The History of England Volume I. David Hume

      

      THE HISTORY

      OF ENGLAND

      VOLUME I

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      This eBook edition published in 2013.

      eBook ISBN: E-PUB 978-1-61487-164-4

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      CONTENTS

      OF THE FIRST VOLUME

FOREWORD BY WILLIAM B. TODD

MY OWN LIFE BY DAVID HUME

LETTER FROM ADAM SMITH, LL.D. TO WILLIAM STRAHAN, ESQ.

I

The Britons – Romans – Saxons – the Heptarchy – The kingdom of Kent – of Northumberland – of East-Anglia – of Mercia – of Essex – of Sussex – of Wessex

       II THE ANGLO-SAXONS

       Egbert – Ethelwolf– Ethelbald and Ethelbert – Ethered – Alfred the Great – Edward the Elder – Athelstan – Edmund – Edred – Edwy – Edgar – Edward the Martyr

       III

       Ethelred – Settlement of the Normans – Edmund Ironside – Canute the Great – Harold Harefoot – Hardicanute – Edward the Confessor – Harold

       APPENDIX I THE ANGLO-SAXON GOVERNMENT AND MANNERS

       First Saxon government – Succession of the kings – The Wittenagemot – The aristocracy – The several orders of men – Courts of justice – Criminal law – Rules of proof – Military force – Public revenue – Value of money – Manners

       IV WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR

       Consequences of the battle of Hastings – Submission of the English – Settlement of the government – King’s return to Normandy – Discontents of the English – Their insurrections – Rigours of the Norman government – New insurrections – New rigours of the government – Introduction of the feudal law – Innovation in ecclesiastical government – Insurrection of the Norman barons – Dispute about investitures – Revolt of prince Robert – Domesday-book – The New forest – War with France – Death – and character of William the Conqueror

       V WILLIAM RUFUS

       Accession of William Rufus – Conspiracy against the King – Invasion of Normandy – The Crusades – Acquisition of Normandy – Quarrel with Anselm, the primate – Death – and character of William Rufus

       VI HENRY I

       The Crusades – Accession of Henry – Marriage of the King – Invasion by duke Robert – Accommodation with Robert – Attack of Normandy – Conquest of Normandy – Continuation of the quarrel with Anselm, the primate – Compromise with him – Wars abroad – Death of prince William – King’s second marriage – Death – and character of Henry

       VII STEPHEN

       Accession of Stephen – War with Scotland – Insurrection in favour of Matilda – Stephen taken prisoner – Matilda crowned – Stephen released – Restored to the crown – Continuation of the civil wars – Compromise between the King and prince Henry – Death of the King

       VIII HENRY II

       State of Europe – of France – First acts of Henry’s government – Disputes between the civil and ecclesiastical powers – Thomas a Becket, archbishop of Canterbury – Quarrel between the King and Becket – Constitutions of Clarendon – Banishment of Becket – Compromise with him – His return from banishment – His murder – Grief – and submission of the King

       IX

       State of Ireland – Conquest of that island – The King’s accommodation with the court of Rome – Revolt of young Henry and his brothers – Wars and insurrections – War with Scotland – Penance of Henry for Becket’s murder – William, King of Scotland, defeated and taken prisoner – The King’s accommodation with his sons – The King’s equitable administration – Death of young Henry – Crusades – Revolt of Prince Richard – Death and character of Henry – Miscellaneous transactions of his reign

       X RICHARD I

       The king’s preparations for the crusade – Sets out on the crusade – Transactions in Sicily – King’s arrival in Palestine – State of Palestine – Disorders in England – The king’s heroic actions in Palestine – His return from Palestine – Captivity in Germany – War with France – The king’s delivery – Return to England – War with France – Death – and character of the king – Miscellaneous transactions of this reign

       XI JOHN

       Accession of the king – His marriage – War with France – Murder of Arthur, duke of Britanny – The king expelled from all the French provinces – The king’s quarrel with the court of Rome – Cardinal Langton appointed archbishop of Canterbury