he adopt for this pur- 
 pose ? 
 
 A. Alfred divided the kingdom into shires, 
 or counties, established a regular militia, and 
 guarded the coasts with a powerful navy : he 
 also founded the university of Oxford, and es- 
 tablished the mode of trial by jury, the greatest 
 security of our liberties. 
 
 Q. When did he die 1 
 
 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 Saxon Monarchy till the Danish conquest, 
 a. d. 1014. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Alfred the Great ? 
 A. Alfred was succeeded by his only sur- 
 
HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 21 
 
 viving son Edward, who, inheriting the military- 
 genius of his father, suppressed the insurrec- 
 tions of the Danes and Northumbrians ; he 
 reigned 24 years, and was succeeded by Athel- 
 stan, his natural son. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of Athelstan 1 
 
 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, employing his talents in the internal re- 
 gulation of his kingdom.* 
 
 Q. By whom was he succeeded 1 
 
 A. On the death of Athelstan, his brother 
 Edmund ascended the throne, and distinguished 
 himself by his vigilance and sagacity ; his reign, 
 however, was but short, being stabbed by Leolf, 
 a robber, a. d. 946. 
 
 Q. What are the most remarkable occur- 
 rences of the succeeding reign ] 
 
 A. Edmund was succeeded by his brother 
 Edred, who, after bravely crushing a rebel- 
 lion of the Northumbrian Danes, became the 
 slave of superstition, being implicitly directed 
 in all things by Dunstan, abbot of Glaston- 
 bury. 
 
 Q. What was the character of his suc- 
 cessor? 
 
 * 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. 
 
22 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 A. Edwy, the late king's nephew, who as- 
 cended the throne, was a prince of a martial 
 disposition, and of great personal accomplish- 
 ments : his reign is remarkable for the outrages 
 and cruelties which, under the influence -of a 
 degrading bigotry, were committed upon the 
 person of his beautiful, but unfortunate queen 
 Elgiva. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of King Edgar? 
 
 A. Edgar was only thirteen years of age 
 when he received the crown, but soon rendered 
 himself formidable by a powerful army and 
 navy : his reign was very tranquil, and distin- 
 guished only by his amours, and by the extir- 
 pation of wolves in England.* 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Edgar 1 
 
 A. Edgar was succeeded by his son Ed- 
 ward, surnamed the Martyr, from his having 
 been murdered 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 irre- 
 solution, acquired the surname of Unready; 
 .the Danes, taking advantage of his incapa- 
 city, renewed their depredations, and to get 
 rid of them the king agreed to pay them 
 10,0QQL 
 
 * Edgar effected this by changing the tribute money, which 
 had been imposed upon the Welch princes by Athelstan, into aa 
 annual tribute of 300 wolves' heads. 
 
HISTORY OF EtftfLAND. 23 
 
 Q. What barbarous act did Ethel red after- 
 ward instigate towards the Danes ? 
 
 A. In the year 1002 the King ordered the 
 massacre of all Danish troops throughout his 
 dominions ; but the populace, instigated by 
 the recollection of former injuries, did not 
 distinguish between innocence and guilt, and 
 spared neither age nor sex. 
 
 Q. What was the consequence of this hor- 
 rid deed 1 
 
 A. This perfidious conduct served only to 
 enrage the Danish king, Svveyn, who, in 1013, 
 obliged Ethelred and his family to flee to Nor- 
 mandy, a province of France, and was himself 
 acknowledged king of England. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Danes in England. 
 
 Q. How long did Sweyn enjoy the throne 5 
 and what event followed his death ? 
 
 A. Sweyn survived his exaltation to the 
 throne of England but a few weeks, and 
 Ethelred was recalled by the nobles and pre- 
 lates. 
 
 Q. By whom was he .opposed ] 
 
 A. Ethelred soon found Canute, the son and 
 successor of Svveyn, as formidable an enemy 
 
24 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 as his father, and dying soon after, left his 
 throne to his son Edmund, surnamed Ironside, 
 from his hardy valour. 
 
 Q. What was the character of Edmund ? 
 
 A. Edmund distinguished himself by his 
 fortitude, prudence, and generosity ; but his 
 abilities and courage, though great, were un- 
 able 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, 
 Edmund was treacherously murdered at Ox- 
 ford, and Canute was left in peaceable posses- 
 sion of the whole kingdom. 
 
 Q. What do you remark of the reign of 
 Canute ? 
 
 A. Although the beginning of Canute's do- 
 minion was marked with severity and oppres- 
 sion, he afterward acquired the confidence of 
 the English government 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 
 troopsj added Norway to his Danish dominions, 
 and having compelled Malcolm, king of Scot- 
 land, to do him homage, he became the most 
 powerful monarch of his time, and was* ho- 
 noured with the surname of Great. 
 
HISTORY OP ENGLAND. Z 
 
 Q. Who was his successor 1 
 
 A. Canute was succeeded on the English 
 throne by his son Harold, of whom nothing 
 memorable is recorded. 
 
 Q. Who next filled the throne 1 
 
 A. The successor of Harold was Hardi- 
 canute, a degenerate prince, who lost the af- 
 fections of his subjects by his cruelty, avarice, 
 and intemperance. He died of a debauch, 
 A. D. 1041, and was the last of the Danish 
 kings. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The Saxon line restored. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Hardicanute 1 
 
 A. Upon the death of Hardicanute, Edward, 
 the son of Ethelred, was called to the throne 
 by the universal consent of the nation. He 
 was a great benefactor to the church, and by 
 means of such generosity, as well as by his 
 piety, he obtained the title of Saint, or Con- 
 fessor. 
 
 Q. What do you remark of his reign ? 
 
 A. The partiality shown by Edward to the 
 Normans occasioned a powerful insurrection, 
 which ended in the suppression of foreign in- 
 fluence. He died after a peaceable reign of 
 C 
 
28 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 25 years, without issue, and without appointing' 
 a successor. 
 
 Q. By whom was he succeeded 1 
 
 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 Arch- 
 bishop of York the day after Edward's death. 
 
 Q. What was the character of Harold ? 
 
 A. Harold was a valiant, virtuous, and en- 
 terprising 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 con- 
 tended by William, Duke of Normandy, who 
 pretended that the kingdom had been be- 
 queathed to him by Edward 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, Wil- 
 liam landed a powerful army of 60,000 men at 
 Pevensey, in Sussex ; Harold hastened to op- 
 pose him, and in the battle of Hastings bravely 
 fell in the defence of his crown. — This san- 
 
 * Earl Goodwin was a popular English nobleman of Saxon 
 descen*, and nearly allied to the royal family. He was the 
 most powerful subject in the kingdom, and with his son Harold 
 had the chief direction of affairs during the reign of the Con- 
 fessor. 
 
History of England. 27 
 
 guinary battle lasted from day-break till sun-set, 
 and the victory was disputed with equal bravery 
 on both sides. At length the Normans, feign- 
 ing a retreat, drew the English into the plain, 
 and suddenly facing about, drove them back 
 with great slaughter. They however main- 
 tained the contest with vigour, 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, and 
 the victorious Normans returned thanks to 
 Heaven on the field of battle. 
 
28 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST TO THE ACCES- 
 SION 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 
 English throne was called the Conqueror, was 
 the natural son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, 
 to whose title he succeeded, and early distin- 
 guished 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 
 proceeded 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 condition 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 the usual oath to observe the laws of 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 29 
 
 the realm, and to govern the people with mo 
 deration. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of his reign ? 
 
 A. 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 rigour, divided almost all the 
 lands among his followers, and established the 
 curfew-bell.* 
 
 Q. W T hat were the other occurrences of this 
 reign 1 
 
 A. William introduced the feudal system 
 and attempted to abolish the English lan- 
 guage ; he also caused the New Forest to be 
 laid out, and Doomsday Bookf to be compiled. 
 
 Q. What was the cause of his death ? 
 
 A. William having gone over to Normandy 
 to quell an insurrection of This sons, excited 
 by the King of France, died at Mantis, from 
 a bruise which he received on horseback, in 
 the 63d year of his age, and the 21st of his 
 reign over England. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary 
 with William the Conqueror ? 
 
 * 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 candies. 
 
 t 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. 
 
 C2 
 
30 CATECHISM OP THE 
 
 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. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 William II. — Henry I. — Stephen. 
 a. d. 1087—1155. 
 
