CHAPTER V.

A.D. 1135-1182.-STEPHEN-HENRY II.

Stephen crowned-Matilda's claim - Battle of the Standard-Power of the
ecclesiastics-Stephen imprisoned in Bristol Castle-Matilda reigns ten months
-Restoration of Stephen-Siege of Oxford-Departure of Matilda-Stephen's
quarrel with the Church-Accession of Henry II., first Plantagenet king-
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, urges the demands of the Church
-"The Constitutions of Clarendon "-Murder of Becket-State of Ireland-
Rebellion of Henry's Sons-Peace with Scotland-Trial by jury-Troublous
close of Henry's reign

CHAPTER VI.

A.D. 1182-1216.-RICHARD I.-JOHN.

Richard joins the third Crusade-Marries Berengaria-Longchamp deposed-
Prince John chief justiciary-Richard imprisoned in the Tyrol-Blondel the
Minstrel-Release of Richard-He settles affairs in England, and proceeds to
Normandy, where John submits and Philip is defeated-Burdens of the people
of England-Death of Richard I.-Mysterious fate of Prince Arthur-John's
fiefs in France forfeited-The kingdom under the Pope's interdict-John sub-
mits to the Pope-Magna Charta-Death of John

-

CHAPTER VII.

A. D. 1216-1307.-HENRY III.-EDWARD I.

PAGE

56

Pembroke regent-De Burgh regent-First English Statute-Foreign favourites
Parliament refuses supplies-The Pope's encroachments-Famine-The
Barons gain the Battle of Lewes-Free Parliament-Civil war-Death of De
Montfort at the Battle of Evesham-Prince Edward in Palestine-Death of
Henry III., and accession of Edward I.-Llewellyn and the Welsh-The
"Statutes for Wales "-Death of the "Maid of Norway "-Edward favours
Balliol's claims-Sir William Wallace beheaded at London-Robert Bruce and
Scottish independence

70

84

CHAPTER VIII.

A.D. 1307-1377.-EDWARD II.- EDWARD III.

Battle of Bannockburn-Combination against the king's favourites-Lancaster
put to death-War with Scotland-Defeat of Edward II., followed by a truce-
War with France-Murder of Edward II.-Independence of Scotland recognised
-Edward III. marries Philippa-Execution of Mortimer-Halidon Hill-Edward
III. claims the throne of France-Battle of Cressy-King David of Scotland
taken prisoner--Pestilence-Battle of Poitiers-Peace of Bretigny-Death of the
Black Prince, and of Edward III.

CHAPTER IX.

A.D. 1377-1415.-RICHARD II.-HENRY IV.-HENRY V.

Poll Tax-Wat Tyler's insurrection-Persecution of Wycliffe-Richard II. marries
Anne of Bohemia-War with France-Disaffection among the Nobles-Battle of
Chevy Chase-Richard marries Isabella of France-He puts down opposition-
Henry of Lancaster raises an army, forces Richard to resign, and claims the
crown-Richard dies in prison-Owen Glendower-Henry IV. invades Scotland
-Revolt and death of Hotspur-Battle of Agincourt

CHAPTER X.

A.D. 1415-1447.-HENRY V.-HENRY VI..

Henry V. invades Normandy, and marches on Paris-Duke of Burgundy murdered
-Peace with France-Marriage of Henry with Princess Katherine-Death of
Henry V.-Warwick tutor to Henry VI.-Complicated quarrels of the king's
relatives-Siege of Orleans-Jeanne d'Arc taken prisoner, and burnt at Rouen-
Henry VI. crowned at Notre Dame-He is obliged to relinquish France and Nor-
mandy-Marries Margaret of Anjou

99

113

128

A.D. 1447-1483.-HENRY VI.-EDWARD IV.-EDWARD V.-RICHARD III.

Jack Cade's insurrection-Incapacity of Henry VI.-Death of Somerset-Duke of

York claims the Crown-He falls at the battle of Wakefield-his son gains the

Crown as Edward IV.-Decisive battle of Towton-Edward IV. marries Elizabeth

Woodville, Lady Grey-Warwick the "King Maker"-Battle of Barnet-Battle

of Tewkesbury-Death of Henry VI. in the Tower-Edward V.-Richard III.—

Death of the two sons of Edward IV. in the Tower

CHAPTER XII.

A.D. 1483-1509.-RICHARD III.-HENRY VII.

Richmond and Buckingham plot against Richard III.-Death of Richard, last of
the Plantagenets, at Bosworth. Condition of the People-The first Corn Law-
General proneness to litigation-Regulation of wages and hours of labour-The
Church and the Clergy-Literature. Henry VII. marries Elizabeth, daughter of
Edward IV.-Lambert Simnel, pretended Earl of Warwick-Henry's foreign
policy-Perkin Warbeck, pretended Duke of York-Warwick beheaded-Cathe-
rine of Aragon-Death of Henry VII.

CHAPTER XIII.

A.D. 1509-1529.-HENRY VIII.

PAGE

139

153

enry VIII. marries Catherine of Aragon-Henry assists the Pope against France
"Battle of the Spurs"-Flodden Field-Wolsey Cardinal, Chancellor, and
Legate-" Field of the Cloth of Gold "-Duke of Buckingham beheaded-Henry
"Defender of the Faith "-Discontent of the Commons-War with Scotland-
Influence of the Reformation on European politics-Decline of Wolsey's power. 167

CHAPTER XIV.

