of the day, immediately after the battle Hengift first took upon him the title of King of Kent.

457. Two years after, another battle was fought near Crayford in Kent, wherein Vortimer was entirely defeated, with the lofs of more than 4000 men and his best officers.

Vortimer retired and fhut himself up in London, not being able to keep the field; and Hengift, to terrify the Britons, ravaged the country in a merciless manner: they that were moft expofed to the fury of the Saxons left their habitations and fled to the woods for shelter.

458. The Britons defired affiftance of the kings of Armorica, when Ambrofius was fent with 10000 men, but through jealousy prevented from being joined by the Britons, who became a prey to their inteftine broils, instead of uniting against the common *enemy.

Numbers of the Britons retired into Wales, and fome went to Holland, and landed near Leyden.

Thus the unhappy Britons, for seven or eight years, fuffered all the calamities of a civil war, till by agreement a divifion of the kingdom put an end to their animofities.

466. The war was again renewed against their common enemy the Saxons, and in the first engagement Hengift loft Wipped his general, at Ipswich in Suffolk.

467. It was in this war the famous. Arthur at 14 years of age first made his appearance. He was King of Cornwall and Devon.

473. A battle was loft by the Britons, which enabled the Saxons to enlarge their dominions.

475. Vertimer died by poifon, given by his mother in law Rowena, at the inftigation of Hengift, and was buried at Ļincoln.

476. Hengift entertained Vortigern and 300 of his principal noblemen, whom he murdered on May 1, and in memory of it Ambrofius erected Stone-benge in Wiltshire.

Ambrofius affumed the purple in Britain, after the manner of the Romans.

477. Hengift's treachery and murder of the British nobles rendered him hated, and his country became depopulated, by the inhabitants retiring to other parts; which induced him to fend to Germany for Ella, who landed at Whitering in Suffex, but not without oppofition.

With him arrived his fons, the youngest whom was Cifja. He had continual

wars with the Britons, the particulars whereof are unknown, except that they fettled on the fea-coaft, and were called the SouthSaxons, and their country Suflex. Thole that were fettled on the east coaft were called Eaft Saxons, and their country Effex. The country between Effex and Suffex was termed Middlesex. As for Kent, it retained its ancient name.

Without any previous treaty or truce, both Britons and Saxons laid quiet for eight years.

485. The Britons took arms against Vortigern, purfued him into Wales, where they befieged him in a caftle which took fire, and he perished in the flames, after a troublefome reign of 30 years.

487. Ambrofius renewed the war against the Saxons, and obtained a fignal victory over Ella and his two eldest fons.

488. Hengift died, aged 69, having been in Britain 39 years, and on the throne of Kent 33.

490. Prince Arthur, who had long affifted Ambrofius, made a voyage to Jerufalem.

491. Arthur returned, and defeated the Northumbrian Saxons.

Ella having taken a ftrong place, where now Pevernfey is, in Suffex, affumed the title of King of the South Saxons, and was elected the Monarch or General, in the room of Hengift.

494. Arthur again defeated the Northum brian Saxons, on the river Dugles, near Wiggan in Lancashire.

495. Cerdić, a Saxon general, arrived in Britain, from whom defcended the kings of England, in the male line, to Edward the Confeffor, and in the female line, to his prefent Majefty.

The fame year Arthur befieged York, but was obliged to raise the fiege, as Cerdic's landing had brought fresh troops.

497. Arthur defeated the revolted fub jects of Ambrofius, and drove their leader into Wales, where he procured the poffeffion of Brecknoc and Radnorfbire, which he erected into a kingdom.

501. Porta, another Saxon, landed at the place now called Portfmouth, with more Saxons, who became fo very numerous, that Artbur quitted the field and retired to London

504. The valiant Arthur again took the field at the head of 15000 men, and defeated the Saxons under Cerdic near Bofton and foon after a fecond time, near Gainsford.

508. The Britons were defeated at Chardford in Hampshire, 5000 men were

fain, and Ambrofius died in a very advanced age.

Artbur fucceeded Ambrofius in the government, and his name was terrible to the Saxons: he was crowned at Caerleon, and defeated the Northumbrians on the borders of the river Ribroit, that runs through Lancashire, which was his tenth victory over the Saxons; and foon after again defeated another army of theirs at Cadbury in S.nerfetfhire.

511. The battle of Baden-Hill near Bath, where a most complete victory was gained by Arthur, wherein two of the Saxon chiefs were flain, and Cerdic was obliged to retire to an inacceffible poft. Here Ar#bur flew 400 with his own hand.