 Q. By whom was William the Conqueror 
 succeeded 1 
 
 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 Dutchy of Normandy from his elder bro- 
 ther Robert, repelled the invasions of the 
 Welsh, and obliged Malcolm, King of Scot- 
 land, 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 glancing from a tree, struck 
 him to the heart, A. D. 1100, in the 40th yeai 
 of his age, and the 13th of his reign. 
 Q. Who next ascended the throne? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 31 
 
 A. William having' no sons, his brother 
 Henry, who had been hunting with him at the 
 time of his death, secured the royal trea- 
 sure at Winchester, and hastened to London, 
 where he wassolemnly crowned three days after, 
 although his elder brother 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 peo- 
 ple my 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. Henry deprived his brother Robert of 
 the Dutchy of Normandy, and detained him a 
 prisoner above 27 years, till his death ; he 
 afterward engaged in a successful war with 
 Fiance, but had the misfortune to lose his only 
 son William, who was drowned in his passage 
 from that country. 
 
 Q. What occasioned his death ? 
 
 A. Henry died in Normandy, from eating 
 too plentifully of lampreys, in the 67th year of 
 his age, and the 35th year of his reign, having 
 settled the succession upon his daughter Ma- 
 tilda, and her infant son Henry.* 
 
 * Matilda or Maud was first married to Henry V; emperor 
 of Germany, and afterwards to Geoffrey Plantagcnet, earl 
 of Anjou, by the latter of whom she had three sons. 
 
S3 'catechism op the 
 
 Q. What was the character of Henry 1. 1 
 
 A. Heni7, 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 inde- 
 lible stain on his character. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Henry I. ? 
 
 A. On the death of Henry, the crown was 
 seized by Stephen, Count of Blois, who by 
 means of his brother, the Bishop of Winches- 
 ter, gained the clergy to his interests, and got 
 himself acknowledged by the barons by increas- 
 ing their privileges. 
 
 Q, By whom was he opposed 1 
 
 A. 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 
 1141. 
 
 Q. How did Matilda conduct herself in her 
 elevation ? 
 
 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. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 33 
 
 Q. How did this contest terminate 1 
 A. Henry the son of Matilda, came over 
 to England to renew the contest ; but Eus- 
 tace, Stephen's only son, dying, it was agreed 
 that Stephen should enjoy the crown during 
 his life, and that Henry should inherit the 
 kingdom at his death. 
 
 Q. How long did Stephen survive this trans- 
 action] 
 
 A. Stephen enjoyed the crown in peace 
 aboul a year, and died at Canterbury, A. D. 
 1154, after a turbulent reign of 19 years. 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns 1 
 A. The contemporary sovereigns were 
 Louis VI. and Louis VII., of France; Lo- 
 thaire II. Conrad III., and Frederick I., of 
 Germany ; and Edgar, Alexander, and David, 
 kings of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 HOUSE OF PLANTAGENET. 
 
 Henrxj the Second, a. d. 1155 — 1190. 
 
 Q. What were the first acts of Henry's ad- 
 ministration. 
 
 A. Henry the Second began his reign by 
 correcting the abuses that had crept into the 
 
34 CATECHISM OF 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 mo- 
 narch ? 
 
 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, Bri- 
 ianny, Anjou, Gienne ; Poictou, Maine, &c, 
 and afterward added Ireland to his domin- 
 ions. 
 
 Q. What was the cause of his death ? . 
 
 A. Henry is said to have died of a broken 
 heart, caused by the repeated rebellions of 
 his sons ; having maintained till the last the 
 reputation of the greatest prince of his age for 
 wisdom, valour, and abilities. 
 
 Q. What is the most remarkable event in 
 his reign 1 
 
 A. The most remarkable event is the as- 
 sassination of Thomas-a-Becket, Archbishop 
 of Canterbury, who haviBg raised disturb- 
 ances in the kingdom by his opposition to the 
 king's measures, was murdered before the 
 altar of his own church, by four knights of 
 Henry's household. 
 
 Q. What other occurrences are deserving 
 of mention 1 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 35 
 
 A* Henry walked barefoot to Becket's 
 tomb, and submitted to be scourged by the 
 monks : but his greatest blemish was his amour 
 with the fair Rosamond, the most beautiful wo- 
 man of her time. 
 
 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 III. kings of France; and David, Mal- 
 colm IV., 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 
 surviving son Richard, who was no sooner 
 king than he undertook a crusade against the 
 Infidels, in which he signalized himself by his 
 valour and heroism. 
 
 Q. What were the crusades 1 
 
 A. The crusades were expeditions under- 
 taken by the Christian princes of Europe, m 
 order to deliver Jerusalem and the Holy Land 
 out of the hands of the Infidels, or Sara- 
 cens. 
 
36 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 Q. What befell Richard on his return ? 
 
 A. On his way home Richard was ship- 
 wrecked on the coast of Italy, and having as- 
 sumed the disguise of a pilgrim, was arrested in 
 passing through Germany, and thrown into a 
 dungeon ; from which, however, he was soon 
 ransomed by his subjects. 
 
 Q. What occasioned his death *? 
 
 A. Richard received his death-wound when 
 besieging one of his vassals in the castle of 
 Chalons, in the 42d year of his age, and after 
 a reign of ten years, passed in almost continual 
 hostilities. 
 
 Q. What was the character of Richard ? 
 
 A. Richard possessed the highest ' military 
 talents, and his intrepidity had acquired him the 
 appellation of Cceur de Lion, or Lion-hearted : 
 although ambitious and haughty, he was open, 
 generous and sincere ; and gained the af- 
 fections of his subjects by his splendid victo- 
 ries. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sove- 
 reigns ? 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with Rich- 
 ard were, Henry VI. and Philip I. Emperors 
 of Germany; Philip II. of France ; Sancho I. 
 of Portugal ; Canute V. of Denmark ; and 
 William of Scotland. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 37 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 John. a. d. 1199—1216. 
 
 Q. By whom was Richard succeeded? 
 
 A. Richard, having left no children, was 
 succeeded by his brother John, surnamed Sans- 
 terre, or Lack-Land. 
 
 Q. What were the first acts of his reign? 
 
 A. After having subjected his revolted pro- 
 vinces in France, John is accused of having 
 murdered, with his own hand, his nephew Ar- 
 thur, who was at the head of the insurgents. 
 
 Q. What were the consequences of this hor- 
 rid deed ? 
 
 A. The death of Arthur excited general hor- 
 ror and detestation of the tyrant ; the barons 
 refused to grant him succours, and his conti- 
 nental dominions were confiscated by the king 
 of France. 
 
 T. Relate the other occurrences of this 
 reign. 
 
 P. In consequence of his quarrel with the 
 pope, the nation was laid under an interdict ;* 
 and having afterward shamefully done homage 
 
 * By this sentence the churches were shut ; the bells re- 
 moved from the steeples ; the deau were thrown into ditches, 
 or buried in common fields, without any funeral solemnity ; the 
 people were forbidden to salute each other, or even to shave 
 their beards ; and every deprivation was enforced by the clergy 
 
 D 
 
38 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 to the pope's legate, and consented to pay tri- 
 bute, his submission so enraged the barons that 
 they formed a confederacy, and proceeded to 
 open war. 
 
 Q. What were the consequences of this 
 dispute ? 
 
 A. John, finding himself almost deserted, met 
 his barons at Runnemede, between Staines and 
 Windsor, and there signed that famous deed 
 called Magna Charta, or the Great Charter, 
 which is still regarded as the glorious basis of 
 British freedom. 
 
 Q. When did he die 1 
 
 A. John died of a fever in 1216, as he was 
 advancing against Louis> the French prince, 
 whom the barons had invited over, to pro- 
 tect them from the renewed violence of the 
 tyrant. 
 
 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 
 
 that was calculated to strike with awe the minds of a supersti- 
 tious people. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 39 
 
 Emperors Otbo IV. and Frederick I J. of Ger- 
 many ; King Philip II. of France ; and Wil- 
 liam and Alexander II. of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Henry the Third, a. d. 1216—1272. 
 
 Q. Who was Henry III. 1 
 
 A. Henry III. was the son of John, and be- 
 ing only nine years of age when he came to 
 the tfarone, 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 with- 
 out activity or vigour ; and as he grew up, he 
 showed himself totally unfit to subdue the tur- 
 bulence of his nobles. 
 
 Q. What was his principal weakness ? 
 
 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 administra- 
 tion of affairs. 
 
