IFyoulookataMapoftheWorld,youwillsee,intheleft-handuppercorneroftheEasternHemisphere,twoIslandslyinginthesea.TheyareEnglandandScotland,andIreland.EnglandandScotlandformthegreaterpartoftheseIslands.Irelandisthenextinsize.Thelittleneighbouringislands,whicharesosmallupontheMapastobemeredots,arechieflylittlebitsofScotland,-brokenoff,Idaresay,inthecourseofagreatlengthoftime,bythepoweroftherestlesswater.
　　Intheolddays,along,longwhileago,beforeOurSaviourwasbornonearthandlayasleepinamanger,theseIslandswereinthesameplace,andthestormysearoaredroundthem,justasitroarsnow.Buttheseawasnotalive,then,withgreatshipsandbravesailors,sailingtoandfromallpartsoftheworld.Itwasverylonely.TheIslandslaysolitary,inthegreatexpanseofwater.
　　Thefoamingwavesdashedagainsttheircliffs,andthebleakwindsblewovertheirforests;butthewindsandwavesbroughtnoadventurerstolandupontheIslands,andthesavageIslandersknewnothingoftherestoftheworld,andtherestoftheworldknewnothingofthem.
　　ItissupposedthatthePhoenicians,whowereanancientpeople,famousforcarryingontrade,cameinshipstotheseIslands,andfoundthattheyproducedtinandlead;bothveryusefulthings,asyouknow,andbothproducedtothisveryhouruponthesea-coast.
　　ThemostcelebratedtinminesinCornwallare,still,closetothesea.Oneofthem,whichIhaveseen,issoclosetoitthatitishollowedoutunderneaththeocean;andtheminerssay,thatinstormyweather,whentheyareatworkdowninthatdeepplace,theycanhearthenoiseofthewavesthunderingabovetheirheads.So,thePhoenicians,coastingabouttheIslands,wouldcome,withoutmuchdifficulty,towherethetinandleadwere.
　　ThePhoenicianstradedwiththeIslandersforthesemetals,andgavetheIslanderssomeotherusefulthingsinexchange.TheIslanderswere,atfirst,poorsavages,goingalmostnaked,oronlydressedintheroughskinsofbeasts,andstainingtheirbodies,asothersavagesdo,withcolouredearthsandthejuicesofplants.
　　ButthePhoenicians,sailingovertotheoppositecoastsofFranceandBelgium,andsayingtothepeoplethere,'Wehavebeentothosewhitecliffsacrossthewater,whichyoucanseeinfineweather,andfromthatcountry,whichiscalledBRITAIN,webringthistinandlead,'temptedsomeoftheFrenchandBelgianstocomeoveralso.ThesepeoplesettledthemselvesonthesouthcoastofEngland,whichisnowcalledKent;and,althoughtheywerearoughpeopletoo,theytaughtthesavageBritonssomeusefularts,andimprovedthatpartoftheIslands.ItisprobablethatotherpeoplecameoverfromSpaintoIreland,andsettledthere.
　　Thus,bylittleandlittle,strangersbecamemixedwiththeIslanders,andthesavageBritonsgrewintoawild,boldpeople;
　　almostsavage,still,especiallyintheinteriorofthecountryawayfromtheseawheretheforeignsettlersseldomwent;buthardy,brave,andstrong.
　　Thewholecountrywascoveredwithforests,andswamps.Thegreaterpartofitwasverymistyandcold.Therewerenoroads,nobridges,nostreets,nohousesthatyouwouldthinkdeservingofthename.Atownwasnothingbutacollectionofstraw-coveredhuts,hiddeninathickwood,withaditchallround,andalowwall,madeofmud,orthetrunksoftreesplacedoneuponanother.
　　Thepeopleplantedlittleornocorn,butliveduponthefleshoftheirflocksandcattle.Theymadenocoins,butusedmetalringsformoney.Theywerecleverinbasket-work,assavagepeopleoftenare;andtheycouldmakeacoarsekindofcloth,andsomeverybadearthenware.Butinbuildingfortressestheyweremuchmoreclever.
　　Theymadeboatsofbasket-work,coveredwiththeskinsofanimals,butseldom,ifever,venturedfarfromtheshore.Theymadeswords,ofcoppermixedwithtin;but,theseswordswereofanawkwardshape,andsosoftthataheavyblowwouldbendone.Theymadelightshields,shortpointeddaggers,andspears-whichtheyjerkedbackaftertheyhadthrownthematanenemy,byalongstripofleatherfastenedtothestem.Thebutt-endwasarattle,tofrightenanenemy'shorse.TheancientBritons,beingdividedintoasmanyasthirtyorfortytribes,eachcommandedbyitsownlittleking,wereconstantlyfightingwithoneanother,assavagepeopleusuallydo;andtheyalwaysfoughtwiththeseweapons.