A.D. 1529-1536.-HENRY VIII.

Lord Cromwell's fidelity to Wolsey-Wolsey impeached-Sir Thomas More, Chan-
cellor-Church abuses corrected-Servility of the Commons to Henry-The di-
vorce question - Death of Wolsey-Henry marries Anne Boleyn-Cranmer,
Archbishop of Canterbury-Birth of Princess Elizabeth-Henry renounces the
Papal authority-Sir Thomas More beheaded-Anne Boleyn beheaded-Henry
marries Jane Seymour

CHAPTER XV.

A.D. 1515-1540.-HENRY VIII.

"The English Pale" in Ireland-Feuds between the Earls of Kildare and Surrey
-Kildare attainted-The Geraldine insurrection-Fitzgerald executed for trea-
son-The Lincolnshire insurrection-Birth of prince Edward and death of his
mother, queen Jane-Cranmer's Bible-Dissolution of Monasteries-The "Six
Articles "The Pope's bull-Countess of Salisbury executed on Tower Hill
-Henry marries Anne of Cleves, divorces her, and marries Catherine Howard
-Execution of Thomas, lord Cromwell

CHAPTER XVI.

A.D. 1540-1547.-HENRY VIII.

Burnings for heresy, and executions for denying the king's supremacy-Queen

Catherine Howard attainted and executed-Henry marries Catherine Parr-

War with Scotland-Cardinal Beaton-War with France-The Bible forbidden to

"the lower sort "-Persecutions for heresy-Earl of Surrey executed for treason

-Death of Henry VIII.-His character. Progress of industry-Insecurity of

life and property-Education-Amusements-Colleges of Physicians and Sur-

geons-Gradual amelioration

180

194

206

CHAPTER XVII.

A.D. 1547-1554.-EDWARD VI.-MARY.

Edward VI.-Duke of Somerset Protector-Battle of Pinkie-Edward favours the Protestant religion-Execution of Lord Seymour-Insurrections in the West and East-Decline of Somerset's power-The Anabaptists-Princess Mary refuses to conform to the Protestant worship-Somerset beheaded-Death of Edward VI.-Lady Jane Grey proclaimed Queen-Accession of Queen MaryCarew and Wyat's rebellion-Wyat committed to the Tower.

CHAPTER XVIII.

A.D. 1554-1561.-MARY-ELIZABETH.

Execution of Lady Jane Grey-Numerous executions for treason-The Star Chamber-Princess Elizabeth imprisoned-Marriage of Queen Mary with Philip of Spain-Fierce persecution of Protestants-Ridley, Latimer, and Cranmer burnt at Oxford-England joins Spain against France-Capitulation of Calais to the French-Marriage of Mary, queen of Scots, with the dauphin of France-Accession of Queen Elizabeth-Restoration of Protestantism-The Reformation in Scotland.

CHAPTER XIX.

A.D. 1561-1585.-ELIZABETH.

Severe measures against Papists-Marriage of Mary, queen of Scots, with Darnley -Riccio's assassination- Birth of James VI.-Murder of Darnley-Marriage of Mary with Bothwell-Mary is imprisoned in Lochleven Castle-AbdicatesEscapes-her adherents defeated by Murray-Mary takes refuge in EnglandShe is charged with Darnley's murder-Popish insurrections-Protestant refugees in England-Execution of Duke of Norfolk-St. Bartholomew Massacre-Expulsion of Jesuits-The Babington Conspiracy

CHAPTER XX.

A.D. 1585-1589.-ELIZABETH.

PAGE

Mary, queen of Scots, declared guilty of treason-Elizabeth signs Mary's deathwarrant-Execution of Mary-Popish Crusade against England--Elizabeth at Tilbury-The "Invincible Armada "-English fire-ships-The Armada defeated and dispersed-Death of Leicester-Elizabeth proceeds in State to St. Paul's to offer thanks for deliverance from the Armada-Expeditions against Philip of Spain

CHAPTER XXI.

A.D. 1589-1604-ELIZABETH-JAMES I.

Puritans expelled from the Established church-Persecution of Independents. Popular Recreations-The Drama-Literature-Tudor Architecture-Schools. Wars of the League-Independent Members of Parliament silenced-Naval expeditions against Spain-Overseers of Poor appointed-Act against VagrantsDeath of Cecil-Death of Philip II.-State of Ireland-Essex beheaded-The "Gowrie Conspiracy "-Death of Elizabeth-Accession of James I.-Hampton Court Conference-Divine Right

CHAPTER XXII.

A.D. 1605-1625.-JAMES I.

The Gunpowder Conspiracy-Execution of Guy Fawkes and others-James's costly favouritism-Colonisation of North America-Virginia-Expatriation of the "Puritan Fathers"-East India Company-Plantation of Ulster-Death of Prince Henry-Death of Sir Thomas Overbury-Sir Edward Coke dismissed from office-Raleigh's expedition to Guiana-Execution of Raleigh-War in Bohemia -Lord Bacon convicted of corruption-Petition against Popery-Statute against Monopolies-Death of James I.

220

234

249

264

275

289