 Q. What was the result of these conten- 
 tions ] 
 
 % A. In the civil war which ensued, the king 
 and his two sons were taken prisoners ; but 
 
40 CATECHISM OP THE 
 
 Edward the eldest, having made|his escape, de- 
 feated 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 re- 
 gular parliament was assembled, and marriage 
 first solemnized in churches. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns? 
 
 A. During the reign of Henry III., Frede- 
 rick II. reigned over Germany ; Louis VIII. 
 Louis IX. and Philip III. governed France; 
 and Alexander II. 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 ? 
 A. Edward I. began his reign by con- 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 41 
 
 firming the great charter, protecting the peo- 
 ple against the oppressions of the barons, and 
 making strict inquiries into the affairs of the 
 state. 
 
 Q. What were the military transactions of 
 this reign 1 
 
 A. Edward conquered Wales, and ^gave it 
 as a principality to his eldest son ; he also in- 
 vaded 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 after- 
 ward was betrayed into his hands, and put 
 to death in London, with the most brutal fe- 
 rocity. 
 
 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 Car- 
 lisle, in the 35th year of his reign, and the 69th 
 of his age, A. D. 1307. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince? 
 
 A. Edward I, surnamed Longshanks, dis- 
 tinguished himself both as a warrior and 
 D2 
 
42 CATECHISM OP THE 
 
 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. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 Edward I. ? 
 
 A. Edward's contemporaries were Rodolph 
 I. Adolphus, and Albert, emperors of Ger- 
 many ; Philip III. and IV. kings of France ; 
 and Alexander III. John Baliol, and Robert 
 Bruce, kings of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER VIH. 
 
 Edward the Second, a. p. 1307 — 1327. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded Edward I. ? 
 
 A, Edward I. was succeeded by his son 
 Edward II. a miW, gentle, and inoffensive 
 prince ; but indolent, debauched, and much 
 attached to favourites. 
 
 Q. What are the chief events of this reign 1 
 
 A. Edward lost the battle of Bannock- 
 burn, which secured the independence of 
 Scotland ; and the remainder of his reign 
 was a series of civil commotions, caused by 
 his partiality to bis favourites, Gaveston and 
 Spencer. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 43 
 
 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 paramour Mortimer, and was cast into 
 prison, where he was barbarously murdered, 
 A- D. 1327, after a turbulent reign of 20 
 years. 
 
 Q. Who were his competitors ? 
 
 A. Contemporary with Edward II. were 
 Henry VI il. and Louis IV., emperors of Ger- 
 many ; 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 commence- 
 ment of this reign 1 
 
 A. When Edward III. who then- was very 
 young, assumed the reins of government, 
 Mortimer was hanged, and the queen-dowager 
 was confined for life. 
 
 Q. In what wars was he engaged ? 
 
 A. After having obliged the king of Scot- 
 land to do him homage, Edward laid claim 
 to the crown of France, and having invaded 
 
44 CATECHISM OP THE 
 
 that country, gained the memorable battles 
 of Cressy and Poictiers, in the latter of which 
 the Prince of Wales took the French king 
 prisoner. 
 
 Q. 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 : towards the 
 end of this reign, the English lost aril their con- 
 quests in France.* 
 
 Q. What was the cause of Edward's death? 
 
 A. Edward is said to have died of melan- 
 choly, for the loss of his eldest son, the Prince 
 of Wales,| who was universally beloved for 
 his bravery and virtues : he expired a. d. 1337, 
 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 eminent men lived in this reign ? 
 
 A. In the reign of Edward III. lived Chau- 
 cer, the father of English poetry, and Wick- 
 liffe, the first Reformer. 
 
 Q. What inventions took place ? 
 
 > * With the exception of the towns of Calais, Bayonne, and 
 Bonrdeaux. 
 
 t Surnamed the Black Prince from the colour of his armour. 
 After the battle of Cressy, in which the king of Bohemia was 
 slain, the Prince of Wales adopte.i his crest, which was three 
 ostrich feathers, with his motto, Ich dien, I serve; and his suc- 
 cessors have borne this device ever since. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 45 
 
 ^ A. In this reign also gold was first coined, 
 gunpowder and guns were invented, and the 
 order of the Garter was instituted. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sove- 
 reigns ? 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with Ed- 
 ward III. were, Louis IV. and Charles IV., of 
 Germany ; Charles IV., of France, Robert 
 Bruce, David II. Edward Baliol, and Robert 
 II., the first of the Stuarts. 
 
 S 
 
 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 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 oppression 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 demands in an insolent manner, 
 
46 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 was killed, and order restored by the presence j 
 of mind of the young king.* 
 
 Q. What was the subsequent conduct of 
 the king ? 
 
 A. Richard excited great discontent in 
 the nation by his severity and injustice ; so 
 that at last the barons took up arms, made the 
 king prisoner, and, after havkig 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- 
 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 
 luxurious pleasures, and became the dupe of 
 worthless favourites, who, taking advantage of 
 his weakness and effeminacy, urged him to 
 acts of tyranny and oppression. 
 _ Q. To what did the disposition of Richard 
 give rise ? 
 
 * During the conference, Wat Tyler occasionally lifted up 
 his sword in a menacing manner, which so irritated Walworth, 
 the mayor of London, that he strack him to the ground with 
 his mace, where he was soon despatched by the king's atten- 
 dants. 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 myself will 
 now be your general." The populace, overawed by his manner, 
 followed him into the fields, where they peaceably separated 
 upon his granting them a charter for the redress of their griev- 
 ances. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 47 
 
 A. The disposition of Richard and the 
 usurpation of the Duke of Lancaster, gave rise 
 to the contest between the houses of York and 
 Lancaster, which, for many years a(.ter, 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, Nor- 
 way, and Sweden ; Robert II. and Robert 
 lll.,kings of Scotland. 
 
48 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 FROM THE ACCESSION OF HENRY IV. TO TH 
 ACCESSION OF HENRY VII. A. D. 1485. 
 
 ■ 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 HOUSE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 Henry the Fourth, a. d. 1399—1413. 
 
 Q. Who was Henry IV. ? 
 
 A. Henry IV. was son of John Gaunt duke 
 of Lancaster, fourth son of Edward III. 
 
 Q. What were the principal events of this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. The only event of note in the reign of 
 Henry IV. before his death, became subject 
 to fits, with one of which he was seized at his 
 devotions before the shrine of Edward the 
 Confessor, in Westminster Abbey, and ex- 
 pired, in the 46th year of his age, and 13th of 
 his reign, A. D. 1413. 
 
 Q. What was his character ? 
 
 A. Henry IV. possessed great military ta- 
 lents and political wisdom ; but he lost the 
 affection of his subjects by his usurpation and 
 the murder of his lawful king. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 49 
 
 Q. What invention took place in this reign? 
 
 A. Cards were invented about this time 
 
 for the amusement of Charles VI. king of 
 
 I France, who, being* subject to frequent fits of 
 
 r insanity, used them during hisintervals of reason. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary 
 with Henry IV. ? 
 
 A. The contemporary sovereigns were Wen- 
 ceslaus, Robert le Pet, and Sigismund, of Ger- 
 many ; Charles VI., of France ; Margaret and 
 Eric XIII., of Denmark and Sweden ; and Ro- 
 bert III., of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Henry the Fifth, a. d. 1413—1422, 
 
 Q. What was the conduct of Henry V. be- 
 fore he became king 1 
 
 A. Henry V. when Prince of Wales was no- 
 torious for all kinds of debauchery, and often 
 when heated with wine, accompanied his pro- 
 fligate companions in robbing the passengers 
 on the highway.* 
 
 * One of his co trip anions having; been brought to trial before 
 Sir William Gascoigne, the chief justice, Prince Henry ap- 
 peared with him in court, and finding that he was condemned 
 notwithstanding his interference, he was so enraged that he 
 struck the justice upon the hench, hut Gascoigne, mindful ol the 
 dignity of his offie< , ordered the prince to he committed to pri- 
 son. "When his father, Henry IV.,UvarOTof this transaction, he 
 
 E 
 
r 
 
 i 
 
 50 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 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 wis 
 ministers of his father who had checked his riots, 
 
 Q. What were the principal events of this 
 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 arts of war and government^ 
 endearing his friends by his engaging manners 3 
 and overcoming his enemies by his address and 
 clemency. 
 
 Q. Who were Henry's contemporaries 1 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with Hen- 
 ry V. were Sigismund, emperor of Germany ; 
 Charles VI. king of France ; Eric XI II. of 
 Denmark and Sweden ; and Robert III. of 
 Scotland. 
 
