quarrel with his principal ecclesiastic, Thomas a Becket, and in the undutiful rebellion of his sons. Richard the first, succeeded his father. This prince engaged in the crusades to recover the Holy Land from the hands of infidels; was courageous but unsuccessful; and was seized in Austria, on his return; but afterwards ransomed by his subjects for £500,000 sterling, and subsequently mortally wounded in an engagement. His brother John succeeded; who had, frequent contentions with his barons; to whom he was obliged to grant the famous Magna Charta, by the English considered as the foundation of their liberties. Henry the third succeeded his weak and unprincipled father. In a contest with his subjects he was dethroned by Leicester; but afterwards restored. His son, Prince Edward, after an expedition to the Holy Land, returned and succeeded his father, 1271. He subdued Wales, and added it to his crown. Twice he subdued the Scotch ; who as often revolted, under Wallace and Bruce ; and in his third attempt on Scotland he died. Much was done by this great Monarch in favor of the laws and liberties of his subjects.. His son, the Prince of Wales, (so called because born in Wales, and whence has descended the title to the king's oldest son,) succeeded his father, 1307. This weak Monarch, instead of continuing the war against Scotland, suffered the Scotch to invade England. He was deposed and put to death in a barbarous manner. His son, Edward the third, invaded France, and fought the famous battle of Cressy, in which he was victorious, with the assistance of the young Prince of Wales. Cannon were here first used.Some years after. France was again invaded by the English, under the command of a gallant and virtuous Prince of Wales, who subdued the French at the battle of Poictiers ; took their king prisoner, and brought him to London 1956. This best of princes died 1376, and his father the next year. Richard the second, the late king's second son, now mounted the throne. He quelled some insurrections; and while he was engaged in war in Ireland, his cousin, afterwards Henry 4th, whom he had previously banished, returned and obtained possession of the crown: Richard as is generally supposed, was murdered in Pomfret Castle. Henry 4th, after living in the midst of disaffection, civil wars and misery, died, 1413. His son, Henry 5th, invaded France; gained the famous battle of Agincourt; married the daughter of the French king, at whose death he was to receive the crown of France; returned to England, and died, 1420, leaving one son, afterwards Henry 6th, then nine months old. During the reign of this weak prince, commenced the long continued contest between the houses of York and Lancaster. Henry was deposed, and Edward 4th, a des. cendant from Edward the third, through the House of York, reigned six years; when Henry recovered his throne; but died, or was privately murdered the next year, 1471. Three years after, died Edward 4th, leaving the throne to his son, Edward 5th, who died young. The infamous Duke of Gloucester, afterwards the accursed Richard 3d, was chosen Regent. The Earl of Richmond, of the house of Lancaster, descendant from the widow of Henry 5th, who had married Sir Owen Tudor, invaded England, from France, defeated Richard, at the famous battle of Bosworth; was crowned; married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward 4th, of the House of York; and thus, by uniting the two Houses, put an end to the civil wars. During the reign of Henry 7th, Christopher Columbus discovered America. His son, Henry, 8th, wrote against Luther, and received from the Pope the title of Defender of the Faith. This monarch was capricious and cruel; yet, by throwing off papal authority, he rendered great service to the protestants. He had six wives, two of whom he be headed, and two he divorced, and left three children, 1547. His son Edward 6th, came to the throne at nine years of age, and reigned but a few years; when his daughter, the bloody Mary, so called, in whose reign John Rogers was burnt, held the sceptre above five years; and was succeeded by his other daughter, Elizabeth. This famous princess reigned with great ability and splendor, till 1601; when after having beheaded Mary,Queen of Scots, and established the Protestant religion, she was succeeded by James 6th of Scotland, and 1st of England, a descendant by marriage from the royal family of England. He was succeeded, 1625, by his son, Charles 1st. Charles had great contentions with his parliament, and was at length, after much civil war, beheaded, 1649. Oliver Cromwell, under the name of Protector, was at the head of the British government about ten years. Charles 2d, 1660, succeeded his father, and died in 1685. His brother, James 2d, reigned a few years, and then abdicated the throne. William of Orange, who had married Mary, daughter of James 2d, was called to the throne. William 3d died 1702, and was succeeded by Anne, another daughter of James 2d. In 1714, on the death of Queen Anne, Parliament invited to the throne George, Elector of Hanover, who had married a descendant of Charles 1st, the nearest protestant heir. He reigned till 1727, when his son, George 2d, succeeded: who held the sceptre till 1761; when he was succeeded by his Grandson, George 3d, who died in 1820. Soon after his accession to the throne, commenced the disputes with America, which led to the American Revolution. The threatening aspect of the French revolution, induced the British to take up arms against the French. This war continued, with little intermission, about twenty years; when it was finally closed, 1815, by the total discomfiture of Bonaparte, at the battle of Waterloo: and though it greatly increased the national debt, while it established, in a great measure the peace and the liberties of Europe, it added splendor to the army and navy, from their numerous and important achievements. George IV. the present monarch, is the oldest son of the late king. He had been Regent since 1811. SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND. The union of the Heptarchy, un- Henry III. Richard II. Henry IV. 1399 910 Henry V. 1412 Athelstan, Edmund, Edred, Edwy, Edgar, 925 Henry VI. 1442 Edward, the Martyr Edmond Ironside, Canute the Dane, Danish line. William the Conqueror, Dan- 1685 1066 Ann, 1702 William Rufus, 1087 George I. 1100 George II. 1135 George III. 1760 Pharamond led his Franks 'over the Rhine, in the fifth century; from whom descended Clovis -who commenced his reign, The next sovereign worthy of notice was Clotair I. Charles the fat, 884 , 613 Lewis V. 966 6321 End of the second race of kings. 644 Hugh Capet, 987 690 Robert, 996 Charles Martel,, Pepin, son of Charles, End of the first race of kings. Charlemagne, Lewis, Debonnaire, Lothario, Lewis II. 714 | Henry I. 751 Phillip, 1059 Lewis VI. 1106 2 855 Lewis IX. 1226 |