512. The Pits made a defcent in the north in favour of the Saxons, against whom Arthur went, defeated them, and ravaged their country.

The fame year died Guenver, the wife of Arthur, and fhe was buried in the county of Angus in Scotland.

Artbur retired to York to regulate the affairs of the church.

513. Cerdic received a fupply of troops, which landed at Calfbot in Hampshire, from Germany, to reinforce his army, after his defeat at Baden-Hill; took the field again, and committed great devaftations.

519. Cerdic defeated the Britons, which made them defpair of extirpating the Sax

528. Arthur made a treaty with Cerdie and affumed the title of Emperor.

530. Cerdic fubdued the Ifle of Wight and cruelly deftroyed the inhabitants.

531. Modred, Arthur's nephew, debauched the Queen in private, and married her publickly; furrendered a great part of Arthur's dominions to Cerdic, and was crowned King of the remainder at London.

532. Cerdic invited over more Saxons. .533. Cerdic gave the Idle of Wight to his nephews.

535 Arthur returned from Armorica and difcovering Modred's villany, raifed forces, and after feveral defeats in favour of Arthur, a decifive one was fought in 542, near Camelford, wherein both fell, and with Arthur all the hopes of the Britons. Arthur was buried at Glaftonbury, aged go, 76 years of which was fpent in continual exercife of arms. He was born at Tindagel in Cornwall.

547. Ida, an Angle, landed at Flamborough, and became the first King of Northumberland.

552. The Britons made a weak effort against the Saxons without fuccefs.

560. The bishoprick of St. Asaph founded by Kentiger, a Scot. Himfelf the first bishop.

571. Uffa affumed the title of King of the Eaft Angles.

572. Chevlin obliged the kings of Kent, Effex and Suffex to fubmit to him as their fuperior. He then attacked the Britons, but death feized him in the midft of his victories..

584. Crida, a Saxon chief, arrived in Britain with a large fleet, and made great conquefts, which obliged the Britons to retire entirely into Cambria, and Crida founded the kingdom of Mercia, which was the last of the feven Saxon kingdoms, called the Heptarchy..

585. The Saxons change the name of Cambria into Wales.

About the fame time the Anglo Saxons unanimously agreed to call the feven kingdoms in general by the name of England, that is, the country of the Angles.

2 Sledda

3 Sebert

This kingdom began 571, ended 792, having continued 221 years. Its firft chri ftian king was Redwald.

584. The feventh was the kingdom of Mercia. It contained the counties of Huntingdon, Rutland, Lincoln, Northampton,. Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Oxford, Chester, Salop, Gloucester, Worcester, Stafford, War wick, Buckingham, Bedford, and Hertford. Its kings were 1 Crida began 2 Whibba

Cheorl

Penda

5 Peada

6 Wolfbere 7 Ethelred

8 Kenred

527 587 8 Sigbere

655

670

9 Chilred

604 9 Sebba

683

694

12 Offa

705

584 11 Offa began 757 12 Egfrid

597

616 13 Kenwolfe 625 14 Kenelme 65315 Chelwolfe,

794

659 16 Bernulfe

821

674 17 Ludecan

823

Sexred

623 13 Selred

707

Seward Sigebert Sigebert Sigebert 653 14 Sutbped 746 This kingdom began 527, ended 746, having continued 219 years. Its first chriftian king was Sebert.

547. The fifth kingdom was that of Northumberland: it contained Yorkshire, Dirbam, Lancashire, Westmoreland, Cumberland and Northumberland. Its kings were 1 Ella or Ida began 547 | 5 Fretbulfe began

2 Adda

572

3 Elappea

559 566 6 Theodrick

4 Theedwald

570 Ethelrick

579 586

10 Etbelbald 716 20 Burdred

This kingdom began 584 ended 828, having continued 244 years. Its first chriftian king was Peada.

The Saxons, though they were divided into feven kingdoms, were for the most part fubject unto only one, who, by way of di ftinction, was filed the King of the Englife nation; thofe who were more powerful than the reft, giving law unto the others, in their several turns.