 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 chas- 
 tisement." 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 51 
 
 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 de- 
 grees the English lost ground in that king- 
 dom, and were finally dispossessed of all their 
 conquests, through the enthusiasm raised by 
 the famous Joan d'Arc, called the Maid of Or- 
 leans.* 
 
 Q. What were the other events of this 
 reign 1 
 
 A. Henry was very unfortunate in his choice 
 
 * Joan d'Arc was a country girl, who fancied herself de- 
 stined by heaven to rescue Franceout of the hands of the Eng- 
 lish. 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, shortly after taken and tried for 
 sorcery and magic, and being foundguilty, was cruelly burnt to 
 death as a sorceress, for having rendered signal services to her 
 prince and country. 
 
52 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 of ministers, which was the cause of an alarm- 
 ing insurrection headed by John Cade ; and 
 shortly after its suppression, Richard duke of 
 York laid 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 
 Lancaster 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 hav- 
 ing routed the king's army was proclaimed 
 king. 
 
 Q. What, was the fate of king Henry 1 
 
 A. Henry, after having been detained in pri- 
 son nine years, was once more placed on the 
 throne by the earl of Warwick ; but his party 
 being again overthrown in the battle of Barnet, 
 he was confined in the Tower, where he died 
 by the hands of Richard duke of Gloucester, 
 A. D. J 471. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
 
 A. Henry discovered from his youth marks 
 
 * The earl of Warwick, called the King Maker, was the 
 most powerful nobleman in England, and was distinguished by 
 his bravery, hospitality, and magnificence. 
 
HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 53 
 
 of weakness and incapacity, and at times was 
 subject to fits of madness ; but his general dis- 
 position was pious and humane, and he liberally 
 rewarded learning and merit. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns] 
 A. The contemporaries of Henry VI. were, Si- 
 gismund, Albert II., and Frederick III., empe- 
 rors of Germany ; Charles VII. and Louis XL, 
 kings of France ; Eric IX., of Denmark and 
 Sweden; and Robert I IL, James L, James II., 
 and James III., sovereigns of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HOUSE OF YORK. 
 
 Edward the Fourth, a. d. 1461—1483. 
 
 Q. Who was Edward IV. ? 
 
 A. Edward IV. was the son of Richard 
 duke of York, who, being descended from Li- 
 onel, third son of Edward III , had a claim to 
 the throne prior to that of the house of Lan- 
 caster, 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 
 E2 
 
54 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 army and by the people of London, the great- 
 est part of the kingdom still acknowledged sub- 
 jection to Henry VI. ; but after gaining the 
 sanguinary victories of Tourton and Hexham, 
 his title was recognised by parliament, and qui- 
 etly submitted to by the people. 
 
 Q. From what quarter was he again op- 
 posed ? 
 
 A. Edward having given cause of offence 
 to the earl of Warwick, that nobleman became 
 his most inveterate enemy, and espousing the 
 cause of the captive Henry, replaced him on 
 the throne, and obliged Edward to fly to HoL* 
 land. 
 
 Q. Did Edward regain possession of the 
 crown 1 
 
 A. Edward returned to England with a few 
 troops, and being joined by his partisans, de- 
 feated and slew his great opponent in the battle 
 of Barnet; and soon after triumphed over queen 
 Margaret at Tewkesbury, where that spirited 
 princess was made prisoner, together with her 
 son Prince Edward.* 
 
 Q. How did he then conduct himself? 
 
 * The young prince being brought before Edward after the 
 battle, and being asked by the king how be dared to invade his 
 dominions, boldly replied, that he came thither to avenge his fa- 
 ther's injuries and to redress his own ; upon which the barba- 
 rous monarch struck him upon the mouth wish bis 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. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 55 
 
 A. Edward exercised horrible cruelties 
 upon his enemies, and even put his brother 
 the Duke of Clarence to death ; at the same 
 time abandoning 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 ; besides five daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 Q. What useful discovery was introduced 
 into England during this reign ? 
 
 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 
 a more rapid progress in literature than any 
 other nation of Europe. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns? 
 
 A. Frederick 11. of Germany ; Mahomet 
 II. first emperor of the Turks ; Louis IX. of 
 France; Christian I. of Denmark and Swe- 
 den ; and James III. of Scotland. 
 
56 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Edward the Fifth, a. d. 1483. 
 
 Q. In whom was the government of the 
 kingdom 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 got the young king 
 and his brother into his power, put to death 
 the lords Rivers and Hastings, and by the as- 
 sistance of the Duke of Buckingham, usurped 
 the crown. 
 
 Q. What followed his usurpation ? 
 
 A. In order to secure his ill-gotten power, 
 Richard ordered the two princes to be assassi- 
 nated, and they were accordingly suffocated 
 with the bolster and pillows as they lay asleep 
 in the Tower, only a few months after their fa- 
 ther's death, a. n. 1483. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Richard the Third, a. d. 1 483— 1484. 
 
 Q. What were the first acts of Richard's 
 administration ? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 57 
 
 A. Richard sought to establish his authority 
 by bestowing rewards on those who had as- 
 sisted him in his usurpation ; but the Duke of 
 Buckingham, disgusted at some neglect, deter- 
 mined to depose him, and to advance Henry 
 Earl of Richmond in his place. 
 
 Q. Was he successful in his attempt ? 
 
 A. Buckingham's intentions being prema- 
 turely discovered, and his army abandoning 
 him, he was betrayed into the hands of the 
 king by his own servant, and beheaded at Salis- 
 bury, without even the form of a trial. 
 
 Q. Did Richmond still prosecute his de- 
 sign ? 
 
 A. Richmond landed at Mil ford-haven in 
 Wales with only 2000 men, but being joined 
 by a considerable number of the English, he 
 advanced to give Richard battle. 
 
 Q. What was the issue of the contest ? 
 
 A. The two armies met at Bos worth-field 
 in Leicestershire, and Richard performed pro- 
 digies of valour, but Lord Stanley having de 
 serted him with 7000 men, he was defeated and 
 slain ; and Richmond was saluted by 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. 
 
55 CATECHISM OP THE 
 
 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 mo- 
 ther's side from the house of Lancaster ; and 
 soon after his accession, by espousing Eliza- 
 beth, 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 was 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- 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 59 
 
 mies, and restoring tranquillity, Henry hum- 
 bled the power of the barons, and enacted 
 many useful laws for the encouragement of 
 trade and navigation, and for securing the hap- 
 piness of his people. 
 
 Q. How long did he reign ? 
 
 A. Henry VII. reigned 23 years, and died 
 of the gout in 1509, in the 52d year of his age. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
 
 A. Henry VII. was a wise prince, but jea- 
 lous of his authority ; his principal weakness 
 was his too great love of money, to gratify 
 which, his ministers, Empson and Dudley, 
 were often guilty of arbitrary measures. 
 
 Q. What important discovery was made in 
 this reign ? 
 
 A. Christopher Columbus, a native of Ge- 
 noa, 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 Bristol, first discovered the north- 
 ern continent in 1498. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with Henry 
 were, Frederick III. and Maximilian I. empe- 
 rors of Germany ; Bajazet II. emperor of the 
 Turks; Ferdinand and Isabella, Catholic sove- 
 reigns of Spain; Charles VIII. and Louis 
 XII. kings of France ; John, king of Denmark 
 
60 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 and Sweden ; and James III. and James IV. 
 of Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Henry the Eighth, a. d. 1509—1547. 
 
 Q. What was the conduct of Henry on 
 his accession ? 
 
 A. Henry VIII. succeeded to. the crown in 
 the 18th year of his age ; and having chosen 
 Thomas Wolsey as his chief minister, he began 
 to dissipate, in amusement, the great treasures 
 amassed by his father. 
 
 Q. How many wives had he ? 
 
 A. Henry had six wives ; the first was Ca- 
 tharine, his brother's widow, whom he di- 
 vorced ; 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 How- 
 ard, whom he beheaded, and the sixth, Catha- 
 rine Parr, who survived him. 
 
 T. Reiate the most remarkable events of 
 this reign. 
 
 P. Henry VIII. quarrelled with the Pope, 
 and took upon hiinsell the title of Supreme 
 Head ot the Church: he also abolished the 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 61 
 
 monasteries, seized their revenues, but in point 
 of doctrine retained the Romish faith. 
 ' Q. What were the military transactions of 
 this reign ? 
 
