An Introduction to the History of the Principal Kingdoms and States of Europe

Chapter IV

115 u chapte r i v u Of England.§1. In Ancient Time, Britainy, which was then esteemed the biggest Island of the World, was not ruled by one Prince, but divided into a great many petty States [Republicquen], ‘each’ [most] of them govern’d by its own King; but this multitude of petty Princes, as it caused great Divisions among them, so it exposed them to the danger of being overcome by their Foreign Enemies. This Island was scarce known to the Greeks and Romans till Julius Caesar’s time, who, after he had conquer’d the greatest part of France, undertook an Expedition into this Island, hoping, as ’tis suppos’d, to meet there with great Booty and Riches. But he enter’d not very far into the Country, and after some Skirmishes with the Inhabitants, returned again without leaving a Garrison, or exacting any Contributions. After this Britainy was not attack’d again by the Romans, till under the Reign of the Emperour Claudius, who bent his Arms against it in good earnest, and the Inhabitants being divided among themselves, and not joined in a mutual defence against the common Enemy, he, without great difficulty, conquer’d part of it. At which time Britainy was made a Roman Province, a constant Army being maintained here by the Romans, who by degrees conquered one part after another, yet not without receiving some Defeats. At last, under the Reign of Domitian, Julius Agricola marched with his victorious Army through the whole Island, 1. Pufendorf uses the term republic for all kinds of regular and irregular states. See VI.11, note 25, p. 291; VIII.20, note 29, p. 349; XII.33, note 171, p. 500; and Seidler (2011), p. 171, and p. 254, note 77. The ancient State of England. The Romans conquer England. 116 chapter iv and giving a signal overthrow to the Caledonians, who are now called the Scots, subdued them; tho’ the Romans could never entirely conquer the utmost parts of Britainy, being almost inaccessible. Wherefore, afterwards the Emperours Adrian and Severus, by building a Wall cross the Island from Sea to Sea, divided them from the Roman Province, hoping thereby to stop their Incursions. But the Romans never came into Ireland. After the Britains had been above 400 Years under subjection to the Romans, the Northern ‘Nations’ [peoples] at that time over-running the Western parts of the Roman Empire, the Romans left this Island voluntarily, being obliged to recall their Legions, which were posted in Britainy, to oppose their Enemies.§2. Britainy being thus without ‘an Army’ [Roman assistance], and besides this, mightily exhausted in its Strength, for that the Romans had made use of their young Men in their Wars, the Picts and Scots, from their barren Country, made an Inrode into these plentifull Provinces, destroying all before them. The English, to make the better Head against them, had chosen one Vortigern for their King; but he perceiving himself to be no ways able to resist their Power; and Assistance being denied him from the Romans, called in the Angles, a Saxon Nation, living then in Holstein: One part of which retains that Name to this day, tho’ some will have them to have been Frieslanders, others Goths; it being certain, that the modern Language of the Frieslanders has a great affinity with the ancient English Tongue. These Angles, under their Leaders Hengist and Horsa, coming with some thousands of Men to the assistance of the Britains, beat out the Scots \A. 450\. But they being mightily taken with the Fruitfulness of the Country, resolved to subdue it, and to lay the Yoak upon the Britains, who had called them in to deliver them from it. As soon as the Britains perceived what their Intention was, they endeavour’d to drive them out of the Island; but these taking up Arms, and calling in a great many thousands of their Country-men to their assistance, first took from the Britains the Eastern parts of the 2. The region of Angeln, southeast of Flensburg, in the north-German province of Schleswig-Holstein. The Saxons come into Britainy, of england 117 Island. And the Western parts, which were yet in the possession of the Britains, being afterwards extreamly wasted by Plague and Famine, so that the British King Cadwalladar retired into the lesser Britainy: The Saxons took hold of this opportunity...