HENGIST, firft monarch of Britain, landed in the ifle of Thanet, 449; and after having furprised Vortigern, and put to death a great number of the Britons, took poffeffion of the best part of his dominions, ands laid the foundation of the monarchy. He bore

bore in his ftandard the white horfe blazoned, in the fame manner as borne by the dukes of Brunswick. He was born at Angria in Weftphalia, and left behind him two fons and a daughter, having reigned thirty-three years, died in 488, and was fucceeded by

ELLA, the fecond monarch, fent for by Hengift in the 23d year of his reign, who brought with him a fupply of Saxons, and lanced at Shorebam inSuffex. He continued in Britain five years, harrafling the natives, before he affumed the title of king of the SouthSaxons, which he governed for fix years before the death of Hengift, after whom he fucceeded as the fecond monarch. He had three fons, the eldeft died before their father, and the youngest fucceeded him in the kingdom of the South-Saxons. Ella was 'fucceeded by

CERDIC, the third monarch, who arrived in Britain and overcame a British love. reign, called Natanleod, near the f; ot now called Chard, in Hampshire, in the feventh year of the reign of Ella's monarchy, and in about fix years after began the kingdom of the Weft-Saxons, where he reigned thirteen years, when he affumed the monarchy, which he continued the fpace of twenty-one years, and dying in 534, left two fons.

KENRIKE, fecond king of the Weft-Saxons, fourth monarch, the eldest fon of Cerdic, and immediately after the death of his father, fucceeded in his whole dominions. He twice defeated the Britons in the 32d year of his age. He reigned 26 years, and died 560. He left three fons, the eldest was

CHEVLINE, the third king of the WeftSaxons, and fifth monarch, fucceeded his father in both his dignities, and enlarged his kingdom of the Weft-Saxons; but treating his fubjects with contempt, he was by them compelled to abdicate his throne in the thirty-third year of his reign, and died in banishment in 593. He had two fons, the youngest of whom furvived him.

ETHELBERT, fifth king of Kent, and fixth monarch of Britain, began to reign 593. St. Auguftine first arrived in his dominions, in 596, with his followers, were entertained by the king at Canterbury, where they settled, and to whofe doctrine Ethelbert became a convert, and gave Canterbury to the use of the Auguftines. He alfo procured from Etbelbert the gift of an idol temple without the walls of the city, as a burial place for himself and fucceffors, which he afterwards converted into a monaftery. This King was the first that caufed the laws of the land to be collected and tranflated into Saxon, and

did many things that are worthy to be ex amples to his fucceffors. He died February 24, 616, the twenty-fire of his chriftianity, the twenty-third of his monarchy, and the fifty-fixth of his reign over Kent, and was buried at Canterbury. His first wife was, the daughter of Chilperike, king of France, by whom he had three children, a fon and two daughters. He had a fecond wife, whofe name is not tranfmitted to us, being unworthy of remembrance, for marrying her fon-in-law after the death of his father. Pope Boniface prefented Ethelbert's eldeft daughter, Ethelburge, with a looking glass and an ivory comb, (which was preferved. in Sir Robert Cotton's collection) in order to induce her to be married to Edwin, king of Northumberland.

REDWALD, third king of the Eaft-Angles, became the feventh monarch of Britain about 616; and in the twenty-fourth year of his reign over the Eaft-Angles; who in the fecond year of his reign had eftablished Edwin on the throne of Northumberland. He died in the eighth year of his monarchy, and the thirty-first of his reign over the Eaft-Angles, in the year of Chrift 624. He had two fons, the eldest died before his father, and the youngeft fucceeded him in the throne of the Eaft-Angles.

EDWIN the Great, king of Northumber land, fucceeded Redwald as the eighth monarch of Britain, in the year 624; he was the first chriftian and the ninth king of Northumberland. He received baptifm the 12th of April in the eleventh year of his reign, in 627, about one hundred and eighty years after the arrival of the Saxons. He loft his life in a battle, October 4, 633, the fixth of his chriftianity, the ninth of his monarchy, and the forty-feventh year of his age. His body was buried at Whitby, in Yorkshire. He had two fons by his firft wife, by his fecond he had two fons and two daughters.

OSWALD, the tenth king of Northumberland, and the ninth monarch of Britain, in 634, erected a crofs of wood, which is, faid by Bede, to be the first altar to Chrift among the Bernicians. He was flain at Maferfield in Shropshire, August 1, 643, in the ninth year of his monarchy, and the thirty-eighth of his age. He married Kineburg, daughter of Kingils, the first chriftian king of the Weft-Saxons, by whom he had a fon n med Ethelwald.