 A. Henry invaded France, but did not fol- 
 low 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 1 
 
 A. Henry VIII. died in the 88th year of 
 his reign, and the 56th of his age, A. D. 
 1547. 
 
 Q. What was the character of this prince ? 
 
 A. Henry VIII. was tall and handsome in 
 his person, but he must be detested in his 
 character as an unfeeling and licentious ty- 
 rant. 
 
 Q. What eminent men lived in his reign ? 
 
 A. The most distinguished characters were 
 Cardinal Wolsey, for a long time the king's 
 favourite, but who died in disgrace ; Sir Tho- 
 mas More, Lord Chancellor, who was beheaded 
 for denying the king's supremacy ; and in Sax- 
 ony, Martin Luther, who preached the doctrine 
 of the Reformation. 
 
 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 ; Gustavus Vasa, liberator and king of 
 
 F 
 
62 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 Sweden; and James IV., James V., and Mary, 
 sovereigns 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 
 VIII. by Jane Seymour, his third wife. Being 
 but nine years of age when his father died, the 
 Duke of Somerset, his maternal uncle, was* 
 chosen protector. 
 
 Q K What were the chief events of this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. The principal events of Edward's reign 
 were the completion of the Reformation, and 
 the defeat of the Scots near Musselburgh, in 
 which 10,000 of them were killed. 
 
 Q. What change did he make in the suc- 
 cession ? 
 
 A. Edward being in a declining state of 
 health, was persuaded by the intrigues of the 
 new protector, the Duke of Northumber- 
 land, to appoint as his successor Lady Jane 
 Grey, thus excluding his sisters Mary and 
 Elizabeth, together with Mary, Queen of Scot- 
 land. 
 
 Q. What was the consequence of this act 1 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 63 
 
 A. Edward dying shortly after, Northum- 
 berland caused Lady Jane to be proclaimed 
 queen ; but the nation acknowledged the title 
 of Mary, and Lady Jane was confined in the 
 Tower, after enjoying 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 He was 
 a very amiable, esteemed, and pious youth, 
 aiad his loss was much lamented by the na- 
 tion. 
 
 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 Scotland. 
 
 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 Aragon. 
 
 Q. What were the first acts of her reign ? 
 
 A. Mary, being a papist, began her reign by 
 re-establishing that religion, and persecuting 
 
64 CATECHISM OP THE 
 
 the protestants, great numbers of whom were 
 burned as heretics. 
 
 Q. Who were the principal victims of* this 
 persecution ? 
 
 A. Among those who were burned alive 
 for their religion, were Cranmer, Archbishop 
 of Canterbury, Latimer, Ridley, and two 
 other bishops ; Rodgers, Saunders, and Tay- 
 lor, eminent clergymen, with many others, 
 all of whom suffered with astonishing forti- 
 tude. 
 
 Q. What other occurrences are worthy of 
 notice ? 
 
 A. The marriage of Mary to Philip, king 
 of Spain, occasioned an insurrection, headed 
 by Sir Thomas Wyat : it was, however, 
 easily suppressed, but Mary took this op- 
 portunity of bringing to the scaffold Lady 
 Jane Grey, and her husband Lord Guilford 
 Dudley. 
 
 Q. What event accelerated the death of the 
 queen ? 
 
 A. Mary is said to have died of a broken 
 heart at the loss of Calais,* in the 43d year 
 of her age, and the sixth of her reign, A. D. 
 1558. 
 
 * Calais had been in the possession of the English upwards 
 of 200 years, and was all that remained to them of their exten- 
 sive possessions and conquests. It was taken by the French 
 in eight days, although it had cost Edward III. a siege of 11 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 65 
 
 Q. What was her character? 
 
 A. Mary was naturally cruel, and extremely 
 bigoted ; her only virtue was sincerity, and 
 her vices obstinacy, tyranny, and revenge. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Elizabeth, a. d. 1558—1603. 
 
 Q. Who was Queen Elizabeth ? 
 
 A. Elizabeth was daughter of Henry VIII. 
 by Anne Boleyne, his second wife, and as- 
 cended the throne in the 25th year of her age, 
 amid the acclamations of the nation. 
 
 Q. How did she begin her reign ? 
 
 A. Elizabeth, upon coming to the throne, 
 immediately restored the protestant religion 
 nearly in the same form which we have at pre- 
 sent the happiness to enjoy. 
 
 T. Describe the chief event of her reign. 
 
 P. In this reign the Spaniards prepared 
 to invade England with a powerful fleet which 
 they styled " the Invincible Armada ;" but on 
 its approach to the English shores, it was de- 
 feated, chiefly by the exertions of Sir Francis 
 Drake. 
 
 Q. What severities tarnished the reign of 
 Elizabeth ? 
 
 F2 
 
66 CATECHISM OP THE 
 
 A. The greatest stain upon the character of 
 Elizabeth is, her putting to death, after a long 
 and ungenerous confinement, Mary Queen of 
 Scots, celebrated for her beauty and her mis- 
 fortunes. 
 
 Q. What was the cause of Elizabeth's 
 death ? 
 
 A. Elizabeth died soon after the execu- 
 tion of her favourite, the Earl of Essex, 
 which she had ordered in a moment of resent- 
 ment. 
 
 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 talents for 
 government, and was happy in her choice 
 of ministers ; she was distinguished for vigour 
 and penetration ; but towards the latter part 
 of her reign, she became haughty and des- 
 potic. 
 
 Q. What do you observe of her reign ? 
 
 A. During the time of Elizabeth, the Eng- 
 lish nation made astonishing progress in arts, 
 commerce, and literature ; they became indus- 
 trious, polite, and powerful, secure at home, 
 and formidable 'abroad. 
 
 Q. What eminent men lived at this pe- 
 riod ? 
 
 A. In the reign of Elizabeth, lived the 
 immortal Shakspeare ; Edmund Spenser, 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 67 
 
 a celebrated poet ; the admirable Crichton ; 
 and Cecil and Burleigh, 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 Francis Drake was the first Englishman that 
 sailed round the world. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 Elizabeth 1 
 
 A. During the reign of Elizabeth, Germany 
 was governed by the emperors Ferdinand I., 
 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 ill. ; and Scotland by Mary and 
 James VI. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HOUSE OF STEWART. 
 
 James the First, a. d. 1G03— 1625. 
 
 Q. Who was James I. 
 
 A. James I. was the son of the unfortunate 
 ' ary 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. 
 
68 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 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 the Roman Catholics, to blow up the king, 
 and the two houses of parliament ; but it was 
 happily discovered by the sagacity of the mo- 
 narch, and the conspirators put to death. 
 
 Q. What do you remark of the conduct of 
 James I. ? 
 
 A. James I. is much blamed for his partiality 
 to favourites, and to the interest of the court of 
 Spain, to which he sacrificed the brave Sir Wal- 
 ter Raleigh, who was beheaded for having com- 
 mitted hostilities on the Spanish settlements. 
 Q. How long did he reign ? 
 A. James 1. died in 1625, in the 59th year 
 of his age, and the 22d of his reign over Eng- 
 land : his reign over Scotland was almost of 
 equal duration with his life, he having been 
 crowned when only a year old. 
 Q. What were his merits 1 
 A. James I. was remarkable for his great 
 generosity, a pacific disposition, and the en- 
 couragement of arts and literature ; but he en- 
 croached on the liberties of the people, and by 
 that means laid the foundation of civil war. 
 Q. What eminent men lived in this reign ? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 69 
 
 A. During the reign of James lived Sir Wal- 
 ter Raleigh, an illustrious navigator and histo- 
 rian; Camden, the historian ; Lord Chancellor 
 Bacon, called the father of experimental phi- 
 losophy; and Ben Jonson, a celebrated dra- 
 matic writer. 
 
 Q. What discoveries were made in this reign ? 
 
 A. In 1619, Dr. Harvey discovered the cir- 
 culation of the blood ; and about the same 
 time died Baron Napier, of Scotland, who in- 
 vented the logarithms : in this reign also the 
 present version of the Bible was published by 
 royal authority. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with James 
 I. were, Rodolphus II., Matthias I., and Ferdi- 
 nand II., emperors of Germany; Henry IV. and 
 Louis XII., kings of France ; Philip III. and 
 Philip IV., sovereigns of Spain and Portugal. 
 
 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. 
 
