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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.-A.D. 1413 to A.D. 1415.
Henry V. proclaimed king.-Sir John Oldcastle condemned as a heretic.--Henry's de-
mands upon France for large territories.-Resolves to claim the crown of France.-
Conspiracy of Cambridge, Scrope, and Grey.-Henry and his army sail to Harfleur.
-Siege of Harfleur.-Sickness of the English.-March from Harfleur.-Passage of
the Somme.-The French army.-Agincourt and its locality.-The Battle of Agin-
Page 13-27
court.
CHAPTER II.-A.D. 1415 to A.D. 1428.
News of Agincourt arrives.-Entry of Henry into London.-State of France.-Henry's
Second Expedition.-Overthrow of the Armagnacs.-Siege and surrender of Rouen.
-Conferences at Meulan between Henry, the Duke of Burgundy, and the Queen.-
Henry first sees Katherine. - Negociations ineffectual. - Burgundy murdered at
Montereau.-Peace of Troyes.-Marriage of Henry.-Henry and his Queen come to
England.-Parliament held.-Clarence killed.-Henry returns to France.-Siege of
Meaux.-Katherine and her infant son come to Paris.-Illness of Henry.-His death.
-Difficulty of forming a just estimate of his character.-Duke of Gloucester Pro-
tector.-Death of Charles VI.-Regency of the Duke of Bedford.-Feuds of Glou-
cester and Beaufort.-Tutelage of Henry VI.
28-44
CHAPTER III.-A.D. 1428 to A.D. 1447.
Defeat of the English before Montargis.-Position of Charles VII.-Commencement of
the siege of Orleans.-Salisbury killed.-Battle of Herrings.-Despair of the be-
sieged.-Proclamation.-The peasant girl of Domremy.-Joan of Arc travels to the
court of Charles VII.-Receives authority to relieve Orleans.-Enters the besieged
city.-English belief in witchcraft.-Terrors and defeats of the English.-The siege
raised.-Defeats of Jargeau and Patay.-Charles crowned at Rheims.-Joan cap-
tured at Compiegne.-Tried as a sorceress and burnt at Rouen.-French war con-
tinued.-Henry VI. crowned in Paris.-The English disgraces and losses.-Henry
married to Margaret of Anjou.-Affairs in England.-The duchess of Gloucester ac-
cused of witchcraft.-Arrest of the duke of Gloucester-Deaths of Gloucester and
Beaufort.
45-63
CHAPTER IV.-A.D. 1450 to A.D. 1485.
Social condition during the wars of the Roses.-Degrees of Rank.-Incomes.-Forty-
shilling freeholders.-Statutes of Apparel.-Distinction of Birth.-The Gentleman
and the Roturier.-Administrative system.-Royal revenue.-Public functionaries.-
Military system.-Defence of the Coast and Towns.-Forcible entries upon estates.
Liveries. Rent.-Relations of Landlord and Tenant.-Want of money by land-
owners.-Prevalence of litigation.-Occasional bribery.-Petty law-suits.-Number
of attorneys limited.-Offences against person and property.-Hours of labour.-Do-
mestic manufactures.-Interference of the State with industry.
Page 64-85
CHAPTER V.-A.D. 1450 to A.D. 1585
Combinations of Masons.-Association an English principle.-Domestic Architecture.--
Timber houses.-Consumption of Timber.-Furniture and Utensils.-Dearness and
scarcity of Clothing. -Domestic Servants.-Females.-Married life of Females.-
Housewifery.-The Clergy.-Their intercourse with the laity.-Curates and
Chaplains.-Pilgrimages.-Wills.-Difficulties of Communication.-Letters.-State
of Popular Knowledge.-Beginnings of Printing.
CHAPTER VI.-A.D. 1450 to A.D. 1461.
86-100
Death-struggle of the feudal power.-The House of York.-Banishment and murder of
Suffolk.-Insurrection of Cade.-He enters London.-His death.-Spirit of revolt in
England.-York in arms against Somerset.-Incapacity of the king.-York Protector.
-The king recovers.-York superseded.-First battle of St. Alban's.-Triumph of
the Yorkists.-York's second protectorate ended.-Reconciliation of the two factions.