　　Theywereveryfondofhorses.ThestandardofKentwasthepictureofawhitehorse.Theycouldbreaktheminandmanagethemwonderfullywell.Indeed,thehorsesofwhichtheyhadanabundance,thoughtheywererathersmallweresowelltaughtinthosedays,thattheycanscarcelybesaidtohaveimprovedsince;
　　thoughthemenaresomuchwiser.Theyunderstood,andobeyed,everywordofcommand;andwouldstandstillbythemselves,inallthedinandnoiseofbattle,whiletheirmasterswenttofightonfoot.TheBritonscouldnothavesucceededintheirmostremarkableart,withouttheaidofthesesensibleandtrustyanimals.TheartImean,istheconstructionandmanagementofwar-chariotsorcars,forwhichtheyhaveeverbeencelebratedinhistory.Eachofthebestsortofthesechariots,notquitebreasthighinfront,andopenattheback,containedonemantodrive,andtwoorthreeotherstofight-allstandingup.Thehorseswhodrewthemweresowelltrained,thattheywouldtear,atfullgallop,overthemoststonyways,andeventhroughthewoods;
　　dashingdowntheirmasters'enemiesbeneaththeirhoofs,andcuttingthemtopieceswiththebladesofswords,orscythes,whichwerefastenedtothewheels,andstretchedoutbeyondthecaroneachside,forthatcruelpurpose.Inamoment,whileatfullspeed,thehorseswouldstop,atthedriver'scommand.Themenwithinwouldleapout,dealblowsaboutthemwiththeirswordslikehail,leaponthehorses,onthepole,springbackintothechariotsanyhow;and,assoonastheyweresafe,thehorsestoreawayagain.
　　TheBritonshadastrangeandterriblereligion,calledtheReligionoftheDruids.Itseemstohavebeenbroughtover,inveryearlytimesindeed,fromtheoppositecountryofFrance,ancientlycalledGaul,andtohavemixeduptheworshipoftheSerpent,andoftheSunandMoon,withtheworshipofsomeoftheHeathenGodsandGoddesses.Mostofitsceremonieswerekeptsecretbythepriests,theDruids,whopretendedtobeenchanters,andwhocarriedmagicians'wands,andwore,eachofthem,abouthisneck,whathetoldtheignorantpeoplewasaSerpent'segginagoldencase.ButitiscertainthattheDruidicalceremoniesincludedthesacrificeofhumanvictims,thetortureofsomesuspectedcriminals,and,onparticularoccasions,eventheburningalive,inimmensewickercages,ofanumberofmenandanimalstogether.TheDruidPriestshadsomekindofvenerationfortheOak,andforthemistletoe-thesameplantthatwehangupinhousesatChristmasTimenow-whenitswhiteberriesgrewupontheOak.Theymettogetherindarkwoods,whichtheycalledSacredGroves;andtheretheyinstructed,intheirmysteriousarts,youngmenwhocametothemaspupils,andwhosometimesstayedwiththemaslongastwentyyears.
　　TheseDruidsbuiltgreatTemplesandaltars,opentothesky,fragmentsofsomeofwhichareyetremaining.Stonehenge,onSalisburyPlain,inWiltshire,isthemostextraordinaryofthese.
　　Threecuriousstones,calledKitsCotyHouse,onBluebellHill,nearMaidstone,inKent,formanother.Weknow,fromexaminationofthegreatblocksofwhichsuchbuildingsaremade,thattheycouldnothavebeenraisedwithouttheaidofsomeingeniousmachines,whicharecommonnow,butwhichtheancientBritonscertainlydidnotuseinmakingtheirownuncomfortablehouses.I
　　shouldnotwonderiftheDruids,andtheirpupilswhostayedwiththemtwentyyears,knowingmorethantherestoftheBritons,keptthepeopleoutofsightwhiletheymadethesebuildings,andthenpretendedthattheybuiltthembymagic.Perhapstheyhadahandinthefortressestoo;atallevents,astheywereverypowerful,andverymuchbelievedin,andastheymadeandexecutedthelaws,andpaidnotaxes,Idon'twonderthattheylikedtheirtrade.
　　And,astheypersuadedthepeoplethemoreDruidstherewere,thebetteroffthepeoplewouldbe,Idon'twonderthattherewereagoodmanyofthem.ButitispleasanttothinkthattherearenoDruids,NOW,whogooninthatway,andpretendtocarryEnchanters'WandsandSerpents'Eggs-andofcoursethereisnothingofthekind,anywhere.