70 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 Q. What was the cause of this war 1 
 
 A. The civil war was chiefly caused by the 
 attempts of the king, inheriting his father's no- 
 tions of the royal prerogative, to raise taxes and 
 levy money upon the people without the au- 
 thority of parliament. 
 
 T. Name those who distinguished themselves 
 at this period. 
 
 P. Amonsr the chief instigators and con- 
 doctors of the civil war, were Hampden, John 
 Pym, General Fairfax, Ireton, Monk,and Oliver 
 Cromwell. 
 
 Q. What was the result of this contest ? 
 
 A. After fighting several battles with various 
 success, Charles was totally defeated, and hav- 
 ing given himself up to the Scotch army he was 
 delivered over to the parliament, who beheaded 
 him 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 1 
 
 A. Charles I. had many virtues and accom- 
 plishmentSjbuthepermittedhimself tobe guided 
 by ministers who advised those arbitrary mea- 
 sures which finally brought him to the block. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary with 
 Charles I.? 
 
 A. The contemporaries of Charles I. were, 
 Ferdinand II. and Ferdinand III., emperors of 
 Germany; Louis XIII. and Louis XIV., kings 
 of France ; Philip IV., of Spain ; and John IV., 
 of Portugal. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 71 
 
 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 esta- 
 blished after the king's death ? 
 
 A. Upon the death of Charles, the house of 
 commons abolished the regal power, and de- 
 clared the house of lords useless : the com- 
 monwealth was proclaimed, and the king's name 
 changed to that of the Keepers 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 
 
72 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 in America, and spread the terror of the Eng- 
 lish name by sea to every quarter of the 
 globe. 
 
 Q. What change took place in the govern- 
 ment 1 
 
 A. Cromwell, having encouraged a dispute 
 between the army and the house of commons, 
 dissolved 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 ad- 
 ministration 1 
 
 A. Cromwell humbled the power of Hol- 
 land and Spain, and maintained the national 
 honour in foreign countries ; while England 
 was improving both in riches and in power. 
 
 Q. When did he die 1 
 
 A. For some time before his death, Crom- 
 well was subject to a perpetual disquietude ; 
 and after a most comfortless usurpation, he died, 
 A. D. 1658, in the 60th year of his age, and 
 the 5th of his protectorship. 
 
 Q. What character is given of Crom- 
 well ? 
 
 A. Oliver Cromwell was a man of consider- 
 able genius and capacity, and possessed great 
 courage, ambition, and hypocrisy. 
 
 Q. By whom was he succeeded 1 
 
 A. On the death of Oliver Cromwell his 
 son Richard peaceably assumed the pro- 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 73 
 
 tectorship ; 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 protec- 
 torship, General Monk assembled a free par- 
 liament, and proposed the restoration of the 
 royal family, which meeting with the approba- 
 tion 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 1 
 
 A. Charles II. made his public entry into 
 London on the 29th May, 1660, amid the ac- 
 clamations of the people ; and one of his first 
 measures was to pass an act of general indem- 
 nity for all that had taken place. 
 
 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 
 
 G- 
 
74 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 formed, which cost Lord Russel, Algernon Sid- 
 ney, and others, their lives. 
 
 Q. What other events do you notice ? 
 
 A. In 1665 a plague raged throughout Eng- 
 land, and the year after the great fire of Lon- 
 don consumed 13,000 houses ; the Dutch also 
 sailed up the Med way and destroyed several 
 ships of war at Chatham. 
 
 Q. When did he die ? 
 
 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 per- 
 son 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 Cla- 
 rendon and Algernon Sidney, eminent politi- 
 cians ; and Thomas Otway, a writer of tra- 
 gedies. 
 
 Q. What else is worthy of notice ? 
 
 A. Charles II. established the Royal So- 
 ciety, and acceded to the Habeas Corpus act ; 
 in his reign also tea was first used in England. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 75 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with 
 Charles II. were, Leopold, emperor of Ger- 
 many ; Louis XIV. king of France ; Philip IV. 
 and Charles II. of Spain ; and Charles XI. 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, now came to the throne ; and having 
 been bred a papist, he openly favoured that 
 religion. 
 
 Q. What was the result? 
 
 A. The Duke of Monmouth excited a re- 
 bellion under pretext of preserving the pro- 
 testant religion : but being defeated, he was 
 beheaded with many of his followers. 
 
 Q. What were the other events of this reign. 
 
 A. James used the most arbitrary measures 
 to introduce popery, so that the people ap- 
 plied for relief to William, Prince of Orange, 
 who landed at Torbay on the 5th of Novem- 
 ber, 1 688, with about 1 3,000 men. 
 
 Q. How was he received by the English 1 
 
 A. The whole country soon flocked to the 
 standard of William ; and James, finding him- 
 
76 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 self deserted by his friends, and even his chil- 
 dren, retired to France, where he died A. D. 
 1701. 
 
 Q. On whom was the succession of the 
 crown settled. 
 
 A. James having deserted the throne, the 
 Prince and Princess of Orange were declared 
 by parliament joint sovereigns, by the names 
 cf 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 peo- 
 ple were determined ; the power of the king 
 was diminished, and many valuable privileges 
 were obtained for the people* 
 
 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 
 I., was born in Holland, and was married to 
 Mary, daughter of James III. 
 
 Q. What were the principal events of his 
 reign 'I 
 
 A. James having returned from France, 
 and raised an army in Ireland, William, de- 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 77 
 
 feated him in the memorable battle of the 
 Boyne ; a powerful French fleet which was 
 coming to invade England was also entirely 
 destroyed. 
 
 Q. What minor occurrences do you notice 
 in this reign ? 
 
 A. In the reign of William III. the Bank of 
 England was established, and the first public 
 lottery was drawn. 
 
 Q. What was the cause of William's death 1 
 
 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 1 
 
 A. William was possessed of talents and 
 personal bravery, but his manners were cold 
 and forbidding ; the great object of his ambi- 
 tion during his life was to humble the power 
 of Louis XIV. of France. 
 
 Q. What eminent men flourished during this 
 reign? 
 
 A. In the reign of William III. lived Dry- 
 den Tillotson, Locke, and Sir Isaac Newton. 
 
 Q. What sovereigns were contemporary 
 with William III.? 
 
 A. Doing the reign of William III., Leo- 
 pold ruled in Germany : Louis XIV. in 
 France ; Charles II. and Philip V. in Spain 
 G2 
 
78 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 and Portugal ; 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 honour of 
 the British arms was carried to a great height, 
 by the Duke ol Marlborough, who humbled the 
 power of France in the glorious battles of 
 Blenheim, Ramilies, &c. 
 
 Q. What other transactions deserve no- 
 tice ? 
 
 A. In this reign also Gibraltar was taken by 
 Sir George Rooke, and in 1706 the union be- 
 tween England and Scotland was effected. 
 
 Q. To what cause is the queen's death at- 
 tributed ? 
 
 A. Towards 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 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 79 
 
 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 prin- 
 cess? 
 
 A. Queen Anne possessed many excellent 
 qualities ; and the people dignified her with the 
 title of the Good Queen Jlnne s 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 remark- 
 able for the number of literary geniuses it pro- 
 duced : among the most celebrated were Addi- 
 son, Pope, Steele, Swift, Gay, Congreve, 
 Rowe, Prior, and Bolingbroke. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporaries of Anne? 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with Anne 
 were, Leopold, Joseph L, and Charles VI., em- 
 perors of Germany ; Louis XIV. king of 
 France; Philip I. of Spain; Charles XII. of 
 Sweden ; and Frederick, the first king of 
 Prussia. 
 
80 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 BOOK VII. 
 
 FROM THE ACCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF 
 BRUNSWICK TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 George the First, a. d. 1714 — 1727. 
 
 Q. Who was George I. ? 
 
 A. George I. was duke of Brunswick and 
 elector of Hanover ; he succeeded as the next 
 protestant heir, his mother Sophia having been 
 granddaughter 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 11 , raised a re- 
 bellion in Scotland and England, which, though 
 easily suppressed, proved fatal to many noble- 
 men who had espoused his cause. 
 
 Q. What were the consequences of this re- 
 bellion ? 
 
 A. In consequence of the disturbed state of 
 the nation after this rebellion, the parliament, 
 which before was renewed every three years, 
 voted a continuance of their duration from 
 three to seven years. 
 
 Q. What event distinguished the year 1720 ? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 81 
 
 A. The year 1720 was rendered remark- 
 able 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 Roches- 
 ter, 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 much attached to his continental 
 possession. 
 