-Commencement of the Civil War.-Battle of Blore Heath.-Parliament of Coven-
try.-Battle of Northampton.-The Duke of York claims the crown.-Battle of Wake-
field.-Death of York.-His son, Edward, wins the battle of Mortimer's Cross.-
Second battle of St. Alban's.-Edward proclaimed king.-Edward and Warwick march
from London.-Battle of Towton.
CHAPTER VII.-A.D. 1461 to A.D. 1471.
101-128
Popular support of the house of York.-Coronation of Edward IV.-Executions.-
Attainders.-Renewed attempts of queen Margaret.-Insurrections.-Battle of
Hexham.-Edward in peace.-Debasement of the coin.-The king's marriage.-
Warwick's estrangement.-Marriage of Edward's sister to the duke of Burgundy.-
Marriage of Clarence to Warwick's daughter.-Power of Warwick.-Yorkshire in-
surrection.-Insurrection under sir Robert Welles.-Warwick and Clarence defeated.
-They fly to France.-Invasion of Warwick and Clarence.-Restoration of Henry
VI.-Edward in exile.-His return.-Landing at Ravenspur.-Reconciliation of
Edward and Clarence.-The march to London.-Battle of Barnet.-Henry again a
prisoner.-Landing of queen Margaret.--Battle of Tewkesbury.-Richard of Glouces
ter-Falconbridge.-Death of Henry VI. 124-146
CHAPTER VIII.-A.D. 1471 to A.D. 1483.
Total depression of the enemies of the house of York.-The Court of Edward IV., its
splendour and ceremony.- Patronage of the new art of printing.-Disputes of Clarence
and Gloucester as to Gloucester's marriage.-Invasion of France.-Adroitness of
Lewis XI.-Death of the duke of Burgundy.-Trial and condemnation of Clarence.-
Scotland.-Death of Edward IV.-Accession of Edward V.-Jealousy of the family
cf Woodville by the great nobles.-Arrest of Rivers, Vaughan, and Grey.-Gloucester
and Buckingham enter London with the king:-The queen flies to Sanctuary.-Giou-
cester appointed Protector.-His friends obtain important posts.-Coronation of Ed-
ward V. fixed-Arrest and execution of Hastings.-Gloucester proclaims that his life
is threatened. The duke of York removed to the Tower.-Alleged marriage of
Edward IV. previous to his union with Elizabeth Woodville.-Sermon at Paul's
Cross.-The duke of Buckingham harangues the citizens at Guildhall.-The illegit-
imacy of Edward's children declared.-Gloucester takes the crown.-Execution of
Rivers and others.-Coronation of Richard III.-Examination of the evidence that
Richard III. caused the sons of Edward IV. to be murdered. · Page 147-173
CHAPTER IX.-A.D. 1483 to A.D. 1485.
Spirit of an age reflected by Chroniclers.-Mixed character of Richard.-Revolt of
Buckingham.-Suppression of the revolt.-Indifference of the people.-Salutary
Laws of Richard's parliament.-Statutes now first printed, and in English.-En-
couragement to printers and sellers of books.-Daughters of Edward IV.-Deaths
of Richard's son and his queen.-Henry, earl of Richmond.-Inadequate prepar-
ations against invasion.-Battle of Bosworth-field.-Death in battle of Richard
III. 173-189
CHAPTER X.-A.D. 1485 to A.D. 1492.
Richmond crowned in the battle-field.-Henry VII. crowned at Westminster.-His par-
liamentary title.-Marriage with Elizabeth of York.-Henry VII. suited to his times.
-Imposture of Lambert Simnel.-Battle of Stoke.-Alleged harsh treatment of the
widow of Edward IV.-The earl of Warwick exhibited to the people -Unreal war
and real taxation.-An English army in France.-A hurried peace concluded at
Estaples.-Its motives. 190-203
CHAPTER XI.-A.D. 1492 to A.D. 1499.
A young man received at Cork as the second son of Edward IV.-Ex-parte accounts of
Perkin Warbeck.-Letter from "Richard Plantagenet" to Isabella, queen of Spain.
