PREFACE. IN presenting the following Sheets to the Public, some account is given of the arrangement of this "Sketch." which was begun at fourteen years of age, for my own amusement and information, at a time of confinement, from suffering the amputation of arm. 66 my right The work is divided into eight periods, each beginning with an Introductory Sketch," the chief intention of which, is to give some idea of the state of religion and government during each period. The subjects of Divinity and History, the Elegant and Useful Arts, the Sciences, Literary Foundations, Commerce, Language, &c. are severally noticed, and Specimens of Language given at the conclusion of every period. The authorities consulted, are as follows:-In Theology: Hooker, Neal, Crosby, Burnet, Lewis, and Geddes ; in History: Wheare, Nicholson, Priestly, and Dr. Henry; in Poetry Warton's History of English Poetry, (to this excellent work I have been particularly indebted) Percy, Ritson, Headley, and Ellis; in the rest of the Arts: Walpole, Strutt, Ames, Raspe, Dr. Burney, and Dr. Henry; in the Sciences: Wallis, Aikin, Dr. Henry, &c.; in Language Camden, Bishop Wilkins, and others; in the other parts of the work, Holingshead, Hackluyt, Ascham, Sir Thomas Smith, Purchas, Raleigh, Dugdale, Bayle, Dryden, Wotton, Swift, Upton, Montague, Grose, Dr. Jebb, De Lolme, Hutton, &c. How the valuable materials consulted, have been used in the following Sketch, must be left to the judgment of the indulgent reader. A short Glossary is added, to explain the obsolete words used in the specimens of poetry. The Specimens of old poetry shew the genius of our countrymen, and also are good examples of the state of our language. The Vignette is a representation of the Shrine of St. Werbergh, in Chester Cathedral, and is given as a specimen of Saxon Architecture. The small head at the end of the work, is copied from a rare print, engraved in 1554, of the Princess Elisabeth, afterwards Queen of England, at the age of twenty-one. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PERIOD I. Sketch of the Progress of Knowledge in England, from the Conversion of the Anglo-Saxons in 596, to the Norman Conquest in 1066.. Sketch of the Progress of Knowledge in England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066, to the Accession of King Henry the Third in 1216... Page Sketch of the Progress of Knowledge in England, from the Accession of Sketch of the Progress of Knowledge in England, from the Death of 61 123 Sketch of the Progress of Knowledge in England, from the Death of 1509.... ... 167 Sketch of the Progress of Knowledge in England, from the Death of Henry the Seventh, in 1509, to the Death of Henry the Eighth, in 1546.. 193 Sketch of the Progress of Knowledge in England, from the Death of Henry the Eighth, in 1546, to the Death of Queen Mary, in 1558. .... 243 INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 596 to 1066. THE Saxon conquerors of this country, before their conversion to christianity, were in the lowest state of ignorance, rudeness, and barbarity; their religion consisted in the worship of deities, clothed with terrors and vengeance, and who were only to be appeased by the blood of human victims. In the hall of Odin, the seat of the departed warrior, he quaffed his favorite ale from the sculls of his enemies such was the vain, absurd, and cruel superstition which reigned in all parts of England, possessed by the Saxons. In the year 596, Austin, who was sent by Pope Gregory, in order to attempt the conversion of the Saxons, arrived in the Isle of Thanet. Ethelbert, King of Kent, had married Birtha, niece of Chilperic, King of Paris, and a christian, who contributed, together with Luidhart, a French bishop, towards this great event, by converting several persons, and by abating the prejudices of her husband against the christian religion. The missionaries were treated by Ethelbert with respect, heard with attention, and allowed to propagate their doctrines without interruption, both before and after he had embraced the christian religion; he allowed his subjects an entire liberty of thinking and judging for themselves. His conversion, however, was followed by that of the whole nation. B |