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has been made of the original authorities for each period, and every statement verified by reference to them.

§ 3. Nowhere, however, will be found in this work the cheap suggestion of familiarity with these original authorities which is implied by that affected spelling of well-known names in antiquated form, so fashionable of late amongst historical writers. Such words as Elfred, Eadward, Æthelthryth, Knut, and the like, are given in the oldfashioned shapes which the general consent of English writers has assigned to them, departure from which is a totally needless and wholly objectionable break in the continuity of English literature. "Britons," "Saxons," "Danes," and "Normans" are also, in this work, spoken of in the time-honoured manner, rather than with the new-fangled precision in nomenclature by which various authors are prone to show their acquaintance with the latest theories of our complex nationality.

§ 4. No historian of Cambridgeshire can avoid devoting a considerable portion of his space to the development and vicissitudes of that great institution which has made the County name so famous-the University of Cambridge. At the same time a County history is not a history of the University, of whose development my object has been rather to introduce a series of sketches than to tell the complete tale, already so well told by others. Only where these sketches have involved the use of hitherto unpublished material have I endeavoured to make them anything more than an outline.

§ 5. Cambridgeshire is commonly held to be a district singularly devoid of interest, both physically and historically. This estimate is unjust. The County does not, indeed, present the marked natural features of Devonshire or Yorkshire, nor has it had any special share in the great military and political cataclysms of English history. But to say nothing of the glories of Ely, and of Cambridge itself—there are few parts of England

where can be found fairer pictures of English rural life. Ancient churches of rare architectural beauty, thatched cottages gleaming around village greens, breezy meadows beside bright streams, golden harvest-fields, whence the gleaners may yet be seen, as of old, returning at eventide with their sheaves, combine to make up a landscape delightsome and restful to eye and soul. And the following pages will, I trust, show that the tale of "the slowground ages," whose "grist" such scenes are, is likewise, in no small degree, full of pleasant and unflagging, if quiet, interest.

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46. Roman Conquest begun

50. First Icenian revolt crushed by Ostorius

51. Roman Conquest completed by overthrow of Caractacus Boadicea's rebellion

61.

Cambridgeshire wasted by Romans

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Pax Romana, Cambridgeshire flourishing and populous 22, 26
Cambridge (? Camboritum) a Roman town

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138. Antoninus Emperor. Itinerary

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277. Probus deports Vandals to Britain. Vandlebury (?) 284. Diocletian Emperor

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A.D.

286. Carausius assumes diadem in Britain

293. Allectus murders and succeeds him

First importance of British fleet

296. Allectus overthrown by Constantius Chlorus, Cæsar of

the West

312. Battle of Milvian Bridge won by Constantine

Christianity established in Britain

353. Magnentian rebellion. Battle of Mursa

383. Maximus leads British army against Gratian 395. Honorius Emperor

402. Legion withdrawn from Britain

403. Notitia compiled

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406. Stilicho withdraws Roman troops from Rhine. Gaul overrun by barbarians

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407. British army tries to save the West, and, under another

Constantine, conquers Gaul and Spain

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411. Constantine slain. Britain left defenceless to raids of

Saxons, Picts, and Scots

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597. Roman Mission, under Augustine, begins conversion of

England

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599. Redwald, King of East Anglia, a semi-Christian 617. Earpwald succeeds, as heathen

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626. Penda, King of Mercia, champion of heathenism 627. Edwin, King of Northumbria, baptized by Paulinus 628. Earpwald converted, and slain. Heathen reaction 631. Sigbert succeeds; a zealous Christian

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St. Felix, the Apostle of East Anglia, founds monastery
at Soham

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