-Henry requires the surrender of Richard from the duke of Austria.-Arrests and
executions in England.-Sir William Stanley impeached by Clifford, whom Henry
had bribed.-Arrests in Ireland.-Statute regarding allegiance to a king de facto.-
Richard, so-called, in Scotland.-Correspondence of Bothwell.-Difficulties of an
imposture. Invasion by the Scots.-The Cornish insurrection.-Captivity of the
adventurer.-Alleged treason of the earl of Warwick.-Warwick and his fellow-
prisoner executed.
CHAPTER XII.-A.D. 1501 to A.D. 1509..
203-220
Edmund de la Pole, duke of Suffolk.-Marriage of Prince Arthur to Catherine of Arragon.
-The Court of Henry VII.-Henry's passion for wealth.-Treaty with Scotland.-
Death of Prince Arthur.-Contract of Prince Henry with Arthur's widow.-Death
of Henry VII.-Extortions through Empson and Dudley.-Tendency towards abso-
leie monarchy.-Few parliaments during this reign.-State of the Clergy.-Monastic.
es.ablishments. - Population. - Agriculture. - Maritime Discovery.-Commerce.-
Regulations of internal trade.-Wages.-Vagrancy.-Criminal Laws.-Pubic Health.
-Feasts.-National Pride.-Pageants.-Sports.
CHAPTER XIII.-A.D. 1509 to A.D. 1513.
· 221-244
Accession of Henry VIII.-Conviction of Empson and Dudley.-Marriage of Henry
with Catherine of Aragon.-The coronation.-The young king's sports and feats of
arms.-Impending war with France.-The Balance of Power.-The pope to be sup
ported.-Causes of quarrel with Scotland.-English expedition to Spain.-Wolsey
the real minister.-Rise of Wolsey.-Naval warfare.-Ravages on the coasts.—
Henry's expedition to France.-Siege of Terouenne.-Maximilian joins the English
army.-Battle of the Spurs.-Capitulation of Tournay.-James IV. invades Eng.
land.-Battle of Flodden Field.-Death of James.
Page 245-259
CHAPTER XIV.-A.D. 1513 to A.D. 1521.
Ravages in Scotland, and on the coasts of the Channel.-Peace with France and Scotland.
-Francis I. and Charles of Spain.-Conquest of Milan.-Wolsey, cardinal and leg.
ate.-Position of the Church.-Affair of Richard Hunne.-Election for the Empire.
-Proposed meeting between Henry and Francis .-Arrival of Charles at Dover.-
The embarkation.-Characteristics of the two kings.-Field of the Cloth of Gold.-
Meeting with Charles V.-Conviction and execution of the duke Buckingham.
CHAPTER XV.-A.D. 1521 to A.D. 1525.
260-276
Luther.-King Henry writes a book against his doctrines.-His title of Defender of the
Faith.-League and war against France.-Wolsey levies contributions on property.-
Jealousy of foreigners; Evil May-Day.-A Parliament assembled.-Great debate
upon the demand for a subsidy.-Affairs of Scotland.-Siege of Jedburgh.-Duke
of Suffolk makes war in France.-Battle of Pavia.-Francis a prisoner.-Taxes
levied without authority of Parliament.-Insurrection in Suffolk.-The illegal
demand abandoned. •
· 277-292
CHAPTER XVI.-A.D. 1525 to A.D. 1529.
Release of the king of France.-Spirit of the Italians.-The Sack of Rome.-Character
of the armies at Rome.-The divorce of queen Catherine agitated.-Difficulties of
Wolsey. His embassy to France.-He returns to new difficulties.-Anne Boleyn at
the English court.-War declared against the emperor.-Commission from the pope
on the question of the divorce.-Cardinal Campegius in England as legate with Wol-
sey.-Interview of the legates with Catherine.--Temper of the people in England.—
Opening of the legatine commission.-Wolsey surrenders the great seal.
293-313
CHAPTER XVII.-A.D. 1529 to A.D. 1531.
Wolsey quits York Place.-His progress to Esher.-Thomas Cromwell.-He defends
Wolsey in Parliament.-Sir Thomas More, Chancellor.-Statutes against ecclesias-
tical abuses.-Resistance of the Clergy.-Heresy.-The king discharged of his debts
by statute.-Christmas at Greenwich.-Embassy to the pope.-Cranmer-Opinions
of the Universities on the divorce.-Wolsey in his see of York.-His popularity.-Is ar-
rested on a charge of treason.-His death, and the king's lament.
