Kent, which included the isles of Thanet and Sheppey.Northumberland, contained Northumberland, Durham, Lancashire, and Yorkshire.East Anglia, contained Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk.Mercia, contained all the middle countries from the Severn between East Anglia and Wessex.Essex, or East Saxony, contained Essex, Middlesex, and part of Hertfordshire.Sussex, or South Saxony, contained Surry, Sussex, and the New Forest.Wessex, or West Saxony, included Hampshire, Dorsetshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, and the Isle of Wight.
Kent, which included the isles of Thanet and Sheppey.
Northumberland, contained Northumberland, Durham, Lancashire, and Yorkshire.
East Anglia, contained Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk.
Mercia, contained all the middle countries from the Severn between East Anglia and Wessex.
Essex, or East Saxony, contained Essex, Middlesex, and part of Hertfordshire.
Sussex, or South Saxony, contained Surry, Sussex, and the New Forest.
Wessex, or West Saxony, included Hampshire, Dorsetshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, and the Isle of Wight.
Egbert, king of Wessex, at length subduing the other princes of the Heptarchy, united the whole countryunder one monarchy, and became himself the first king of England, in the year 827 after Christ.
I will give you a chronological list of the kings of England, not that I wish you to learn it at present, but because it will be useful to refer to when you are reading the history. Some knowledge of dates is desirable, as it enables you to ascertain the periods when any particular events occurred, and under whose reign. The Danes made frequent incursions into England during the time of the Saxons, and caused great devastation in the country. Alfred, the most excellent prince mentioned in history, was obliged, owing to these barbarians, to abandon his throne and retire to an obscurecottage, where, however, he occupied his time in forming the best plans for his own re-establishment, and the restoration of tranquility to his distracted country: his wise measures were successful and for some time the Danes were entirely quelled, but they soon renewed their usual predatory warfare, and Canute became king of England.
William the first (commonly called the Conqueror,) Duke of Normandy, invaded England with a powerful army, and slew Harold atthe battle of Hastings. This victory is called the Conquest; it was gained on the 14th of October, 1066.
In which were united the Houses of York and Lancaster, by the marriage of Henry VII, son of the Countess of Richmond, of the House of Lancaster, to Elizabeth daughter of Edward IV.
I will not, my dear, enter into the history of any of these sovereigns, as there are many English histories extant, which will give you better information upon this subject, than you could receive from any description of mine: indeed, the little I have now been telling you of history in general, is only intended to awaken in your mind a desire for the attainment of this useful knowledge. Modern History we shall defer for several years, but I will to-morrow give you Rollin's Ancient History, a work, I think, particularly well calculated for young people; when you have read this, you shall proceed to the Roman History, after which you may be able to enter into the accounts of more moderntimes. In the mean while, let me beg you to continue attentive to the instructions you receive, and new lessons and more stories shall then be prepared for your next
BIRTH-DAY PRESENT.
THE END.
H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge-Street, Blackfriars, London.