INTRODUCTION.

I.

GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES.

1. THE British Isles lie between the 49th and 61st degrees of north latitude, and the 2d of east and the 11th of west longitude. The largest of these, Great Britain, comprising the three countries, England, Wales, and Scotland, contains nearly 90,000 square miles, or nearly twice the area of the State of New York. Its entire population in 1871 was about twenty-six millions. Ireland, lying to the west of Great Britain, contains about 32,500 square miles, and in 1871 had a population of about five millions four hundred thousands.

2. These countries are now divided into counties, or shires, of which England has 40, Wales 12, Scotland 33, and Ireland 32. The Romans divided the island of Britain into five provinces: viz., 1. Britannia Prima, situated south of the Thames and the Severn rivers; 2. Britannia Secunda, now Wales (nearly); 3. Flavia Cæsarien'sis (Flavia Cæsarian province), situated to the north of the Thames, east of the Severn, and south of the Mersey and Humber rivers; 4. Maxima Cæsariensis (the great Cæsarian province), extending from the Mersey and the Humber as far as the wall of Adrian, or Severus; and Valentia (from the emperor Valens), situated between the wall of Adrian, or Severus, and the rampart of Agricola. The region to the north of Valentia was called Caledonia (from a word meaning people of the woods).

QUESTIONS.-1. How are the British Isles situated? What does Great Britain comprise? Its extent? Population? Extent and population of Ireland?

2. How are these countries divided? Roman divisions of Britain? Situation of cach Caledonia? Municipal towns? Colonies!

The municipal towns were Ebor'acum (York), and Verula'mium (St. Albans). There were nine colonies, the chief of which were Londinium (London), Aqua Solis (Bath), Deva (Chester), and Lindum (Lincoln).

3. The first of these provinces became, after the Saxon conquest Kent, Sussex, and Wessex; the second, North and South Wales; the third, Essex, Middlesex, East Anglia, and Mercia. East Anglia comprised Norfolk and Suffolk. The Great Cæsarian province became Northumbria, comprising Deira and Bernicia; and Valentia became Strathclyde, a British kingdom, and a part of the Saxon kingdom of Deira. Beyond the mainland of Scotland lie the Orkney Islands on the north, and the Hebrides on the west. These were scarcely known to the Romans, but in after time were occupied by the Northmen.

4. Ireland was never occupied by the Romans or Saxons; but before its conquest by the English was divided into the five kingdoms of Munster, Leinster, Meath, Ulster, and Connaught. Four of these names are still preserved as the designations of provinces. Munster occupies the south and southwest; Leinster, the east; Connaught, the west; and Ulster, the north. Ireland was anciently called I-er'ne, a word which, in the Celtic language, is supposed to mean west. The Romans called it Hibernia. Its present name is doubtless derived from its ancient appellation.

II. OLD-ENGLISH WORDS AND NAMES.

5. The Old-English, or Anglo-Saxon, language was essentially the same language as that now denominated the English language; but in the course of centuries it has, by

3. What did Britannia Prima comprise under the Saxons! Britannia Secunda ? The Flavia Cæsarian Province ? The Great Cæsarian Province ? Va. lentia? What islands lie beyond? By whom were they occupied ?

4. Ireland? Its ancient divisions? Modern provinces and their situation? Ita ancient name? Roman name? Modern name ?

5. Old-English language? How changed? Proper names?

degrees, been so changed that it cannot now be understood except by those who have specially studied it. Most of the proper names now used have a meaning which was very plain to those who employed them in former times, but which, at the present time, needs an explanation. In these names, we have representatives of the various tongues which have contributed to our modern English. 6. Thus, avon is Celtic for stream; strath for valley, as in Strathclyde; and pen for head, promontory, or hill, as in Pen Mon, the head of Mona Island. The Gaelic form of the latter (in Scotland) is ben, as in Ben Nevis. In words ending in caster, cester, and chester, derived from the word castra, a camp, we have the Latin element; as in Lancaster, Gloucester, Winchester, &c. Also in Stratton-Streettown, from strata, a street, and in Jersey, from Cæsare'a.

