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A Metrical History of England

Or, Recollections, in Rhyme, Of some of the most prominent Features in our National Chronology, from the Landing of Julius Caesar to the Commencement of the Regency, in 1812. In Two Volumes ... By Thomas Dibdin
Dibdin, Thomas (1771-1841)

collapse sectionI. 
VOL. I.
  
[dedication]
  
INTRODUCTION.
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PART THE FIRST.
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[section]
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THE ANCIENT BRITONS.
  
[section]
  
CŒDWALLA to EDDA.
  
EDDA to CŒDWALLA.
  
COURTSHIP of the CANAILLE.
  
The MAIDEN's REPLY.
  
[section]
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[section]
  
THE ROMANS.
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[section]
  
THE BRITONS.
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[section]
  
THE SAXONS.
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[section]
  
THE HEPTARCHY.
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THE KINGDOM OF KENT.
  
THE KINGDOM OF KENT.
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KINGDOM OF NORTHUMBERLAND.
  
KINGDOM OF NORTHUMBERLAND.
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THE KINGDOM OF EAST-ANGLIA.
  
THE KINGDOM OF EAST-ANGLIA.
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THE KINGDOM OF MERCIA.
  
THE KINGDOM OF MERCIA.
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THE KINGDOM OF ESSEX,
  
THE KINGDOM OF ESSEX,
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THE KINGDOM OF SUSSEX,
  
THE KINGDOM OF SUSSEX,
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THE KINGDOM OF WESSEX,
  
THE KINGDOM OF WESSEX,
 2. 
PART THE SECOND.
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PART THE THIRD.
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[section]
  
EDWARD THE MARTYR.
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[section]
  
ETHELRED THE UNREADY.
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[section]
  
EDMUND IRONSIDE.
  
DANISH SOVEREIGNS.
  
THE SAXON LINE RESTORED.
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PART THE FOURTH.
  
THE NORMANS.
  
LINE OF PLANTAGENET;
 5. 
PART THE FIFTH.
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PART THE SIXTH.
  
HOUSE of LANCASTER.
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VOL. II.
  
[dedication]
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PART THE SEVENTH.
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HOUSE of YORK.
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EDWARD THE FOURTH.
  
EDWARD THE FOURTH.
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[subsection]
  
EDWARD THE FIFTH.
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RICHARD III. surnamed CROOKBACK.
  
THE VICTIMS,
  
HOUSE of TUDOR,
 8. 
PART THE EIGHTH.
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PART THE NINTH.
  
HOUSE OF STUART.
 10. 
PART THE TENTH.
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PART THE ELEVENTH.
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WILLIAM and MARY.
  
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AIR.
  
[section]
  
HOUSE of STUART.
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PART THE TWELFTH.
  
HOUSE of BRUNSWICK.

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ETHELRED THE UNREADY.

Little recorded in this reign we find
But cowardice and cruelty combined;
Denmark again her warlike fortune tries,
And the “Norweyan banner flouts the skies;”
The fearful King pays tribute to the Dane,
Who partially retires; those who remain
In treacherous massacre are basely slain.
A full revenge th' unkingly act succeeds,
And England in her every province bleeds;
Prelates and Nobles in the ruin share,
Nor sex nor age, the northern ruffians spare:
105

Our seats of learning and its stores they burn,
Nor quit us but to menace swift return.
With Danish Olave came ambitious Sweyn,
Who here obtained a momentary reign;
And fell, as Dunstan's tonsured tribe advance,
By spectred Edmund's visionary lance;
Canute, too, vainly hail'd our Albion's Lord,
Sees Ethelred by Londoners restored;
While gallant Edmund flies to aid his sire,
And wake within his breast a noble fire;
In vain the pious son his King wou'd save,
Untaught by ills, to every vice a slave,
The Monarch sinks to an inglorious grave.
 

The Monks reported that the spectre of Edmund, King of East Anglia, whose remains Sweyn had disturbed by laying the Abbey of Bury under military execution, fought under Duntan's banner.

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