IMPROVED EDITION OF DR. GOLDSMITH'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND, FROM THE INVASION OF JULIUS CESAR TO THE DEATH OF GEORGE II. WITH A CONTINUATION TO THE YEAR 1845. WITH QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION, AT THE END OF EACH SECTION. BESIDES A VARIETY OF VALUABLE INFORMATION, ADDED THROUGHOUT THE WORK. Tables of Contemporary Sovereigns and Eminent Persons; Copious Explanatory Notes; AUTHOR OF MANUAL OF ANCIENT AND MODERN HISTORY, ETC. ETC. FIFTY-FIFTH AMERICAN, FROM THE THIRTY-FIFTH ENGLISH EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: THOMAS, COWPERTHWAIT & CO. Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by in the clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern PRINTED BY SMITH & PETERS, Franklin Buildings, Sixth Street below Arch, Philadelphia. i 1958 Breson Columbers Pub PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION NEXT to our own national history, it is incumbent on American youth to make themselves acquainted with that of the country from which we derive our political existence, and the most valuable of our cus toms and institutions. The history of England will never cease to be interesting to us. It will never be other than a valuable and important branch of instruction in our schools. Among all the histories of that country which have been written, none has been so long and so deservedly popular as that of Dr. Goldsmith. Whether this be owing to its attractive and perfectly intelligible style, or to the vivid impression which his simple and clear narrative of the facts never fails to leave, it is not now important to inquire. The fact of its established classical character, is sufficient to justify the publisher in selecting the most approved edition of this work, to be revised and adapted to the use of schools in our own country. The mass of illustrative matter, consisting of notes, tables, engravings, &c., which the reader will find in the present edition, may be regarded as adding greatly to its value; and the complete and careful series of questions appended to each section will claim the especial notice of teachers. 3 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Brief sketch of the Saxon Idols from which the Days of the Week received their names. THE idols which our Saxon ancestors worshipped were various; but those which are delineated in the Frontispiece, and from which the days of the week derive their names, were the principal objects of their adoration. The Idol of the SUN. This Idol, which represented the glorious luminary of the day, was the chief object of their adoration. It is described like the bust of a man, set upon a pillar; holding, with outstretched arms, a burning wheel before his breast. The first day of the week was especially dedicated to its adoration, which they termed the Sun's daeg; hence is derived the word SUNDAY. The Idol of the MOON. The next, was the Idol of the Moon, which they worshipped on the second day of the week, called by them Moon's daeg; and since by us MONDAY. The form of this idol is intended to represent a woman, habited in a short coat, and a hood, with two long ears. The moon which she holds in her hand designates the quality. The Idol of TUISCO. TUISCO was at first deified as the father and ruler of the Teutonic race, but in course of time he was worshipped as the son of the earth. From him came the Saxon words Tuisco's daeg, which we call TUESDAY. He is represented standing on a pedestal, as an old venerable sage, clothed with the skin of an animal, and holding a sceptre in the right hand. The Idol WODEN, or ODIN. WODEN, or ODIN, was the supreme divinity of the Northern nations. This hero is supposed to have emigrated from the East, but from what country, or at what time, is not known. His exploits form the greatest part of the mythological creed of the Northern nations, and his achievements are magnified beyond all credibility. The name of the fourth day of the week, called by the Saxon's Woden's daeg, and by us WEDNESDAY, is derived from this personage. WODEN is represented in a bold and martial attitude, clad in armour, with a broad sword, uplifted, in his right hand. The Idol THOR. THOR, the eldest and bravest of the sons of Woden and Friga, was, after his parents, considered as the greatest god among the Saxon and |