　　SuchwastheimprovedconditionoftheancientBritons,fifty-fiveyearsbeforethebirthofOurSaviour,whentheRomans,undertheirgreatGeneral,JuliusCaesar,weremastersofalltherestoftheknownworld.JuliusCaesarhadthenjustconqueredGaul;andhearing,inGaul,agooddealabouttheoppositeIslandwiththewhitecliffs,andaboutthebraveryoftheBritonswhoinhabitedit-someofwhomhadbeenfetchedovertohelptheGaulsinthewaragainsthim-heresolved,ashewassonear,tocomeandconquerBritainnext.
　　So,JuliusCaesarcamesailingovertothisIslandofours,witheightyvesselsandtwelvethousandmen.AndhecamefromtheFrenchcoastbetweenCalaisandBoulogne,'becausethencewastheshortestpassageintoBritain;'justforthesamereasonasoursteam-boatsnowtakethesametrack,everyday.HeexpectedtoconquerBritaineasily:butitwasnotsucheasyworkashesupposed-fortheboldBritonsfoughtmostbravely;and,whatwithnothavinghishorse-soldierswithhimfortheyhadbeendrivenbackbyastorm,andwhatwithhavingsomeofhisvesselsdashedtopiecesbyahightideaftertheyweredrawnashore,herangreatriskofbeingtotallydefeated.However,foroncethattheboldBritonsbeathim,hebeatthemtwice;thoughnotsosoundlybutthathewasverygladtoaccepttheirproposalsofpeace,andgoaway.
　　But,inthespringofthenextyear,hecameback;thistime,witheighthundredvesselsandthirtythousandmen.TheBritishtribeschose,astheirgeneral-in-chief,aBriton,whomtheRomansintheirLatinlanguagecalledCASSIVELLAUNUS,butwhoseBritishnameissupposedtohavebeenCASWALLON.Abravegeneralhewas,andwellheandhissoldiersfoughttheRomanarmy!Sowell,thatwheneverinthatwartheRomansoldierssawagreatcloudofdust,andheardtherattleoftherapidBritishchariots,theytrembledintheirhearts.Besidesanumberofsmallerbattles,therewasabattlefoughtnearCanterbury,inKent;therewasabattlefoughtnearChertsey,inSurrey;therewasabattlefoughtnearamarshylittletowninawood,thecapitalofthatpartofBritainwhichbelongedtoCASSIVELLAUNUS,andwhichwasprobablynearwhatisnowSaintAlbans,inHertfordshire.However,braveCASSIVELLAUNUShadtheworstofit,onthewhole;thoughheandhismenalwaysfoughtlikelions.AstheotherBritishchiefswerejealousofhim,andwerealwaysquarrellingwithhim,andwithoneanother,hegaveup,andproposedpeace.JuliusCaesarwasverygladtograntpeaceeasily,andtogoawayagainwithallhisremainingshipsandmen.
　　HehadexpectedtofindpearlsinBritain,andhemayhavefoundafewforanythingIknow;but,atallevents,hefounddeliciousoysters,andIamsurehefoundtoughBritons-ofwhom,Idaresay,hemadethesamecomplaintasNapoleonBonapartethegreatFrenchGeneraldid,eighteenhundredyearsafterwards,whenhesaidtheyweresuchunreasonablefellowsthattheyneverknewwhentheywerebeaten.TheyneverDIDknow,Ibelieve,andneverwill.
　　Nearlyahundredyearspassedon,andallthattime,therewaspeaceinBritain.TheBritonsimprovedtheirtownsandmodeoflife:becamemorecivilised,travelled,andlearntagreatdealfromtheGaulsandRomans.Atlast,theRomanEmperor,Claudius,sentAULUSPLAUTIUS,askilfulgeneral,withamightyforce,tosubduetheIsland,andshortlyafterwardsarrivedhimself.Theydidlittle;andOSTORIUSSCAPULA,anothergeneral,came.SomeoftheBritishChiefsofTribessubmitted.Othersresolvedtofighttothedeath.Ofthesebravemen,thebravestwasCARACTACUS,orCARADOC,whogavebattletotheRomans,withhisarmy,amongthemountainsofNorthWales.'Thisday,'saidhetohissoldiers,'decidesthefateofBritain!Yourliberty,oryoureternalslavery,datesfromthishour.Rememberyourbraveancestors,whodrovethegreatCaesarhimselfacrossthesea!'Onhearingthesewords,hismen,withagreatshout,rushedupontheRomans.ButthestrongRomanswordsandarmourweretoomuchfortheweakerBritishweaponsincloseconflict.TheBritonslosttheday.ThewifeanddaughterofthebraveCARACTACUSweretakenprisoners;hisbrothersdeliveredthemselvesup;hehimselfwasbetrayedintothehandsoftheRomansbyhisfalseandbasestepmother:andtheycarriedhim,andallhisfamily,intriumphtoRome.
