48 Wm. and Mary's, mart,.... After you can repeat this Table of Chronology, consecutively, you should examine yourself, and you will soon be able to take it up or down, or backwards, as well as forwards; or tell in an instant what King preceded or succeeded another. To tell how long any King reigned, is only to put down the date of of the monarch who succeeded him, also the one whom you are enquiring after, under it, and subtract. Example,-I would know how long Edward 2d reigned? Edward 3d ascended the throne, A. D. 1827 (subtract) 1307 Answer, Edward 2d reigned, 20 yrs. Having learned one Table of Kings by this method, you will find that the attaining others, will be only an amusement. Next follows some of the most remarkable events in the History of England; after which I shall lay down instructions, and give examples, to shew how how you may associate any historical events yourself, that you may wish to remember. CHRONOLOGY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS, IN THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND; FROM EGBERT, DOWN TO THE REIGN OF GEORGE THE THIRD, EGBERT, the 17th King of the West Saxons, became sole monarch of England. The Danes landed at Charmouth, in Dorset. This was their third landing in England. Egbert engages them in battle; 853. Fights them a second time, and forces them to quit the island. Egbert was buried at Winchester. ETHELWOLF, the eldest son of Egbert, succeeded his father. He fought the Danes at Charmouth, but was defeated; he died, Jan. 13th, 857, and was buried at Steining, in Sussex. ETHELBALD, succeeded his father Ethelwolf, and reigned 2 years and a half, during which there happened no event worthy recording. He was buried first at Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, but removed to Salisbury. 1 ETHELBERT, brother of Ethelbald, is crowned. The Danes landed at Southampton, and burned Winchester; they landed again in the Island of Thanet, when Ethelbert gave them a sum of money to prevent their ravages, 862. They land a second time in the Isle of Thanet: Ethelbert gives them money again to quit the country; they no sooner receive it than they lay all Kent waste, 863. Ethelbert was buried at Sherborne, in Dorsetshire. ETHELRED I, third son of Ethelwolf, succeeded his brother; in whose reign St. Edmund, King of the East Angles, was murdered by the Danes. The place of his burial is since called St. Edmundsbury. Ethelred was buried at Winborne, in Dorsetshire. ALFRED the Great, fourth son of Ethelwolf, succeeded his brother, and was crowned at Winchester. The ceremony of crowning and anointing first used at his coronation. In 876, Alfred fought seven battles with the Danes; but on the arrival of more he habited himself as a shepherd, and retired to the Isle of Aldersey, in the County of Somerset, 877. Disguised as a harper, he goes into the Danish camp; finds them off their guard; and, collecting his scattered friends, attacks and defeats them, 878. Alfred built Shaftsbury; and persuaded his subjects to build ships to oppose the Danes by sea; he rebuilt the City of London, which had been burned and destroyed by the Danes, and restored learning in the University of Oxford, 886. He divided the kingdom into counties, hundreds, and tythings, 890. It is recorded that he fought fifty-six set battles with the Danes, by sea and land. He formed a body of laws, afterwards used by Edward the Con fessor, and the groundwork of our present laws. He knighted his grandson Athelstan, who was the first knight made by any English King. Lastly, he took a survey of all England, the rolls of which were lodged at Winchester, from the model whereof Doomsday-Book was afterwards made. Alfred was born at Wantage, in Berks, 849; died at Farringdon, in that County, and was buried at Winchester. EDWARD the Elder, King Alfred's eldest son, was crowned at Kingston upon Thames; he improved the University of Cambridge, confirmed their former privileges, and granted them others. An army from Ireland landed in Wales, and advanced to Chester, but were repulsed, 920, Edward died at Farringdon, in Berks. ATHELSTAN, succeeded to the crown, marched into Wales, and gained a victory over Hoel, King of that country. He defeated the united forces of the Danes and Scots; he caused the Bible to be translated into Saxon. Guy, Earl of Warwick, fought with Colbrand, the Danish Giant, and killed him, 934. Athelstan died at Gloucester, and was buried at Malmesbury. EDMUND I. succeeds his brother Athelstan.. Croyland Abbey, in Lincolnshire, rebuilt: in it were set up the first peal of bells in England, 945. Edmund made the first law that whoever robbed or stole should be put to death, 946. He was killed May 26th, by Leolf, a great robber, whom he had banished, and was buried at Glastonbury. EDRED, sixth son of Edward the Elder, succeeded his brother Edmund. He several times chastised the Danes, who at length submitted to his mercy, 950. Edred rebuilt Glastonbury Abbey at a vast expence, and submitted to receive discipline from the hands of Dunstan, abbot of Glastonbury, a pretended saint, 951. He was the first who was styled King of Great Britain; reigned seven years, and was buried at Winchester. EDWY, eldest son of King Edmund I. banished St. Dunstan, abbot of Glastonbury. He was himself excommunicated by archbishop Odo, and his Queen used in a most barbarous manner by the clergy. Edwy died 959, aged 18, and was buried at Winchester. EDGAR, surnamed the Peaceable, obliges his brother Edwy to resign the crown to him. He increased the royal navy to 360 ships, and maintained the dominion of the narrow seas; built Ramsay Abbey, and 47 other monasteries, 959. He obliged eight Princes, who were tributary to him, to row him in a barge, over the river Dee, 960. He married Elfrida, whose husband he murdered, 970. Edgar imposed on the Welch Princes a tribute of wolves heads, which for three years, amounted to 300 each year. This extirpated them, and the tribute ceased, 975. He reigned seventeen years, and was buried at Glastonbury. EDWARD the Martyr, eldest son of King Edgar, ascended the throne, at 12 years of age; was nurdered, May 18th, near Corfe Castle, by Queen Elfrida, his step-mother. He reigned four years, and was buried first at Warham, and afterwards removed to Shaftsbury. ETHELRED II. son to Elfrida, is crowned at Kingston. The first coronation oath in England. |