 Q. What celebrated men died in this reign ? 
 
 A. In the resign of George I. died Sir Chris- 
 topher 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. 
 
82 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 George the Second, a. d. 1727—1760. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded George 1.? 
 
 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 commence- 
 ment of this reign ? 
 
 A. The beginning of this reign was distin- 
 guished by the debates in parliament on seve- 
 ral measures of Sir R. Walpole, prime minis- 
 ter ; 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 An- 
 son, in bis voyage round the world, cap- 
 tured a large Spanish galleon loaded with trea- 
 sure. 
 
 T. Describe the rebellion of 1745. 
 
 P. The young Pretender, grandson of 
 James II., raised a rebellion in Scotland, and 
 having defeated the king's troops at Preston 
 Pans, he advanced as far as Derby, but was 
 
 * 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 re- 
 conciled to him. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 83 
 
 soon after totally routed at Culloden by the 
 Duke of Cumberland. 
 
 Q. What was the success of the war against 
 France ? 
 
 A. During the war with France, which be- 
 gan in 1755, Colonel Clive established our em- 
 pire in the East hidies, and several West India 
 islands were taken ; but Admiral Byng having 
 failed in relieving Majorca, on his return, was 
 shot at Portsmouth. 
 
 Q. What were our other conquests ? 
 
 A. During the year 1758, the English sub- 
 jected all Canada and the other French pos- 
 sessions in North America ; but they lost the 
 gallant General Wolfe, who gloriously fell in 
 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 Bos- 
 cawen 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 ? 
 
84 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 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, ge- 
 nerous, and sincere. 
 
 Q. What eminent men flourished in this 
 reign ? 
 
 A. In the reign of George II. lived Young, 
 Grey, Sterne, Hume, Sir R. Walpole, and the 
 celebrated statesman William Pitt, Earl of 
 Chatham. 
 
 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 con- 
 fined 146 Englishmen in the black-hole, at Cal- 
 cutta, of whom 123 were found dead in the 
 morning. 
 
 Q. Who were the contemporary sovereigns ? 
 
 A. The sovereigns contemporary with George 
 II, were, Charles VII,, and Francis I., empe- 
 rors of Germany ; Louis XV,, king of France ; 
 Philip V., Ferdinand VI., and Charles III., of 
 Spain ; and Frederick II. and Frederick III., 
 of Prussia. 
 
HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 35 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 George the Third. 
 
 Q. Who succeeded George II. ? 
 
 A. George II. was succeeded by his grand- 
 son, 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 car- 
 ried on with success, and in the war with 
 Spain, which followed soon after, Havana, 
 the capital of Cuba, was taken, and a register 
 ship, worth a million sterling, was captured by 
 two frigates. 
 
 Q. What changes took place in the admi- 
 nistration ? 
 
 A. Soon after the king's accession, Mr. 
 Pitt, afterward Earl of Chatham, resigned his 
 office of prime minister, and was succeeded 
 by the Duke of Newcastle, 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 circumstance agitated ? the nation 
 at the commencement of this reign ? 
 
 A. Mr. Wilkes, a member of parliament, 
 involved himself in a contest with the court, 
 which excited a flame throughout the kingdom. 
 H 
 
86 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 Q. What measures gave rise to the Ameri- 
 can war ? 
 
 A. Lord Bute having resigned, Mr. Gren- 
 ville was appointed prime minister, and ad- 
 vised the king to impose taxes on the British 
 colonies of North America. 
 
 Q. What consequences ensued ? 
 
 A. The colonies resisted, and after a seven 
 years' war, were acknowledged free and inde- 
 pendent states. 
 
 Q. What changes of ministry took place in 
 consequence 1 
 
 A. Lord North, who had conducted the 
 American war, was succeeded by the Marquis 
 of Rockingham, Lord Shelbourne, and Mr. 
 Fox ; but the latter soon made way for Mr. 
 Pitt, son of the late Earl of Chatham. 
 
 Q. What other important events occurred 
 about this time ? 
 
 A. In 1780 great riots happened in London, 
 in consequence of some indulgences granted 
 to the Roman Catholics : and in 1782 Admi- 
 ral 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 com- 
 pleted', the celebrated trial of Warren Has- 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 87 
 
 tings, 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 Revolu- 
 tion in Fiance, 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 com- 
 menced war against England, which lasted 
 till 18U2, 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 expedition against Holland : and the 
 French were expelled from Egypt, which 
 they had conquered, by General Abercrom- 
 bie, who gloriously fell in the battle of Alex- 
 andria. 
 
 Q. What events do you notice connected 
 with Ireland 1 
 
 A. A dreadful rebellion took place in Ire- 
 land, in 179S, which was not quelled without 
 much bloodshed; and in 1801, the kingdom 
 was united to Great Britain. 
 
88 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 Q. How long did the peace continue ? 
 
 A. The peace of 1802 lasted only a year, 
 owing to the restless spirit of Napoleon 
 Buonaparte, who got himself appointed First 
 Consul, and shortly after Emperor of France. 
 
 Q. What important victory was obtained in 
 the early part of this war ? 
 
 A. On the 21st of October, 1805, Lord 
 Nelson obtained a glorious victory over the 
 combined fleets of France and Spain, off Cape 
 Trafalagar ; but the gallant admiral was killed 
 in the action, to the inexpressible grief of the 
 whole nation. 
 
 Q. What other events are worthy of no- 
 tice 1 
 
 A. In 1806 the Cape of Good Hope was 
 taken : and in the succeeding year Copen- 
 hagen was bombarded, and the whole of the 
 Danish navy surrendered to the English : the 
 slave trade was also finally abolished. 
 
 A. In what contests did England engage to 
 check the progress of the French ? 
 
 A. The French having taken military oc- 
 cupation of the kingdoms of Spain and Por- 
 tugal, the inhabitants solicited the protection 
 of the English, who sent over a large body of 
 men under Sir Arthur Wellesley, now Duke 
 of Wellington. 
 
 Q. What was the success of this war ? 
 
 A. In 1810 the French army evacuated 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 89 
 
 Portugal, and in fts 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 con- 
 siderable expedition to Walchcren, which 
 ended very disastrously : but they were suc- 
 cessful in other parts of the globe, and in 
 the next year the French were deprivedjof 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 incapa- 
 city ; and Mr. Perceval, the prime minister, 
 was shot, at the entrance of the House of 
 Commons. 
 
 T. Relate the circumstances that led to the 
 peace of 1814. 
 
 P. Buonaparte invaded Russia with an army 
 of 600,000 men, and reached Moscow ; but 
 being obliged to retreat, the severity of the 
 climate, and the attacks of the Russians almost 
 annihilated his army. 
 
 Q. What were the consequences of this dis- 
 astrous expedition ? 
 
 A. Great Britain, Austria, Russia, and 
 Prussia concluded an alliance, engaging to 
 H2 
 
90 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 bring into the field a military force sufficient 
 to crush the dangerous power of France, and 
 to restore the independence of the European 
 states. 
 
 Q. What was the success of this confede- 
 ration ? 
 
 A. After defeating the French at Leipsie, 
 and in other well-contested battles, the com- 
 bined 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 provi- 
 sional government, and after obliging Buona- 
 parte to abdicate the throne, invited over their 
 legitimate monarch, Louis XVI 1 1., who was 
 then residing in England. 
 
 Q. What steps were taken with regard to 
 Buonaparte 1 
 
 A. Buonaparte 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 Blu- 
 cher and Piatoff, took that opportunity of 
 visiting England. 
 
 Q. In what contest was England still en- 
 gaged ? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 91 
 
 A. The English had been engaged in a 
 war with the United States of America since 
 June, 1812, which was carried on with vigour 
 by both parties, by sea and land, until Decem- 
 ber, 1814. 
 
 Q. What again disturbed the peace of Eu- 
 rope ? 
 
 A. Buonaparte returned from Elba, in May, 
 1815, and landing in France, recovered the im- 
 perial dignity. 
 
 Q. What measures did other powers adopt ? 
 
 A. The allies immediately determined to 
 expel the usurper, and having marched their 
 forces to Belgium,* they were soon opposed 
 by Buonaparte in person. 
 
 Q. What battles took place '( 
 
 A. Buonaparte 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 suc- 
 cess ? 
 
 A. The allies once more entered France, 
 and restored Louis XVIII. Buonaparte deli- 
 vered himself up to the English, who sent him 
 to St. Helena, where he remained a prisoner 
 until his death, May 5th, 1821. 
 