　　Butagreatmanwillbegreatinmisfortune,greatinprison,greatinchains.Hisnobleair,anddignifiedenduranceofdistress,sotouchedtheRomanpeoplewhothrongedthestreetstoseehim,thatheandhisfamilywererestoredtofreedom.Nooneknowswhetherhisgreatheartbroke,andhediedinRome,orwhetherheeverreturnedtohisowndearcountry.Englishoakshavegrownupfromacorns,andwitheredaway,whentheywerehundredsofyearsold-
　　andotheroakshavesprungupintheirplaces,anddiedtoo,veryaged-sincetherestofthehistoryofthebraveCARACTACUSwasforgotten.
　　Still,theBritonsWOULDNOTyield.Theyroseagainandagain,anddiedbythousands,swordinhand.Theyrose,oneverypossibleoccasion.SUETONIUS,anotherRomangeneral,came,andstormedtheIslandofAngleseythencalledMONA,whichwassupposedtobesacred,andheburnttheDruidsintheirownwickercages,bytheirownfires.But,evenwhilehewasinBritain,withhisvictorioustroops,theBRITONSrose.BecauseBOADICEA,aBritishqueen,thewidowoftheKingoftheNorfolkandSuffolkpeople,resistedtheplunderingofherpropertybytheRomanswhoweresettledinEngland,shewasscourged,byorderofCATUSaRomanofficer;andhertwodaughterswereshamefullyinsultedinherpresence,andherhusband'srelationsweremadeslaves.Toavengethisinjury,theBritonsrose,withalltheirmightandrage.TheydroveCATUSintoGaul;theylaidtheRomanpossessionswaste;theyforcedtheRomansoutofLondon,thenapoorlittletown,butatradingplace;theyhanged,burnt,crucified,andslewbythesword,seventythousandRomansinafewdays.SUETONIUSstrengthenedhisarmy,andadvancedtogivethembattle.Theystrengthenedtheirarmy,anddesperatelyattackedhis,onthefieldwhereitwasstronglyposted.BeforethefirstchargeoftheBritonswasmade,BOADICEA,inawar-chariot,withherfairhairstreaminginthewind,andherinjureddaughterslyingatherfeet,droveamongthetroops,andcriedtothemforvengeanceontheiroppressors,thelicentiousRomans.TheBritonsfoughttothelast;buttheywerevanquishedwithgreatslaughter,andtheunhappyqueentookpoison.
　　Still,thespiritoftheBritonswasnotbroken.WhenSUETONIUS
　　leftthecountry,theyfelluponhistroops,andretooktheIslandofAnglesey.AGRICOLAcame,fifteenortwentyyearsafterwards,andretookitoncemore,anddevotedsevenyearstosubduingthecountry,especiallythatpartofitwhichisnowcalledSCOTLAND;
　　but,itspeople,theCaledonians,resistedhimateveryinchofground.Theyfoughtthebloodiestbattleswithhim;theykilledtheirverywivesandchildren,topreventhismakingprisonersofthem;theyfell,fighting,insuchgreatnumbersthatcertainhillsinScotlandareyetsupposedtobevastheapsofstonespiledupabovetheirgraves.HADRIANcame,thirtyyearsafterwards,andstilltheyresistedhim.SEVERUScame,nearlyahundredyearsafterwards,andtheyworriedhisgreatarmylikedogs,andrejoicedtoseethemdie,bythousands,inthebogsandswamps.CARACALLA,thesonandsuccessorofSEVERUS,didthemosttoconquerthem,foratime;butnotbyforceofarms.Heknewhowlittlethatwoulddo.HeyieldedupaquantityoflandtotheCaledonians,andgavetheBritonsthesameprivilegesastheRomanspossessed.Therewaspeace,afterthis,forseventyyears.
　　Thennewenemiesarose.TheyweretheSaxons,afierce,sea-faringpeoplefromthecountriestotheNorthoftheRhine,thegreatriverofGermanyonthebanksofwhichthebestgrapesgrowtomaketheGermanwine.Theybegantocome,inpirateships,tothesea-
　　coastofGaulandBritain,andtoplunderthem.TheywererepulsedbyCARAUSIUS,anativeeitherofBelgiumorofBritain,whowasappointedbytheRomanstothecommand,andunderwhomtheBritonsfirstbegantofightuponthesea.But,afterthistime,theyrenewedtheirravages.Afewyearsmore,andtheScotswhichwasthenthenameforthepeopleofIreland,andthePicts,anorthernpeople,begantomakefrequentplunderingincursionsintotheSouthofBritain.Alltheseattackswererepeated,atintervals,duringtwohundredyears,andthroughalongsuccessionofRomanEmperorsandchiefs;duringallwhichlengthoftime,theBritonsroseagainsttheRomans,overandoveragain.Atlast,inthedaysoftheRomanHONORIUS,whentheRomanpowerallovertheworldwasfastdeclining,andwhenRomewantedallhersoldiersathome,theRomansabandonedallhopeofconqueringBritain,andwentaway.