OSWY, the eleventh king of Northumberland, became the tenth monarch of Britain in 643, on October 13. He totally defeated

Penda

Penda the Mercian, and Ethelred king of the Eaf-Angles, on November 6, 673,and reigned in great glory for thirty-three years. He it was that decided the long controverfy for the celebration of Eafter. He died February 15, 670. His wife was the daughter of Edwin of Northumberland, by whom he had two fons and two daughters.

WULFHERE, fixth king of the Mercians, became eleventh monarch of Britain in 671; he began to reign in Mercia in 659, and reigned over them leventeen years, and was monarch of Britain four, He died in 675, and was buried at Peterborough. He married the daughter of Ercombert of Kent, by whom he had three fons and a daughter.

ETHELRED, the feventh king of Mercia, and the twelfth monarch of Britain, fucceeded his brother Wulfhere in both dignities, in 675. In the beginning of his reign he defolated great part of Kent, and in 677 deftroyed the city of Rochester, and many religious foundations; in recompence for which he became a monk, and died abbot of Bradney, in the thirtieth year of his reign, and of Chrift 705. He married the daughter of Ofwy, of Northumberland, by whom he had a fon who outlived his father but did not fucceed him in his honours.

KENRED, his nephew, the eighth king of Mercia, and thirteenth monarch, fucceeded his uncle in his dominions in 705, and reigned in peace for four years, and then following his uncle's example, became a monk. In his reign pope Conflantine ordained the adoration of images to commemorate faints. He was fucceeded by

CHELRED, fon to Ethelred, ninth king of the Mercians, and the fourteenth monarch, in 709. He was killed in battle with Iras, king of the Weft-Saxons, after a reign of feven years, 716. He died without children, and was buried at Litchfield.

ETHELBALD I. tenth king of the Mercians, became fifteenth monarch of Britain, in 716. The beginning of his reign was debauched, but he reformed on being admonished by Cuthbert, archbishop of Canterbury, and by way of an atonement built Crosland-Abbey in Lincolnshire. In the thirtieth year of his reign it was enacted that the fcriptures fhould be read in monafteries, and the Lord's prayer and Creed taught in the Saxon tongue. In the fortieth year of his reign he was flain by his own fubjects, when he was leading his troops against Cuthred the Weft-Saxon, at Secondine, three miles from Tamworth in Warwickshire, and was Vor. I.

No. 1.

buried at Repton in Derlyfire, in 757, leaving neither wife nor chils.

OFFA, the 11th king of the Mercians, and 16th monarch. He was born lame, deaf, and blind, which continued till he arrived to manhood, when the Mercian nobles received him for their king, and he began his reign with a greater profpect of glory than any of his predeceffors. He took up arms against Kent, flew their king at Otteford, and conquered that kingdom. He made great havock beyond the Humber, whence returning triumphant, he went against the Weft-Saxons. He caused a great trench to be dug, from Brifol to Bafing wark in Flintshire, as the boundary of the Britons who harboured in Wales, in 774; which the Web endeavoured to destroy, but were repulfed with great lofs. The ledgerbook of St. Albans fays, Offa first ordained the founding of trumpets before the kings of England, to denote his appearance, and require refpect. He repulfed the Danes, to their great lofs. He admitted his fon Egfryd a partner in his fovereignty, and out of devotion paid a vifit to Rome, where he made his kingdom fubject to a tribute, then called Peter-pence, and procured the canonization of St. Alban, At his return he built St. Alban's monaftery, oppofite Verolanium in Hertfordshire, 793. He died at Offley, June 29, 794, in the 39th year of his reign, and was buried at Bedford, in a chapel fince fwallowed up by the river Oufe. He had iffue by his queen, one fon and three daugh

ters.

EGFRYD, the 12th king of the Mer cians, and 17th monarch of Britain, fucceeded his father in both dignities, on the 13th of July, 794; died the 17th of December following, and was buried in the abbey church of St. Alban's, leaving neither wife or child.

KENWOLFE, 13th king of the Mercians, and 18th monarch, fucceeded Eg fryd in 795. He was an example of piety, and impartially adminiftered juftice; he was temperate, humble, courteous, without oftentation, in peace ftudious to enrich his fubjects, and in war firm and determined, which crowned his endeavours with victory. He conquered Kent, gave that kingdom to Cutbred, and kept their king Pren captive in Mercia. He built Wirchcomb monaftery in Gloucestershire, where he led Pren to the altar, and releafed him without ranfom or even intreaty. He died in 819, in the 22d year of his reign, and was buried at Winchcomb. He left one fon and two daughters,

C

EGBERT