1066. Harold II. son of earl Godwin.-He defeated his brother Tostig:-is crowned king: defeats Tostig:-also Haralld Hardrada, king of Norway:-Haralld and Tostig fall in battle.-Harold hastens to contend with William, who landed three days after the battle. -The battle of Hastings.

4. The Norman Conquest.

I. THE NORMAN KINGS.

1. William I. A.D. 1066—1087..

He was son of Robert I. duke of Normandy. He married Matilda, daughter of the earl of Flanders. He left three sons, Robert, William, and Henry; also five daughters, of whom the fourth, Adela, was married to Stephen, earl of Blois : she had four sons, of whom Stephen was the youngest. 1066-69. Coronation: settlement of the government: strict administration of justice. The king returns to Nor

mandy discontent and
turbulence and rigour.

insurrection in England:

1070. Introduction of the feudal law.-Ecclesiastical innovations.-Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury.

1074. Insurrection of the Norman barons.

1076. Dispute about Investitures.- Revolt of prince Robert: war against him.

1081. Domesday-book.-The New Forest; Hampshire. 1083. Queen Matilda died: a pious and amiable lady. .1087. War with France.-William was bold, prudent, ambitious; not humane and compassionate; one who ruled with vigour and austerity.

2. William Rufus. A.D. 1087-1100.

The second son of the Conqueror: he was never married. 1087, 8. A conspiracy of the barons in favour of Robert is frustrated.

1089. William's violation of his promise, and his tyrannical

proceedings.

1090. Invasion of Normandy: Henry capitulated.

1091, 3. War with Scotland.

1095. Conspiracy of the barons to dethrone the king.

1096. The Crusades. A.D. 1096-1291.-Robert sells Normandy to William, to engage in the crusades.— William's quarrel with Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, (from 1093), about the detained revenues of that See, and of other Sees.

1099. William goes to Normandy against a rebellious baron. 1100. He is accidentally slain by Walter Tyrrel, when hunting in the New Forest.-His character is unpleasant; tyrannical, perfidious, unkind; prodigal and rapacious. The Tower, Westminster Hall, and London bridge, were built by him.

3. Henry I., Beau-clerc (the Scholar,) A.D. 1100-1135.

He was the third son of the Conqueror; he married Matilda, daughter of Malcolm king of Scotland; and had two children, Henry, who was drowned, and Matilda, who was married to Henry V., of Germany, (hence she was empress,) by whom she had no child, and afterwards, 1127, to Geoffrey, count of Anjou, called Plantagenet, from a sprig of broom which he wore.Robert was the rightful heir to the crown.

1100. In order to secure the crown, he passed a charter containing grants, concessions, &c., to the clergy and the barons.

1101. Robert returns, and invades Normandy.

1106. The conquest of it by Henry. Robert spent twentyeight years a prisoner in Cardiff castle, Glamorganshire; where he died.

1110-19. War with Louis of France about Normandy.

1120. Prince Henry drowned: the king "never after was seen

to smile."

1121. Henry married Adelais, daughter of Godfrey, duke of Louvaine: she brought him no children.

1131. Henry spent the latter part of his life much in Normandy, especially after the birth of his daughter's children. He left by will his daughter Matilda heir of all his dominions.-He possessed great qualities of body and mind; maintained profound tranquillity in the kingdom during the greatest part of his reign; guarded against the encroachments of Rome, and protected the liberties of the English Church. Anselm made great exertions for the revival of learning. Churches were built of a solid and architectural character.

4. Stephen, of Blois, A.D. 1135–1154.

He was grandson of the Conqueror; he married Matilda, daughter of Eustace, count of Boulogne: they had two sons, Eustace, who died 1153; and William, who had Boulogne and the patrimonial estate.―This reign was a ceaseless contest between Matilda, Stephen, and the barons. The aristocratical power rose to its utmost height: the barons ruled as petty princes, and in this reign 1200 castles are said to have been built. The reign began in ambition, ingratitude, and perjury, and continued with all the evils of civil war.

1135. Charters, with liberal promises.

1138. War with Scotland: the Scots were defeated in the battle of the Standard.

1139. Insurrection in favour of Matilda.

1141. Stephen was taken prisoner.-Matilda crowned.-Her haughty conduct exites disgust: Stephen is released: civil war as furious as ever.

1148. The weakness of both sides produces a tacit cessation of

arms.

1150. Prince Henry (Matilda's son) marries Eleanor; divorced from Louis VII. of France: hence he gained wealth and dominion.

1153. Prince Henry invades England.-Negotiation and compromise: Stephen to reign during his life-time, and Henry to succeed him.

II. THE SAXON LINE RESTORED: THE LINE OF PLANTAGENET.

5. Henry II. A.D. 1154-1189.

1154. The son of Matilda and Geoffrey of Anjou: he married Eleanor daughter and heir of William, duke of Guienne and earl of Poictou; see 1150. He left two legitimate sons, Richard and John, who succeeded him; the two eldest of his sons died before him, Henry, and also Geoffrey, whose widow bore a son, named Arthur, after her husband's death. He had great possessions in France; which were the source of wars for many generations. Excepting in the matter of the Fair Rosamond, (daughter of Lord Clifford,) Henry is to be viewed as a wise, great, and able sovereign. He cultivated his natural talents by study, more than any prince of his time.

1155. Henry began his reign with various salutary measures and regulations.

1156. He went to France to settle matters there.

1157. He invaded Wales.-1158–1161. He was again in France.

1162. Civil and ecclesiastical disputes: Thomas à Becket. 1164. Constitutions of Clarendon.-Clergymen to be tried in civil courts: no appeal to be made to Rome without the king's license.

1170. Becket murdered.

1172. Conquest of Ireland: Richard Strongbow, earl of Pem

broke.

1173. Revolt of young Henry and his brothers.

1174. William of Scotland defeated and taken prisoner in the battle of Alnwick.-Henry's accomodation with his

sons.

1176. The king attended to the welfare of his subjects; enacted laws against various offences; appointed itine

rant Justices; demolished new-erected castles; &c.

1183. Death of young Henry: contrite for his faults. 1185. Geoffrey, a vicious young man, was killed in a tournament at Paris.

1189. Philip, king of France, urges Richard to revolt against his father-war with France:-Henry found that John, his favourite son, was among the rebels whom he had to pardon. -How much were the last nineteen years of his life embittered by--Rebellious Sons!

6. Richard I. Cœur de Lion. (Lion-hearted.) 1189-1199.

The third son of Henry II. He married Berengaria, of Navarre, and had no children.—His military talents are the shining part of his character: he was open, frank, generous; but ambitious, haughty, cruel. He thus spoke to his brother John after his repeated acts of treason: "I forgive you, and wish I could as easily forget your injuries as you will my pardon.”—He was a passionate lover of poetry.-Coats of arms were first introduced into Europe during the crusades.

1190. Richard set out on a crusade: he displayed great valour in Palestine Saladin, sultan of Egypt, his antagonist there.

:

1193. Richard's captivity in Germany. His deliverance. 1194. His return to England.-He was engaged in war with France.

V