　　Andstill,atlast,asatfirst,theBritonsroseagainstthem,intheiroldbravemanner;for,averylittlewhilebefore,theyhadturnedawaytheRomanmagistrates,anddeclaredthemselvesanindependentpeople.
　　Fivehundredyearshadpassed,sinceJuliusCaesar'sfirstinvasionoftheIsland,whentheRomansdepartedfromitforever.Inthecourseofthattime,althoughtheyhadbeenthecauseofterriblefightingandbloodshed,theyhaddonemuchtoimprovetheconditionoftheBritons.Theyhadmadegreatmilitaryroads;theyhadbuiltforts;theyhadtaughtthemhowtodress,andarmthemselves,muchbetterthantheyhadeverknownhowtodobefore;theyhadrefinedthewholeBritishwayofliving.AGRICOLAhadbuiltagreatwallofearth,morethanseventymileslong,extendingfromNewcastletobeyondCarlisle,forthepurposeofkeepingoutthePictsandScots;HADRIANhadstrengthenedit;SEVERUS,findingitmuchinwantofrepair,hadbuiltitafreshofstone.
　　Aboveall,itwasintheRomantime,andbymeansofRomanships,thattheChristianReligionwasfirstbroughtintoBritain,anditspeoplefirsttaughtthegreatlessonthat,tobegoodinthesightofGOD,theymustlovetheirneighboursasthemselves,anddountoothersastheywouldbedoneby.TheDruidsdeclaredthatitwasverywickedtobelieveinanysuchthing,andcursedallthepeoplewhodidbelieveit,veryheartily.But,whenthepeoplefoundthattheywerenonethebetterfortheblessingsoftheDruids,andnonetheworseforthecursesoftheDruids,but,thatthesunshoneandtherainfellwithoutconsultingtheDruidsatall,theyjustbegantothinkthattheDruidsweremeremen,andthatitsignifiedverylittlewhethertheycursedorblessed.Afterwhich,thepupilsoftheDruidsfelloffgreatlyinnumbers,andtheDruidstooktoothertrades.
　　ThusIhavecometotheendoftheRomantimeinEngland.Itisbutlittlethatisknownofthosefivehundredyears;butsomeremainsofthemarestillfound.Often,whenlabourersaredigginguptheground,tomakefoundationsforhousesorchurches,theylightonrustymoneythatoncebelongedtotheRomans.Fragmentsofplatesfromwhichtheyate,ofgobletsfromwhichtheydrank,andofpavementonwhichtheytrod,arediscoveredamongtheearththatisbrokenbytheplough,orthedustthatiscrumbledbythegardener'sspade.WellsthattheRomanssunk,stillyieldwater;
　　roadsthattheRomansmade,formpartofourhighways.Insomeoldbattle-fields,Britishspear-headsandRomanarmourhavebeenfound,mingledtogetherindecay,astheyfellinthethickpressureofthefight.TracesofRomancampsovergrownwithgrass,andofmoundsthataretheburial-placesofheapsofBritons,aretobeseeninalmostallpartsofthecountry.AcrossthebleakmoorsofNorthumberland,thewallofSEVERUS,overrunwithmossandweeds,stillstretches,astrongruin;andtheshepherdsandtheirdogsliesleepingonitinthesummerweather.OnSalisburyPlain,Stonehengeyetstands:amonumentoftheearliertimewhentheRomannamewasunknowninBritain,andwhentheDruids,withtheirbestmagicwands,couldnothavewrittenitinthesandsofthewildsea-shore.
　　CHAPTERII-ANCIENTENGLANDUNDERTHEEARLYSAXONS
　　THERomanshadscarcelygoneawayfromBritain,whentheBritonsbegantowishtheyhadneverleftit.For,theRomansbeinggone,andtheBritonsbeingmuchreducedinnumbersbytheirlongwars,thePictsandScotscamepouringin,overthebrokenandunguardedwallofSEVERUS,inswarms.Theyplunderedtherichesttowns,andkilledthepeople;andcamebacksooftenformorebootyandmoreslaughter,thattheunfortunateBritonslivedalifeofterror.AsifthePictsandScotswerenotbadenoughonland,theSaxonsattackedtheislandersbysea;and,asifsomethingmorewerestillwantingtomakethemmiserable,theyquarrelledbitterlyamongthemselvesastowhatprayerstheyoughttosay,andhowtheyoughttosaythem.Thepriests,beingveryangrywithoneanotheronthesequestions,cursedoneanotherintheheartiestmanner;anduncommonlyliketheoldDruidscursedallthepeoplewhomtheycouldnotpersuade.So,altogether,theBritonswereverybadlyoff,youmaybelieve.
