languages, with which they enriched their own. But the mode of fpelling was unfettled, and very different from the modern. Several words were then in common ufe, which are now become obfolete; and the meaning of feveral words was very different from what it is at prefent. A knave for example, fignified a fervant, in oppofition to a freeman; and fometimes a male, in oppofition to a female: "The time is come, and a knave child the bare *.". Its modern meaning is well known. CHAP. IX. INCIDENTS AND CURIOUS PARTICULARS. IN N 1236, at Merton, in Surry, the lay-nobility made the celebrated declaration, "We will not fuffer the laws of England to be altered." The pope had endeavoured to introduce a conftitution of the canon law, which legitimates, on the marriage of the parents, all children born of those parents before fuch marriage. But here the laity triumphed over the clergy. : 4 In 1246, Cheapfide was a void space, called Crownfield, from the Crown-Inn adjoining to it. The City lay more to the Eaftward. In 1251, a bard, ftyled Mafter Henry the Verfifier," had one hundred fhillings allowed him, as a fee of office. He is thus defcribed, in a fharp fatire, by an humorous Cornifh poet,, whom he happened to offend by reflections on his country. The thigh of a fparrow, the feet of a goat, "Hare-lips and boar's fangs, thee a monfter denote, "Thou canft whine like a whelp, like a bull thou canft roar, "Thou art foul as a witch, and as black as a Moor, "Thus peerless appearing, believe me thy songfter, "Thy grimly grimaces demonftrate a monfter. In 1276, it was enacted, that no fhip fhould be deemed a wreck, out of which a man, a dog, or a cát had escaped with life. *Chaucer. In 1983, fay the annals of Dunstable, "we fold our flave by birth, William Pike, with all his family, and received one mark from the buyer." Men muft then have been cheaper than horfes. In 1302, the mariner's compafs was invented by Givia of Naples.-Much about the fame time the exchequer was robbed of 100,000 pounds. The abbot and monks of Weftminfter were indicted for the robbery, but acquitted. Though the criminals were never difcovered, the indignation of king David I. fell on the fociety of Lombard merchants. In 1316, on account of a great famine, the parliament limited the price of provifions. An ox coft two pounds eight fhillings; a fat hog, ten fhillings; a fheep, three fhillings and fix-pence; a fat goose, seven.. pence halfpenny; a fat capon, fixpence; a fat hen, three-pence; two chickens, three-pence; four pigeons, three-pence; two dozen eggs, three-pence. The rates affixed by parliament were inferior to the ufual market prices, in thofe years of famine and mortality of cattle, and these commodities, inftead of a third, had really rifen to a half of the prefent value. But the famine at that time was fo confuming, that wheat was fometimes fold for above four pounds ten fhillings a quarter; a certain proof of the wretched ftate of agriculture in those ages. In 1327, Southwark, having long been an afylum for rogues and vagabonds, was united to London, and placed under the power of its Lord Mayor and Al dermen. In 1340, gunpowder and guns were first invented by Swartz, a monk of Cologne. In 1346, Edward III. had four pieces of cannon, which contributed to gain him the battle of Creffy. Bombs and mortars were invented about this time. In 1349, Edward III. inftituted the order of the garter, in imitation of fome others of a fimilar nature, which had been established in different parts of Europe. A ftory prevails, but unfupported by ancient authority, that the countess of Salisbury, at a ball, happening to 66 to drop her garter, the king took it up, and obferving fome of his courtiers to fmile, cried out, Honi foit qui mal y penfe, Evil to him that evil thinks." He then inftituted the order of the garter in, memorial of this event, and gave these words as the motto of the order. In 1386, the magnificent caftle of Windfor was built by Edward III. and his method of conducting the work may serve as a fpecimen of the condition of the people in that age. Inftead of engaging workmen by contracts and wages, he affeffed every county in England to fend hima certain number of masons, tilers, and carpenters, as if he had been levying an army. The greatest novelty introduced into the civil government, during the reign of Richard II. was the creation of peers by patent. Lord Beauchamp of Holt was the first peer advanced to the house of lerds, in this manner. BOOK BOOK V CHAP. I. MILITARY HISTORY FROM THE ACCESSION OF HENRY IV. IN 1399, TO THE ACCESSION OF HENRY VII. IN 1485. ENRY IV. fon of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancafter, fourth fon of Edward III. being fettled on the throne of England in prejudice to the elder branches of his family, feveral of the principal nobility, who entered into a confpiracy against him, were fecured and executed. This was the cause of an infurrection in Wales. Owen Glendour, defcended from the ancient princes of that country, having become obnoxious on account of his attachment to the late king, lord Gray, who was clofely connected with Henry, and had a great fortune in the marshes of Wales, availed himfelf of this circumftance to feize upon his neighbour's eftate. Glendour recovered poffeffion by the fword. Henry fent affiftance to lord Gray. The Welsh took part with Glendour, when a troublesome and tedious war was kindled, A. D. 1401. which the Welsh chieftain long fuftained by his valour and activity. The confufions incident to all great ftates now tempted the Scots to make incurfions into England. Archibald, earl of Douglas, on his return from one of thefe irruptions, was overtaken by the Percies, at a place called Homeldon, on the borders of England, and a fierce battle enfued, wherein the Scots were totally routed, and Douglas himself, with many others of the nobility and gentry, were taken prifoners. When Henry Henry received intelligence of this victory, he sent ** meffage to the earl of Northumberland not to ranfom his prifoners, as he intended to detain them, in order to make an advantageous peace with Scotland. But the earl regarding them as his right, according to the laws of war in that age, this demand gave great difguft to him, more especially, when he confidered himself as the principal perfon to whom Henry was indebted for his crown. The impatient fpirit of his fon, Henry Percy, furnamed Hotspur, and the factious difpofition of the earl of Worcester, Northumberland's younger brother, inflamed the defcendants of that nobleman. He entered into a correfpondence with Glendour, gave liberty to the earl of Douglas, with whom he made an alliance, and roused up all his partizans to arms. Northumber land being feized with a fudden illness, young Percy took the command of the troops, and marched towards Shrewsbury, in order to join his forces with thofe of Glendour. The king had fortunately a fmall army on foot, with which he inftantly hurried away, and ap proached Percy, near Shrewsbury, before he was joined by Glendour. The policy of one leader, and the impatience of the other, immediately brought on a battle. On the preceding evening, Percy published a manifefto, in which, after renouncing his allegiance, he enumerated all the grievances of the nation. Among thefe, he upbraids him with ufurping on the title of the houfe of Mortimer, who had a prior right to the throne, being the immediate defcendants of Lionel, duke of Clarence, the elder brother of the late duke of Lancaster. The armies were nearly equal in number, confifting of 12,000 men each; and we fcarcely find any battle in those ages, where the fhock was more terrible or more conftant.. Henry expofed his perfon in the thickeft of the fight. His gallant fon, the prince of Wales, whofe military atchievements were afterwards fo renowned, and who here performed his noviciate in arms, fignalized himfelf in his father's footfteps; and |