A History of England, Volume 1O'Shea, 1860 |
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afterwards Alfred ancient Anglo-Saxon appears apud archbishop army Asser Athelstan authority barbarians battle Bede bishop Bretwalda Britain British Britons brother Cæsar Canute Cerdic chieftains Christianity Chron chroniclers church coast command compelled conquest court crown Cyneheard Danes Danish daughter death descendants dominions ealdorman earl East-Anglia Edgar Edmund Edward Edwin Edwy Egfrid emperor enemy England English Ethelbald Ethelbert Ethelred Ethelwulf father favour fleet Flor followed Gaul Godwin Hardecanute Harold Hist historians honour Hunt Ibid inhabitants invaders island isle Kent king king of Mercia king of Wessex king's kingdom land lord Mailros Malm Malmsbury Mercia monarch monastery monks murder nations natives Norman Normandy Northmen Northumbrians oath Oswio Picts plunder possession prelates prince province punishment queen received reign returned Roman Rome royal sail Saxon Scots slain solicited soon success successor Sussex Sweyn sword Thames thanes throne tion tribes vassal victory Wessex West-Saxons Winchester witan writers
Popular passages
Page 322 - By the lord," said the inferior, placing his hands between those of his chief, " I promise to be faithful and true ; to love all that thou lovest, and shun all that thou shunnrat, conformably to the laws of God and man ; and never in will or weald (power), in word or work, to do that which thou loathest, provided thou hold me as I mean to serve, and fulfil the conditions to which we agreed when I subjected myself to thee, and chose thy...
Page 318 - He ordered a division of horse to flee: they were pursued: and the temerity of the pursuers was punished with instant destruction. The same feint was tried with equal success in another part of the field. These losses might diminish the numbers of the English: but the main body obstinately maintained its position; and bade defiance to every effort of the Normans.* During the engagement William had given the most signal proofs of personal bravery. Three horses had been killed under him; and he had...
Page 75 - While he was in possession of this dignity, he received intelligence that forty strangers had landed on the isle of Thanet. These were Augustine and his associates, partly Gauls, partly Italians, whom Pope Gregory the Great had sent for the benevolent purpose of converting the pagans. Ethelbert could not be unacquainted with the Christian religion. It was probably the belief of the majority of the British slaves in his dominions : it was certainly professed by his queen Bertha, the daughter of Charibert,...
Page 8 - Belgse, or inhabitants of the present counties of Hampshire and Wilts; and the Damnonii, who, from the river Ex, had gradually extended themselves to the western promontory. Across the arm of the sea, now called the Bristol Channel, the most powerful was the tribe of the Silures. From the banks of the Wye, their original seat, they had carried their arms to the Dee and the ocean ; and their authority was...
Page 319 - William, attracted by the cries of the combatants, was hastening to the place, he met Eustace of Boulogne and fifty knights fleeing with all their speed. He called on them to stop: but the earl, while he was in the act of whispering into the ear of the Duke, received a stroke on the back, which forced the blood out of his mouth and nostrils. He was carried in a state of insensibility to his tent: William's intrepidity hurried him forward to the scene of danger.
Page 343 - The principal members seem to have been the spiritual and temporal thanes, who held immediately of the crown, and who could command the services of military vassals. It was necessary that the king should obtain the assent of these to all legislative enactments : because without their acquiescence and support it was impossible to carry them into execution. To many charters we have the signatures of the witan. They seldom exceed thirty in number ; they never amount to sixty.
Page 266 - ... silver vases, with rich mantles and garments. I therefore took the opportunity to treat with the pope, the- emperor, and the princes, on the grievances of my people, both English...
Page 268 - ... their means, and will, I trust, of his goodness, preserve us and humble all our enemies. When I shall have concluded peace with the neighbouring nations, and settled the concerns of my eastern dominions, it is my intention to return to England, as soon as the fine weather will permit me to sail. But I have sent you this letter beforehand ; that all the people of my kingdom may rejoice at my prosperity. For you all know that I never spared nor will spare myself, or my labour, when my object is...
Page xxvii - ... than his authorities have disclosed, or the facts themselves necessarily suggest. If he indulge his imagination, if he pretend to detect the hidden springs of every action, the real origin of every event, he may embellish his narrative, but he will impose upon his readers, and probably upon himself. Much research and experience may perhaps have entitled me to form an opinion : and I have little hesitation in saying, that few writers have done more to pervert the truth of history, than philosophical...
Page 4 - On the brink of a precipice, or on the rapidity of a descent, they guided their vehicles with as much safety as on the level plain. No danger appalled them. They drove fearlessly along the Roman line, espied every opportunity of breaking the ranks of the enemy, and during the heat of the action would run along the pole, leap on the ground, or regain their seats, as the events of the moment seemed to demand. If they despaired of success, they retired with rapidity : if they were pursued, they abandoned...