　　Theywereinsuchdistress,inshort,thattheysentalettertoRomeentreatinghelp-whichtheycalledtheGroansoftheBritons;
　　andinwhichtheysaid,'Thebarbarianschaseusintothesea,theseathrowsusbackuponthebarbarians,andwehaveonlythehardchoiceleftusofperishingbythesword,orperishingbythewaves.'But,theRomanscouldnothelpthem,eveniftheyweresoinclined;fortheyhadenoughtodotodefendthemselvesagainsttheirownenemies,whowerethenveryfierceandstrong.Atlast,theBritons,unabletobeartheirhardconditionanylonger,resolvedtomakepeacewiththeSaxons,andtoinvitetheSaxonstocomeintotheircountry,andhelpthemtokeepoutthePictsandScots.
　　ItwasaBritishPrincenamedVORTIGERNwhotookthisresolution,andwhomadeatreatyoffriendshipwithHENGISTandHORSA,twoSaxonchiefs.Bothofthesenames,intheoldSaxonlanguage,signifyHorse;fortheSaxons,likemanyothernationsinaroughstate,werefondofgivingmenthenamesofanimals,asHorse,Wolf,Bear,Hound.TheIndiansofNorthAmerica,-averyinferiorpeopletotheSaxons,though-dothesametothisday.
　　HENGISTandHORSAdroveoutthePictsandScots;andVORTIGERN,beinggratefultothemforthatservice,madenooppositiontotheirsettlingthemselvesinthatpartofEnglandwhichiscalledtheIsleofThanet,ortotheirinvitingovermoreoftheircountrymentojointhem.ButHENGISThadabeautifuldaughternamedROWENA;andwhen,atafeast,shefilledagoldengoblettothebrimwithwine,andgaveittoVORTIGERN,sayinginasweetvoice,'DearKing,thyhealth!'theKingfellinlovewithher.Myopinionis,thatthecunningHENGISTmeanthimtodoso,inorderthattheSaxonsmighthavegreaterinfluencewithhim;andthatthefairROWENAcametothatfeast,goldengobletandall,onpurpose.
　　Atanyrate,theyweremarried;and,longafterwards,whenevertheKingwasangrywiththeSaxons,orjealousoftheirencroachments,ROWENAwouldputherbeautifularmsroundhisneck,andsoftlysay,'DearKing,theyaremypeople!Befavourabletothem,asyoulovedthatSaxongirlwhogaveyouthegoldengobletofwineatthefeast!'And,really,Idon'tseehowtheKingcouldhelphimself.
　　Ah!Wemustalldie!Inthecourseofyears,VORTIGERNdied-hewasdethroned,andputinprison,first,Iamafraid;andROWENA
　　died;andgenerationsofSaxonsandBritonsdied;andeventsthathappenedduringalong,longtime,wouldhavebeenquiteforgottenbutforthetalesandsongsoftheoldBards,whousedtogoaboutfromfeasttofeast,withtheirwhitebeards,recountingthedeedsoftheirforefathers.Amongthehistoriesofwhichtheysangandtalked,therewasafamousone,concerningthebraveryandvirtuesofKINGARTHUR,supposedtohavebeenaBritishPrinceinthoseoldtimes.But,whethersuchapersonreallylived,orwhethertherewereseveralpersonswhosehistoriescametobeconfusedtogetherunderthatonename,orwhetherallabouthimwasinvention,nooneknows.
　　Iwilltellyou,shortly,whatismostinterestingintheearlySaxontimes,astheyaredescribedinthesesongsandstoriesoftheBards.
　　In,andlongafter,thedaysofVORTIGERN,freshbodiesofSaxons,undervariouschiefs,camepouringintoBritain.Onebody,conqueringtheBritonsintheEast,andsettlingthere,calledtheirkingdomEssex;anotherbodysettledintheWest,andcalledtheirkingdomWessex;theNorthfolk,orNorfolkpeople,establishedthemselvesinoneplace;theSouthfolk,orSuffolkpeople,establishedthemselvesinanother;andgraduallysevenkingdomsorstatesaroseinEngland,whichwerecalledtheSaxonHeptarchy.
　　ThepoorBritons,fallingbackbeforethesecrowdsoffightingmenwhomtheyhadinnocentlyinvitedoverasfriends,retiredintoWalesandtheadjacentcountry;intoDevonshire,andintoCornwall.