7. In the early history of England many names of persons are used, an explanation of the meaning of which will serve to enable the student more easily to remember them, besides increasing his interest in the history itself. Thus, Alfred is all-peace; Egbert, eyebright; Bertha, the bright; Albert, all-bright; El'giva, -corrupted from alf-gifu, elf-gift; Ethelwolf, the noble wolf (ethel, athel, or athel, noble); Ethelred, noble in council; Ath'eling, son of a noble, or prince; Athelstan, precious stone; Edmund, a good protector; Edwin, good or prosperous in battle; Edward, a good guardian, &c.

III. LEGENDARY HISTORY OF BRITAIN.

8. The early history of Britain, as of most other coun tries, consists of stories or legends, of the truth of which nc satisfactory evidence can be adduced. Previous to the account given by Cæsar, in his "Commentaries," of the in

6. Meaning of avon? Strath? Pen? Illustrations of each? Meaning of the terminations caster, cester, and chester? Stratton? Jersey?

7. Names of persons? Meaning of Alfred, Egbert, &c.? 8. Early history of Britain? Early records?

habitants, nothing, as far as is known, was recorded of the events occurring among them. The Druids, indeed, prohibited such records as irreligious and unlawful. Therefore, as remarked by Milton, "from the first peopling of Britain to the coming of Julius Cæsar, there is nothing certainly known, either by tradition, history, or ancient fame."

9. The old chroniclers, however, and particularly Geoffrey of Monmouth, give the history of an almost uninterrupted series of events from the earliest ages down to the period of authentic history. According to these, the ancient inhabitants of the island, called Albion, were a race of giants, who, being greatly reduced in number by the fierce wars which they waged among themselves, were finally subdued and destroyed by Brutus, a Trojan prince, and a descendant of Æneas, who fled to Italy from the ruins of Troy.

10. This Brutus divided Albion, which he found in a waste condition, among his own people, and built a great city on the Thames River, which he called "New Troy." The time assigned for these events is the period of the Judges in Jewish history; and from that remote age, down to the coming of Cæsar, the long line of kings, descendants of Brutus, are given in this mythological history with great particularity, both as to dates and names. Among these was Bladud, who becoming a leper, and therefore being obliged to flee from his father's court, was cured by bathing in the hot springs of the Avon, where he afterward founded the city of Bath.

11. The son and successor of this king was Lear, whose story forms the foundation of one of Shakspeare's greatest tragedies. According to the legend, this king, in his old age, in order to be relieved from the care and labor of government, divided his dominions between his two

9. What history is given of the carly times? By whom? What is said of Brutus?

10. What was done by Brutus? His successors? Bladnd? 11. The legend of King Lear? At what period is it placed?

daughters, Gon'eril and Regan, discarding his youngest daughter Cordelia, because he thought she was wanting in affection for him, since her protestations of filial love were less vehement than those of her sisters. The latter, however, proved more sincere; for the too indulgent father having been treated with the basest ingratitude and unkindness by those whom he had endowed with his power and possessions, was finally compelled to seek a refuge with her whom he had disowned, and was by her and her husband, a Gaulish prince, restored to his throne. This reign is placed by the chroniclers in the sixth century before Christ.

12. Many years after this there reigned a king named Lud, who enlarged, and built walls around, the city of New Troy. After him it was called Caerlud, or Lud's Town, changed in course of time to London. Lud was a brave and warlike monarch, genial in disposition, and festive in his habits; and hence is represented as very popular. He was buried in a part of London, now called Ludgate. It was during the reign of his son, Cas-sib'e-laun,* as it is said, that the invasion of Cæsar took place; and among his later descendants was Cu-nob'e-line, or Cymbeline (sim'be-line), whose history forms the foundation of another of Shakspeare's plays.

13. Such is the story of the Trojan kings of Britain, thoroughly believed in by many of the old writers, but evidently fictitious, being based, in part, upon names derived from a very different origin. The legend is, however, of very great antiquity. According to Sir Francis Palgrave, there is some reason to believe that the story of Brutus was invented by the bards, to gain favor with those who prided themselves on being de scended from Æneas, the Trojan prince, and thus related

12. What is narrated of King Lud? During whose reign is Cæsar's invasion placed? What is said of Cymbeline? Also called Cassivelaunus. (See ¶8, p. 14.) 13. What is remarked of these legends? Their antiquity and origin?