314-331
CHAPTER XVIII.-A.D. 1531 to A.D. 1533.
great field of English history now to be entered upon.-The clergy visited with heavy
penalties for submitting to Wolsey as legate.-The pope's sentence on the divorce
still protracted. The pope threatened.-Frith and Tyndale, the reformers.-Act
regulating payment of Annates to Rome.-Retirement of More.-His official
character.-Severe laws.-The prisoner's cauldron.-Laws against gipsies-Laws
against vagabonds.—Infamous severity of the statute against vagabonds of 1536.-
Henry and Anne Boleyn in France.-Marriage of Henry with Anne.-Cranmer elevated
to the primacy. He pronounces the marriage of Henry with Catherine unlawful.-
Coronation of queen Anne.-Catherine's refusal to accept the title of Princess Dowager.
Page 332-347
CHAPTER XIX.-A.D. 1533 to A.D. 1535.
Birth of the Princess Elizabeth.-Preparations for throwing off the papal power.-Statute
of Appeals.-Cranmer's judgment declared illegal by brief of the pope.-Statute for
punishment of heresy.-Burning of Frith.-Act of Succession.-Elizabeth Barton, the
Holy Maid of Kent.-Her execution with others.-Fisher and More implicated in her
proceedings.-Oath to be taken according to the Act of Succession.-Fisher and More,
declining to swear to the preamble, sent to the Tower.-Act of Supremacy.-First
Fruits and Tenths given to the king.-New definitions of treason.-The monks of the
Charterhouse refuse to acknowledge Henry the Head of the Church.-Their execu-
tion.-Burning of Hollanders for Heresy.-Fisher and More decline to make answer
to questions as to the Supremacy.-Their condemnation.-Their deaths. 349-365
CHAPTER XX.-A.D. 1535 to A.D. 1536.
Cromwell vicegerent.-Visitation of the Monasteries.-Delinquencies of monastic inmates,
in some cases.-Official corruption.-Examples of duty performed by male and
female heads of houses.-Dissolution of the smaller monasteries.--Parliamentary
attempts to regulate prices and the quality of manufactures.-Such endeavours futile
or injurious.--Death of Queen Catherine.-May-day at Greenwich.--Previous sum-
moning of a special Commission.-Arrests.--Queen Anne imprisoned in the Tower.-
Her deportment.-Her letter to the King.-Cranmer's letters to him.-True bills
found against Anne, her brother, and four others.-Trial of the four commoners.—
Trial of Anne Boleyn and Lord Rochfort.--Execution of the five men pronounced
guilty.-Account of the execution of Anne by an eye-witness.-Marriage of Henry to
Jane Seymour.-General remarks on the question of Anne Boleyn's guilt or in-
nocence.-Parliament and a new law of succession.-The Princess Mary. 366-390
CHAPTER XXI.-A.D. 1515 to A.D. 1538.
Ireland.-Its condition in the early part of the reign of Henry VIII.-The English Pale.
-Regions beyond the Pale.-Surrey, lieutenant-governor.-The earl of Kildare ar-
rested. Rebellion of 1534.-Thomas Fitzgerald.-Murder of archbishop Allen.-Pro
gress of the rebellion.-Fitzgerald surrenders.-He and his uncles attainted and exe-
cuted.-Violated promises.-Supremacy of Henry established.-Disregard of the real
welfare of the country.-Attempts to make Ireland yield revenue.-Irish fashions of
dress.-Character of the natives.
CHAPTER XXII.-A.D. 1536 to A.D. 1539.
391-406
Three years without an English parliament.-Proclamation for the abolition of holidays.
-The Lincolnshire insurrection.-Demands of the insurgents.-The king's answer.
-The Yorkshire insurrection.-The Lancaster Herald at Pomfret.-Negotiations
with the Yorkshire rebels.-They disperse.-Disturbed state of the Northern coun
ties. Second rebellion.-The rebels defeated.-Executions.-Martial law proclaimed.
-Birth of prince Edward.-Death of queen Jane.-Immediate proceedings for a new
marriage of the king.-Position of Cranmer and Cromwell.-The Bible set up in par-
ish churches.-Papist and heretics.-Trial of Lambert before Henry.-Burnings in