　　ThosepartsofEnglandlongremainedunconquered.AndinCornwallnow-wherethesea-coastisverygloomy,steep,andrugged-
　　where,inthedarkwinter-time,shipshaveoftenbeenwreckedclosetotheland,andeverysoulonboardhasperished-wherethewindsandwaveshowldrearilyandsplitthesolidrocksintoarchesandcaverns-thereareveryancientruins,whichthepeoplecalltheruinsofKINGARTHUR'SCastle.
　　KentisthemostfamousofthesevenSaxonkingdoms,becausetheChristianreligionwaspreachedtotheSaxonstherewhodomineeredovertheBritonstoomuch,tocareforwhatTHEYsaidabouttheirreligion,oranythingelsebyAUGUSTINE,amonkfromRome.KING
　　ETHELBERT,ofKent,wassoonconverted;andthemomenthesaidhewasaChristian,hiscourtiersallsaidTHEYwereChristians;afterwhich,tenthousandofhissubjectssaidtheywereChristianstoo.
　　AUGUSTINEbuiltalittlechurch,closetothisKing'spalace,onthegroundnowoccupiedbythebeautifulcathedralofCanterbury.
　　SEBERT,theKing'snephew,builtonamuddymarshyplacenearLondon,wheretherehadbeenatempletoApollo,achurchdedicatedtoSaintPeter,whichisnowWestminsterAbbey.And,inLondonitself,onthefoundationofatempletoDiana,hebuiltanotherlittlechurchwhichhasrisenup,sincethatoldtime,tobeSaintPaul's.
　　AfterthedeathofETHELBERT,EDWIN,KingofNorthumbria,whowassuchagoodkingthatitwassaidawomanorchildmightopenlycarryapurseofgold,inhisreign,withoutfear,allowedhischildtobebaptised,andheldagreatcounciltoconsiderwhetherheandhispeopleshouldallbeChristiansornot.Itwasdecidedthattheyshouldbe.COIFI,thechiefpriestoftheoldreligion,madeagreatspeechontheoccasion.Inthisdiscourse,hetoldthepeoplethathehadfoundouttheoldgodstobeimpostors.'I
　　amquitesatisfiedofit,'hesaid.'Lookatme!Ihavebeenservingthemallmylife,andtheyhavedonenothingforme;
　　whereas,iftheyhadbeenreallypowerful,theycouldnothavedecentlydoneless,inreturnforallIhavedoneforthem,thanmakemyfortune.Astheyhavenevermademyfortune,Iamquiteconvincedtheyareimpostors!'Whenthissingularpriesthadfinishedspeaking,hehastilyarmedhimselfwithswordandlance,mountedawar-horse,rodeatafuriousgallopinsightofallthepeopletothetemple,andflunghislanceagainstitasaninsult.
　　Fromthattime,theChristianreligionspreaditselfamongtheSaxons,andbecametheirfaith.
　　ThenextveryfamousprincewasEGBERT.Helivedaboutahundredandfiftyyearsafterwards,andclaimedtohaveabetterrighttothethroneofWessexthanBEORTRIC,anotherSaxonprincewhowasattheheadofthatkingdom,andwhomarriedEDBURGA,thedaughterofOFFA,kingofanotherofthesevenkingdoms.ThisQUEENEDBURGA
　　wasahandsomemurderess,whopoisonedpeoplewhentheyoffendedher.Oneday,shemixedacupofpoisonforacertainnoblebelongingtothecourt;butherhusbanddrankofittoo,bymistake,anddied.Uponthis,thepeoplerevolted,ingreatcrowds;andrunningtothepalace,andthunderingatthegates,cried,'Downwiththewickedqueen,whopoisonsmen!'Theydroveheroutofthecountry,andabolishedthetitleshehaddisgraced.
　　Whenyearshadpassedaway,sometravellerscamehomefromItaly,andsaidthatinthetownofPaviatheyhadseenaraggedbeggar-
　　woman,whohadoncebeenhandsome,butwasthenshrivelled,bent,andyellow,wanderingaboutthestreets,cryingforbread;andthatthisbeggar-womanwasthepoisoningEnglishqueen.Itwas,indeed,EDBURGA;andsoshedied,withoutashelterforherwretchedhead.
　　EGBERT,notconsideringhimselfsafeinEngland,inconsequenceofhishavingclaimedthecrownofWessexforhethoughthisrivalmighttakehimprisonerandputhimtodeath,soughtrefugeatthecourtofCHARLEMAGNE,KingofFrance.OnthedeathofBEORTRIC,sounhappilypoisonedbymistake,EGBERTcamebacktoBritain;
　　succeededtothethroneofWessex;conqueredsomeoftheothermonarchsofthesevenkingdoms;addedtheirterritoriestohisown;
　　and,forthefirsttime,calledthecountryoverwhichheruled,ENGLAND.