 * Belgium, a country surrounding Fr.anee, and part of the 
 newly formed kingdom of the Netherlands. 
 
92 CATECHISM OP THE 
 
 Q. What events distinguished the year 
 1816? 
 
 A. On the 2d of May of this year Prince 
 Leopoid of Saxe Cobourg was married to the 
 Princess Charlotte of Wales ; and in August, 
 Lord Exmouth was sent out with a large fleet 
 against the Algerines, whom he obliged to libe- 
 rate their European captives, and to abolish 
 for ever Christian slavery. 
 
 Q. What was the state of England about this 
 time ? 
 
 A. By the sudden change from war to peace, 
 our commerce, manufactures, and agriculture 
 were seriously affected, and threw multitudes 
 out of employ. 
 
 Q. What were the consequences of this dis- 
 tress ? 
 
 A. The continued distress of the lower or- 
 ders 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 dis- 
 orders. 
 
 A. Parliament passed a bill for the suspen- 
 sion of the Habeas Corpus act, and some of 
 the most active leaders were taken and exe- 
 cuted : while others, after having been impri- 
 soned for a considerable time, were released 
 on the repeal of the Suspension Bill. 
 
 Q. What calamitous event happened in 
 1617? 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 93 
 
 A. On the 6th of November, the Princess 
 Charlotte of Wales died in the 22d year of 
 her age, after having given birth to a stillborn 
 son. 
 
 Q. What was the public feeling on this oc- 
 casion ? 
 
 A. Her piety, her abilities, her love for her 
 country, and her benevolent and virtuous cha- 
 racter, were the topics of general praise ; her 
 untimely fate was bewailed as a puolic cala- 
 mity ; 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 1 
 
 A. The Dukes of Clarence, Kent, and 
 Cambridge were united to German princesses ; 
 and the Princess Elizabeth was married to the 
 Prince of Hesse Hombourg. 
 
 Q. What were the domestic occurrences of 
 the year 1818? 
 
 A. The year 1818 was distinguished by a 
 general election, and the death of her gracious 
 majesty, 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 consequence of the tranquil state of the 
 French nation, the troops that had been left in 
 
94 CATECHISM OF THE 
 
 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. 
 
 P. On the 16th of August, the inhabitants 
 of Manchester and its neighbourhood assem- 
 bled to the number of 00,000 persons, headed 
 by Mr. Hunt, a notorious orator at other as- 
 semblies; but the proceedings were hardly 
 commenced when the leaders were arrested, 
 and the yeomanry cavalry being ordered to dis- 
 perse 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 im- 
 prisonment ; and Sir F. Burdett having writ- 
 ten a letter to the inhabitants of Westminster, 
 reflecting in severe terms on the conduct of 
 ministers, was also tried, and the letter de- 
 clared to be a libel. 
 
 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 29th of the same 
 month took place the demise of our venera- 
 ble monarch, George III., in the 82d year of 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 95 
 
 his age, and the 60th of his reign, the longest 
 and most glorious in the annals of Britain. 
 Q. What was the character of George III.] 
 A. George III. was a just, merciful, and 
 virtuous prince : intrepid in the discharge of 
 his royal functions, and setting a laudable ex- 
 ample to his subjects, by his firm attachment to 
 moral and religious duties. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 George the Fourth. 
 
 Q. When was George IV. proclaimed 1 
 
 A. George, Prince of Wales, Regent of the 
 United Kingdom, was proclaimed king on 
 Monday, the 31st of January, 1821. 
 
 Q. What event distinguished the com- 
 mencement 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 assas- 
 sinating his majesty's ministers ; but being dis- 
 covered, 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 1 
 
 A. The queen, while Princess of Wales, 
 
96 CATECHISM. 
 
 had separated from her husband, and had re- 
 tired to the continent, where reports were cir- 
 culated derogatory to her honour ; so that, on 
 her return to England, ministers thought it ex- 
 pedient to institute proceedings, tending to de- 
 grade 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. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 REMARKS ON THE PRESENT STATE OF LITERA- 
 TURE AND THE ARTS IN ENGLAND. 
 
 During the reign of his late Majesty 
 George III. almost every branch of literature 
 and science was cultivated in England with 
 ability and success. In Divinity, although the 
 scriptural basis remains the same, yet the doc- 
 trines of the church have been more clearly 
 illustrated ; and Bishops Home, Horseley, 
 Lowth, Porteus, Watson, and other dignitaries, 
 have employed their time in disseminating the 
 principles of morality and religion. Natural 
 Philosophy has been improved by an extension 
 of the Newtonian system ; and the sedulous 
 attention paid to Chemistry, by Priestley, Davy, 
 Accum, Parkes, and others, has been rewarded 
 by various important discoveries. Agriculture 
 owes much of its improvement to the counte- 
 nance of the late king, and the laudable pur- 
 suits of Mr. Arthur Young. Botany also has 
 
UB APPENDIX. 
 
 been rendered fashionable, by the patronage 
 and attention which it received from the l&te 
 amiable Princess Charlotte, 
 
 The different branches of Medicine have 
 been brought to the highest pitch of perfection, 
 by Abernethy, Bell, Cullen, Home, and others; 
 and that fatal disorder, the small-pox, has been 
 almost entirely annihilated,, by the discovery of 
 vaccination. 
 
 Literature is most liberally encouraged, and' 
 England may be considered the seat of learn- 
 ing and the Muses, History and Biography: 
 have been illuminated and dignified by the wri- 
 tings of Johnson, Henry, Gibbon, Hume, 
 Smollet, Goldsmith, Robertson, &c. : and the 
 literary works of Bell, Brooke, Bryan, Dou- 
 glass, Edgeworth, Hunter, Coxe, Paley, 
 Priestley, Price, Clara Reeve, Charlotte Smith* 
 Montague, &c. &c. will be perused with inte- 
 rest by posterity. Poetry has been cultivated 
 with eminent success ; but although more gor- 
 geous, picturesque, and fanciful, than it was in 
 the time of Pope, it seems to have declined in 
 perspicuity and coherence — in elegance and 
 in force,— -Among the most distinguished fa- 
 vourites of the Muses are, Byron, Beattie, 
 Campbell, Cowper, Coleridge, Goldsmith, Ma- 
 son, Montgomery, Proctor, Rogers, Shen- 
 stone* Southey, Walter .Scott, Wordsworth, 
 and many females, whose poetical powers have 
 been pre-emine.riuy displayed* 
 
APPENDIX. 99 
 
 Since the establishment of the Royal Aca- 
 demy, by his late majesty, the accomplished art 
 of Painting has been revived with ardour, and 
 the productions of the present century may be 
 put in competition with those of the most emi- 
 nent and ancient masters. Among the paint- 
 ers of the first class that adorned the late 
 reign are, Reynolds, West, Lawrence (now 
 president of the Royal Academy), Beechy, 
 Roinney, Opie, Jackson, Morland, Gainsbo- 
 rough, Harlowe, Wilkie, Shee, and many 
 others. The Sculptors meet with little em- 
 ployment, few of our public buildings being- 
 adorned with statues ; although the inimitable 
 works of Flaxman, Westmacott, and Chantry 
 prove that the genius of British artists is no 
 way inferior to that of other nations. Music 
 *has not attained excellence in proportion as it 
 has been disseminated through almost all the 
 orders of the community ; yet we have in- 
 stances of transcendent native talent in the vo- 
 cal powers of Braham, Corri, Dickons, Sal- 
 mon, and Stephens; as well as in the compo- 
 sitions of Arne, Bishop, Busby, Hook, and 
 Shield. 
 
 Besides the discoveries already noticed, gal- 
 vanism has opened a wid** " " * nhiloso- -' 
 cal inqtffry. Eng r 
 stone has also bee 
 the beautiful 1 ; 
 in lamps, &r 
 
100 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 His late majesty took every opportunity of 
 promoting the improvement of geography, and 
 of directing it to the noblest ends, namely, the 
 enlargement of science, and the civilization of 
 mankind. Under his auspices, Byron, Wal- 
 lis, Cook, and Carteret have immortalized 
 their names by numerous and important disco- 
 veries. For the present reign, however, was 
 reserved the glory of carrying on the spirit of 
 maritime enterprise to its greatest extent ; and 
 the intrepid perseverance of Parry and his gal- 
 lant companions, in abiding the rigour of ail 
 Arctic winter, will be viewed with admiration 
 to the latest posterity. 
 
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 THE END, 
 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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