University of Virginia Library

The Romans first invaded Britain, under Julius Cæsar, about fifty-five Years before the Birth of Christ; and established an Authority, which they maintained until about the Year of our Lord 448, when (the sudden Irruption of the Northern Nations, who began about this Time to spread themselves over all Europe, making it necessary for them to apply all their Force to the Defence of the Empire) they finally abandoned the Island. Even while their Authority did subsist, it was by no Means absolute, or quietly submitted to: The native Valour, and undisciplined Impetuosity of the Britons, gave them many severe Checks; particularly, about the Year 50, under Caractacus; and, nine Years after, under Boadicia, or Bonduca, Queen of the Iceni.

The Saxons were called in by the Britons, to assist them against the Picts, and Scots; and landed in the Isle of Thanet, about the Year 450: Hengist, and Horsa, their Leaders, are said to have been Great-Grandsons of Woden or Odin, who was worshipped as a God among those Nations.

The Northern Provinces of Germany, and Scandinavia, were the Hive, whence issued those Swarms of Barbarians, which, about the Beginning of the fifth Century, poured like an Inundation over the Southern Parts of Europe; and, in their Progress, well nigh obliterated every Monument of Art, and every Vestige of civil Government. Scarsfield is one of the many Names of that immense Chain of Mountains which crosses Scandinavia from North to South, and divides the Dominions of Sweden and Norway by an almost insurmountable Barrier.

The Danes made their first Attack upon Britain, about the Year 832, in the Reign of Egbert: In 1017 their Power was advanced to such an Height, that, upon the Murder of Edmund Ironside, Canute possessed himself of the Throne. The Danes bear a Raven upon their Standards.

Rollo, a petty Prince of Denmark, having, about the Beginning of the tenth Century, with a Multitude of Followers, attacked, and settled himself in the maritime Parts of France, obtained of Charles the simple a Grant of the Province formerly called Neustria, which he erected into a Dutchy, under the Name of Normandy, from its Northern Conquerors. From this Rollo descended William, who, having, on the 11th of October, 1066, overthrown and slain Harold in the bloody and decisive Battle of Hastings, ascended the English Throne, and thence obtained the Sir-name of The Conqueror.

Runny-Mede, or Runne-Mede, a large Plain between Windsor and Staines, where, on the 19th of June, 1215, the Barons of England compelled John, their King, to sign and seal the Great Charter of their Liberties: Strange! that, in an Age so jealous, and tenacious of their Liberty, as the present, no Building has yet been erected upon the Spot, to perpetuate the Memory of so great an Event; especially, as a late English Classic, some Years since, offered to the Public the following elegant and manly Lines, as an Inscription for such Building.