　　Andnow,newenemiesarose,who,foralongtime,troubledEnglandsorely.TheseweretheNorthmen,thepeopleofDenmarkandNorway,whomtheEnglishcalledtheDanes.Theywereawarlikepeople,quiteathomeuponthesea;notChristians;verydaringandcruel.
　　Theycameoverinships,andplunderedandburnedwheresoevertheylanded.Once,theybeatEGBERTinbattle.Once,EGBERTbeatthem.
　　But,theycarednomoreforbeingbeatenthantheEnglishthemselves.Inthefourfollowingshortreigns,ofETHELWULF,andhissons,ETHELBALD,ETHELBERT,andETHELRED,theycameback,overandoveragain,burningandplundering,andlayingEnglandwaste.
　　Inthelast-mentionedreign,theyseizedEDMUND,KingofEastEngland,andboundhimtoatree.Then,theyproposedtohimthatheshouldchangehisreligion;buthe,beingagoodChristian,steadilyrefused.Uponthat,theybeathim,madecowardlyjestsuponhim,alldefencelessashewas,shotarrowsathim,and,finally,struckoffhishead.Itisimpossibletosaywhoseheadtheymighthavestruckoffnext,butforthedeathofKINGETHELRED
　　fromawoundhehadreceivedinfightingagainstthem,andthesuccessiontohisthroneofthebestandwisestkingthateverlivedinEngland.
　　CHAPTERIII-ENGLANDUNDERTHEGOODSAXON,ALFRED
　　ALFREDTHEGREATwasayoungman,three-and-twentyyearsofage,whenhebecameking.Twiceinhischildhood,hehadbeentakentoRome,wheretheSaxonnobleswereinthehabitofgoingonjourneyswhichtheysupposedtobereligious;and,once,hehadstayedforsometimeinParis.Learning,however,wassolittlecaredfor,then,thatattwelveyearsoldhehadnotbeentaughttoread;
　　although,ofthesonsofKINGETHELWULF,he,theyoungest,wasthefavourite.Buthehad-asmostmenwhogrowuptobegreatandgoodaregenerallyfoundtohavehad-anexcellentmother;and,oneday,thislady,whosenamewasOSBURGA,happened,asshewassittingamonghersons,toreadabookofSaxonpoetry.Theartofprintingwasnotknownuntillongandlongafterthatperiod,andthebook,whichwaswritten,waswhatiscalled'illuminated,'withbeautifulbrightletters,richlypainted.Thebrothersadmiringitverymuch,theirmothersaid,'Iwillgiveittothatoneofyoufourprinceswhofirstlearnstoread.'ALFREDsoughtoutatutorthatveryday,appliedhimselftolearnwithgreatdiligence,andsoonwonthebook.Hewasproudofit,allhislife.
　　Thisgreatking,inthefirstyearofhisreign,foughtninebattleswiththeDanes.Hemadesometreatieswiththemtoo,bywhichthefalseDanessworetheywouldquitthecountry.Theypretendedtoconsiderthattheyhadtakenaverysolemnoath,inswearingthisupontheholybraceletsthattheywore,andwhichwerealwaysburiedwiththemwhentheydied;buttheycaredlittleforit,fortheythoughtnothingofbreakingoathsandtreatiestoo,assoonasitsuitedtheirpurpose,andcomingbackagaintofight,plunder,andburn,asusual.Onefatalwinter,inthefourthyearofKINGALFRED'Sreign,theyspreadthemselvesingreatnumbersoverthewholeofEngland;andsodispersedandroutedtheKing'ssoldiersthattheKingwasleftalone,andwasobligedtodisguisehimselfasacommonpeasant,andtotakerefugeinthecottageofoneofhiscowherdswhodidnotknowhisface.
　　Here,KINGALFRED,whiletheDanessoughthimfarandnear,wasleftaloneoneday,bythecowherd'swife,towatchsomecakeswhichsheputtobakeuponthehearth.But,beingatworkuponhisbowandarrows,withwhichhehopedtopunishthefalseDaneswhenabrightertimeshouldcome,andthinkingdeeplyofhispoorunhappysubjectswhomtheDaneschasedthroughtheland,hisnoblemindforgotthecakes,andtheywereburnt.'What!'saidthecowherd'swife,whoscoldedhimwellwhenshecameback,andlittlethoughtshewasscoldingtheKing,'youwillbereadyenoughtoeatthemby-and-by,andyetyoucannotwatchthem,idledog?'